Sharing DSL connection with wireless

[weogarth]

Hi

I have some friends for whom I'm 'their IT person'. They have a DSL connection that is set up on their desktop with WinPoet dialing up the DSL connection as needed. Everything works just fine, no issues.

They've just bought a laptop with wireless capabilities as well as 10/100 and want me to help them set it up. My first thought was a Linksys wireless router I helped my brother with some time ago for his cable (always on) but then I remembered they have to actually initiate the connection and I'm not sure this is going to work out.

I can add in a NIC and toss a LinkSys device on the second one using ICS on the DSL connection but it seems a bit overkill.

Has anyone ever done this kind of a setup and what kind of solution did you use?

TIA

Gary

 

[bcastner]

The linksys wireless routers can handle the PPoE authentication without the need for a dialer such as WinPoet.

The wired and wireless clients are simply set to "obtain and IP automaticly" in their TCP/IP settings. No dialer required.

The wireless router will have 4 wired connection points, so no ICS or anything else will be required.

 

[weogarth]

bcastner wrote:
The linksys wireless routers can handle the PPoE authentication without the need for a dialer such as WinPoet.
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OK, I'm not really clear on what you're saying in here. My issue is that generally you have The Internet -> DSL Modem -> Router -> Computers. With the dialer that seems to be required for this service my friends have, I believe there's a need for a connection Computer <-> Router to initiate the connection for the router to use.

Now, I think you're saying that the router can initiate that connection but can you please be substantially more verbose on how that works? I really don't want to have my friends buy this without knowing how this will work.
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bcastner wrote:
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The wired and wireless clients are simply set to &quot;obtain and IP automaticly&quot; in their TCP/IP settings. No dialer required.

The wireless router will have 4 wired connection points, so no ICS or anything else will be required.
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This part I'm completely comfortable with, can set everything up just fine. Only issues are with getting the connection established.

 

[bcastner]

For pre-XP OS clients you required the use of a small &quot;dialer&quot; or client to provide the username and password authentication to the ISP.

With XP a PPoE authentication client was included as part of the OS.

For a cable/DSL broadband router, the username and password are entered into the router as part of its configuration. It then authenticates with your ISP, handles the obtaining of your internet address from the ISP, handles obtaining the DNS servers of the ISP, and feeds the information to its in-built DHCP server to hand out to clients as they power on. It also &quot;keeps alive&quot; the connection with the ISP and handles when necessary a release/renew sequence if your IP address on your ISP host changes.

There is no need for WinPoet or Enternet or any other client software to use broadband service, and in fact it should all be removed from the clients to avoid any possibility of user error.

 

[weogarth]

Hmmm, ok, that makes a lot more sense. However, the Linksys Wireless Router (BEFW11S4) I set up for my brother doesn't seem to have the option to add username and password.

Do you have a product that you trust that is known to have this capability?

Thanks for the help.

Gary

 

[bcastner]

On the first setup page of the router specify the type of connection as PPoE and the username and password box will open for your to make the entry. I think you are remembering a specific type of setup where the DSL modem cannot be placed into bridge mode, and the type of connection is therefore through the DHCP server on the modem. This type of configuration will work, but it is always better to configure the modem as a bridge rather than as a modem-router.

The BEFW11S4 supports PPoE authentication with username and password.

 

[bcastner]

And note, if your planned installation currently uses WinPoet than the modem is in bridge mode. Select PPoE on the first setup page of the router and enter the username and password.

There will be no need for WinPoet.

 

[MaxPipeline]

Just to clarify, it is PPPoE, not PPoE. PPP is a set of protocols, normally on a dialup connection, that includes username/password and IP address assignment. PPPoE is the same but over Ethernet and not a WAN line.

That said I agree with what others have said. PPPoE should be included on your router. I'd suggest looking through the Linksys documentation to find it.