Advice needed DSL & Cable

[Fred S]

I'm setting up a new PC for my daughter who lives out of town and who is
coming for Turkey day. She has an older PC that we decided to replace.
She also has DSL and is using a USB connection to the DSL modem where
she lives.

I have cable and I'm getting things organized and removing the usual
junk that comes with new PCs. I have connected the new PC using a Cat 5
cable and the NIC to an empty port on my router for now.

My question is about whether or not she will be able to simply plug in a
Cat 5 cable into her modem and then to her new PC and go right on
without problems.

I don't know about DSL and I'm hoping that whatever software they used
to set her up on the old one is not needed if I plug in the Cat 5 wire
between the modem and PC, same as my cable set up here.

Any advice or recommendations?

Thanks, Fred

 

[Mike Hall]

You would do better to make sure that she has a decent firewall and
anti-virus than 'removing the usual junk that comes with new PCs'..

If she is using a USB DSL modem where she lives, a CAT5 cable will not be
used.. .

 

[Fred S]

Mike,

I've already done both a DOS and Windows virus check and installed new
virus software as well as AdAware/Spybot etc. The "junk" consists of
various online service signups/installs, built-in manufacturer SW that
is worthless to experienced users, etc. I've repartitioned one large
160GB drive into three smaller partitions so that I can make efficient
image files of the OS to another partition and to an external HDD. I
know what "junk" is and it is almost gone.

Her DSL modem gets its signal from the wall telephone jack and it has a
DSL line that connects to her DSL Modem. The modem has tow options for
connections to the PC - 1 - Cat 5 patch cable to the PC's NIC or #2 - a
USB connector after one configures the PC for the Modem if used that way.

I don't know where you are coming from on this - I'm looking for an
experienced user of DSL to advise if there is any configuration required
if one uses the NIC card directly connected to the DSL modem.

Fred

 

[Ron Bogart]

In

Mike,

I've already done both a DOS and Windows virus check and installed new
virus software as well as AdAware/Spybot etc. The "junk" consists of
various online service signups/installs, built-in manufacturer SW that
is worthless to experienced users, etc. I've repartitioned one large
160GB drive into three smaller partitions so that I can make efficient
image files of the OS to another partition and to an external HDD. I
know what "junk" is and it is almost gone.

Her DSL modem gets its signal from the wall telephone jack and it has
a DSL line that connects to her DSL Modem. The modem has tow options
for connections to the PC - 1 - Cat 5 patch cable to the PC's NIC or
#2 - a USB connector after one configures the PC for the Modem if
used that way.
I don't know where you are coming from on this - I'm looking for an
experienced user of DSL to advise if there is any configuration
required if one uses the NIC card directly connected to the DSL modem.

Fred

It would depend on if she has an "Always On" DSL connection or if she has to
use PPOE Dial-Up to get into the DSL account. If you can find that out it
would help.

 

[Jim]

Her DSL modem gets its signal from the wall telephone jack and it has a
DSL line that connects to her DSL Modem. The modem has tow options for
connections to the PC - 1 - Cat 5 patch cable to the PC's NIC or #2 - a
USB connector after one configures the PC for the Modem if used that way.

I don't know where you are coming from on this - I'm looking for an
experienced user of DSL to advise if there is any configuration required
if one uses the NIC card directly connected to the DSL modem.

Fred

My DSL Modem came with an ethernet patch cable (don't know whether it is Cat
5 or not) which plugs into the ethernet port on the NIC. Windows XP does
not need additional software to run this setup.
Jim

 

[Fred S]

In


It would depend on if she has an "Always On" DSL connection or if she has to
use PPOE Dial-Up to get into the DSL account. If you can find that out it
would help.

Thanks Ron,

She will be back home later this evening and I will find out then.

IF that's the case (PPOE Dial-Up) would it be better for her to wait
until she gets back home to install the software? I assume the modem
would have to be connected during any install - right?

Can you comment on the PPOE situation as I believe if it is the always
on type then is should just be a plug in and boot up.

Thanks, again, Fred

 

[Fred S]

My DSL Modem came with an ethernet patch cable (don't know whether it is Cat
5 or not) which plugs into the ethernet port on the NIC. Windows XP does
not need additional software to run this setup.
Jim

Thanks Jim,

Just what I thought and I hope that's the case for her DSL service.

Thanks, Fred

 

[Airman Thunderbird]

Before hooking up, I'd recommend an inexpensive router to place between
the modem and computer, one with NAT functionality. This will stop 90%
of the bad stuff floating around the net looking for a setup like you
speak of to attach itself to.

 

[Ron Sommer]

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxpadcon.htm
Under Network Connections, using the NIC will create a different connection
than the USB connection.

 

[Karl Diethrick]

Fred,

Any time the regular ethernet cable is used, you should not need any
additional software on the PC. The network card in the computer will
work fine, as long as there is an Internet connection on the other end,
regardless of whether it is a cable modem, DSL modem, or a jack in an
office that has a T1 line.

This works because the default setting for network cards in Windows is
to use DHCP. This dynamically sets all the setting on the card so you
can go from one place to another and not have to adjust settings.

The software that is sometimes provided by broadband providers is mostly
unnecessary with the exception of the driver for the USB connection. If
you decide to go with the USB connection, you need software/drivers that
make the USB connection look like a network card.

