Attempting to create a dedicated connection over DSL

[gramzster]

Hi Everyone,
At my company, we have a web, email and proxy server (all one computer) and because we are in a "service deprived" area, we have had to result to a DSL connection for our server (which runs NT 4.0). The dsl account we fortunatly us meant to be a dedicated connection and does have a static IP and a domain name associated with it. The problem I am having is that the PPPoE software we use is not completely compatible with NT (doesn't run as a service) so some of our services fail (such as e-mail server) because the PPPoE software had not loaded yet (and wouldn't load unless someone logged into the sever.. but that was usually too late since the service started right when the server started) and is not able to connect to the internet. Also, to fix this problem, we tried a SOHO router, but unfourtuntaly, this only connected out when there was a request from the server side, and even if we tried to make the timeout 0 (so the router would not intentionally disconnect after a certain period of time), if the connection were disconnected, then the router would not connect out until the server made a request (which means and e-mail trying to reach us would not be able to, and people would not be able to access our site.)
My question is, is there any way to make the DSL modem create the PPPoE connection (we use a 3com homeconnect, and we also have a DAEWOO modem just in case) or if there is any hardware that would do this and be able to make a dedicated, always on connection (and re-connect automatically if the connection were to drop?).
We don't have the option of having the web,ftp,e-mail server hosted somewhere else since we need complete control over it, and also it uses resources from our network.
Thanks,
Graham
P.S - sorry my message was so long

 

[jeter]

Why are you using a PPPoE software when you have a static ip? Have you thought about setting up a proxy server? Jeter@LasVegas.com
Fisher CCNA

 

[gramzster]

Hi Jeter,
The reason we are using PPPoE software is that, that is the way the ISP uses for us to connect out to the internet. Is there another way to do this? Oh.. and we do use a proxy server for the computers connected behind the server to have internet access.

 

[Guest_imported]

I haven't used a 3com Homeconnect, but I assume it is some sort of NAT router. If so your router should have some sort of setting to reconnect if the connection drops. I have a Linksys cable/dsl router that has this ability. There is nothing you can do with the modem. Consider the Linksys or some other brand of router if your 3com doesn't have this feature, but I find it difficult to believe that if the router supports PPPoE it doesn't have the ability to re-connect.

 

[TheOldMan346]

Are you using the 3Com OfficeConnect? Model 612 or 812? All should have the ability to negotiate and maintain the PPPoE connection themselves, if configured that way. Remove the PPPoE software from the server and configure the router to do the job. That way the connection is always on and your server can do the job you set it up for, i.e. web, email, etc.

If you need help with the router configuration, here is a link

http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=prodspec&sku=3C612-US&pathtype=purchase

or you can post back here.

The Old Man

 

[jeter]

No software should be required if your internal lan is pointing to the proxy server. the proxy server will route too the WAN ip then out throught the router. Thats the way it works in Vegas. Jeter@LasVegas.com
Fisher CCNA,(Routing)

 

[MattWray]

Most of the SOHO routers have a configuration for a "keepalive", set this up and your connection will be "always on"... Matt Wray
CCNA, MCP
mwray77518@yahoo.com

 

[gramzster]

Well I purchased the Linksys Cable/DSL router, and it seems it will do what I need it to do with the Keepalive feature.
Thanks for all your help