DSL Connection Sharing guide

 

DSL is now available in some form to just about anyone in a metro area. DSL comes in many flavors, speeds and service levels. For the most part, common DSL connections fall fall into categories - Standard, USB and AOL-DSL.

Subscribing to DSL is easy on the Internet. Companies are falling over backwards trying to get folks to sign up. I ended up with DirectPC on my network because they were one of the few places that could reach my home at a reasonable price.

DSL features are all about the 'package' you purchase. Download speed, upload speed, IP address' etc are all selectable. Soon other kinds of services will be available like video on demand and voice communications (VOIP).

Faster is better of course - on the upload and download side. If you plan to run a game server or plan to send files to people often - the basic 128k upload speed will probably not be fast enough for you. Try to find a service with at least a 256k upload path. If you own a ReplayTV 4000 and want to send shows to friends, get as fast of an upload path as you can afford. For game servers, figure 48k of bandwidth per user.

Sharing All DSL services are easily shared with software or hardware EXCEPT AOL-DSL. AOL decided to implement a custom version of PPPoE that broadband routers do not work with. (See this article about 'bringing your own DSL service to AOL)

Sharing First, check to see if your modem also has an Ethernet port on it. It might be labeled 10/100 or LAN and look like a large telephone jack. If your DO have one, then your modem does both Ethernet and USB - your options are open for connection sharing because any broadband router will work with it.

Unless you have a USB modem or AOL-DSL, your options are complely open when it comes to sharing your cable modem Internet connection

  Sharing with Microsoft ICS

  Sharing with a Broadband router

  Sharing with a Linux router

  Other Connection sharing software

Many DSL modems use an authentication and communication model called PPPoE. Your DSL connection probably uses PPPoE if you need a 'login and password' to connect to the Internet. Although sharing a PPPoE connection was difficult a couple years ago, all broadband routers have installed PPPoE supporting serviced in their routers and work very well.

Some DSL providers will give you more than one IP address - often 4 or 5. These IP address can be used for other computers so you do not need a broadband router or other sharing solution. Be aware though, file sharing across such a network is not safe. If you have multiple computers connected to a DSL modem through a simple router or a switch, disable file and print sharing and run a firewall on all computers. Having a broadband router in place allows you to transfer files safely and acts as a basic firewall to your whole network.

DSL Connection Sharing guide