 

[Ron Bogart]

In

Thanks Ron,

She will be back home later this evening and I will find out then.

IF that's the case (PPOE Dial-Up) would it be better for her to wait
until she gets back home to install the software? I assume the modem
would have to be connected during any install - right?

Can you comment on the PPOE situation as I believe if it is the always
on type then is should just be a plug in and boot up.

Thanks, again, Fred

If it is Always on - nothing further is needed as the computer will find the
internet ok. If she has to Dial up - then setting it up will require she be
on line and ready to go. I recommend RASPPPOE written by Robert Schlabbach
http://www.raspppoe.com/ It is simple to set up and bulletproof in it
functionality.

Are you setting up a firewall or will you be using a router to block the
internet from finding her without her permission? Please don't forget this
part - as she is a sitting duck without one or the other.

 

[Fred S]

In


If it is Always on - nothing further is needed as the computer will find the
internet ok. If she has to Dial up - then setting it up will require she be
on line and ready to go. I recommend RASPPPOE written by Robert Schlabbach
http://www.raspppoe.com/ It is simple to set up and bulletproof in it
functionality.

Are you setting up a firewall or will you be using a router to block the
internet from finding her without her permission? Please don't forget this
part - as she is a sitting duck without one or the other.

Ron,

Thanks again for you help.

I don't recall her talking about having to do any dialup routine but a
friend out there helped to get her connected. So, I don't know if she
hits a button that does the dialup and negotiates or what. I'm hoping
that she just turns everything on as that would likely mean it is an
always on setup.

She did have problems getting connected in the first place but I think
it may have had to do more with Win98 and a USB connection. I'll report
back later.

Yes, firewall, absolutely and as another poster suggested, maybe even a
cheap router too.

Fred

 

[Fred S]

Thank you Karl,

One of the posters here mentioned it could be a PPOE instead of an
"always on" connection. I guess that means a dialer is involved - hope
not but she will be here tonight and I will find out then.

Thanks for describing how this works, most appreciated.

Fred

 

[Fred S]

Good idea - I'll look into that - they're cheap these days.

Fred

 

[Yves Leclerc]

PPPoE can also be considered an "always-on". The ISP has specified a
"range" of IP addresses which the PPPoE will use. A firewall is still
recommend!

 

[Yves Leclerc]

If the DSL modem is connected by a USB cable and NOT a USB to Ethernet
adapter, you should wait for the PC to be installed at your duaghter's home.
Also, she should be able to have her ISP support line "guide" her thru the
install.


You should however, find out the make/model of the DSL modem and get the
IPS's USB drivers downloaded onto the system before it leave's your place.

 

[Ron Bogart]

In

Ron,

Thanks again for you help.

I don't recall her talking about having to do any dialup routine but a
friend out there helped to get her connected. So, I don't know if she
hits a button that does the dialup and negotiates or what. I'm hoping
that she just turns everything on as that would likely mean it is an
always on setup.

She did have problems getting connected in the first place but I think
it may have had to do more with Win98 and a USB connection. I'll
report back later.

Yes, firewall, absolutely and as another poster suggested, maybe even
a cheap router too.

Fred

Best of Luck and go for the router - it makes her so much safer for so
little cost. ;-)

 

[Fred S]

In Fred S" <"Fred S <"Fred S"@anonymous.com> did some thinking and came up with
these words:




Best of Luck and go for the router - it makes her so much safer for so
little cost. ;-)

Hello Ron,

Just got an email from my daughter and she apparently has an always on
connection - she doesn't have to do anything after she powers up - Thank
God!

First thing I'm doing is installing the firewall - virus SW is installed
already.

Thanks to all for good information.

Fred

 

[Ron Bogart]

In

Hello Ron,

Just got an email from my daughter and she apparently has an always on
connection - she doesn't have to do anything after she powers up -
Thank God!

First thing I'm doing is installing the firewall - virus SW is
installed already.

Thanks to all for good information.

Fred

No Problem - Best of Luck with it.

 

[Mike Hall]

Well Fred

As you failed to mention which DSL modem and which ISP, it was not easy to
give you specific advice,, for instance, if the DSL modem was of the Alcatel
SpeedTouch 330 or 'Stingray' type, there is only one connection to the
telephone line and one to USB that can be made anyway, and they are
generally PPOE connections based on the ISP being used.. for single user and
power is taken through the USB port.. these were a favourite with UK ISP's
when ADSL first appeared.. I had one of these.. worked great..

Alcatel/Thomson Speed 500's are similar in concept, but have a hardware
firewall and come as single, two and four port.. these have their own power
supply.. they are UPnP, so Windows Messenger will work with them.. used in
the UK and parts of Europe.. also here in Canada..

SpeedStreams, probably not used in your part of the world, connect via cat5
through a hub and NIC, and were not UPnP.. a bloody nuisance as I intended
to use WM as primary contact with my wife here in Canada while I was away in
Spain for 5 months.. three years on and Telefonica are now looking to supply
Nokia modems..

D-Link produce a modem that can be either USB or ethernet..

Re hardware firewalls, yes, run them but a software firewall is better as it
tells of stuff trying to get out as well as in..

As Yves pointed out, it is probably best to wait and see what the situation
is there before pre-empting every possible exit..

Hope that it all works out for your daughter..

Mike Hall