[linux-help] Re: [off-topic] Free DSL

["Dale W Hodge" <dwh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-help-bounce@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:linux-help-bounce@xxxxxxxxx]On
> Behalf Of Jeremy King
>
> A friend of mine is going to be getting a free dsl
> service (www.winfire.com) set up (not here, in Tampa).
>  the only problem is, he would like to share out his
> connection to a small LAN.  While this would be easy
> enough using IPmasq on a linux box, he has not yet
> seen the light--he'll use a dsl router to share the
> connection with his windows boxen.  My question is
> related to the dsl modems that the service seems to
> require--one is an internal PCI modem, and the other
> is an external usb modem.  How could you get such a
> modem to interoperate with a standard DSL router?
> Unless I don't have a clue (which is probable) the
> router should be sitting between the modem and the
> computer--but no router will accept a usb connection
> (or have an open PCI slot, for that matter).  Any
> ideas?  Is this service designed to be used with a
> single computer only, or can he ditch the "required"
> modem and use a normal external modem instead?


If you visit their website and read the FAQ's, it specifically says that
they don't support networking of computers.  My guess is that they use PPPoE
or PPPoA to make the connection, as they say that the 'free' version is
supported by ads.  While a Linux box can support both PPPoE and PPPoA, I
suspect they are using proprietary connection software that would not work
with Linux.  Whether the $9.95 a month service, which doesn't require ads,
will work with Linux, I can't answer without knowing more details than the
website provides.

--dwh

---
Dale W Hodge - dwh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Secretary & Website Maintainer - info@xxxxxxxxx
Air Capital Linux User's Group  (ACLUG)
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