sozekizer
join:2002-07-16
Fort Worth, TX
 ·Charter Pipeline
| Current, Former Cable INET Subscribers Please Read
Every day I read more and more posts from current and former cable subscribers whose standard complaint is about the lack of an "always on" connection.
Please pay attention.
Cable Internet's standard is DHCP, a protocol used by a computer to keep a constant connection to whatever server is leasing IP addresses to it.
DSL comes in two flavors: PPPoE and DHCP.
If you are currently on the East Coast, the standard you must use is PPPoE (point to point protocol over ethernet). This standard is not meant to be an always on connection. It is a more secure way to connect (requires that you authenticate w/ the VOL servers each and everytime you connect to the internet). It also allows Verizon to stretch the limits of the IP addresses it currently owns. Once you disconnect, your leased IP address can now belong to someone else. Once that person disconnects..etc etc.
This is not something you can change. It is something in use by the majority of DSL providers across the country. Verizon is doing its part by using the newer Westell modems (2200 and Versalink) as well as allowing the use of routers (linksys, dlink, etc). These devices work so fast that you should never notice the disconnect/reconnect which will happen constantly and consistently.
A post I just read (and a similar one posted by me) describes ways for windows XP to "maintain" an always on connection. This doesn't always work but its worth a shot.
The Verizon software is designed to do the same. Just remember, it also doesn't always work.
If you are on the West Coast (including Hawaii and Alaska and Florida, and, actually, the majority of the Western Half of the US), as a Verizon subscriber you use DHCP. This is the always on connection cable users are used to. Don't get too comfortable w/ it as Verizon has, for the past year, been engaged in the long process of changing the entire country over to PPPoE.
Keep this link handy:
»www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe/
This is an excellent learning tool. Read it and you may be amazed at what actually goes on in the world of pppoe protocols. |
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mb
join:2000-07-23
Washington, NJ | For what it's worth, Verizon preconfigures there modem/routers to maintain an always on PPPoE connection here on the east coast. Mine has been up without a change in IP address for several months. |
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WaukMan
Premium
join:2004-01-01
Waukesha, WI | reply to sozekizer
I don't agree that PPPoE can't maintain the connection. I use PPPoE and have maintained a solid connection for months on end. The modem or router frequently have a maintain connection option which does exactly that; maintains the connection. |
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bhorow
join:2004-05-17
Forest Hills, NY
| reply to sozekizer
Re: Current, Former Cable INET Subscribers Please
I too have to disagree. I also have a PPPOE connection and it stays on all the time. It's very rare months before i have to reset a modem. And I am using an older modem than the westell 2200. So that is also B*LLS**T. It's hard to get it over on users of the network. |
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AJ023
join:2001-12-25
Forest Hills, NY
| PPPoE is horrendous. Am I correct that right now business class is Dynamic / static while consumer class is PPPoE for DSL?
PPPoE means a non always on connection no matter how its configured IF more logins occur than the system is designed for. PPPoE was the cause of notorious Verizon DSL problems in the past. I would prefer non PPPoE if I had the choice. |
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WaukMan
Premium
join:2004-01-01
Waukesha, WI
 ·AT&T Midwest
| said by AJ023  :PPPoE is horrendous. Am I correct that right now business class is Dynamic / static while consumer class is PPPoE for DSL? PPPoE means a non always on connection no matter how its configured IF more logins occur than the system is designed for. PPPoE was the cause of notorious Verizon DSL problems in the past. I would prefer non PPPoE if I had the choice. PPPoE to me is a non-issue. I have used it now for almost a year and have not had a single issue. My connection is on 24x7. Can PPPoE have problems, sure, but so can a dhcp server. Is PPPoE somehow worse or better then DHCP, no, as they are both means to getting an IP address.
The important points are:
1) is the connection on when I need it.
2) Is the connection maintained when I am online.
If you configure keep alive to on PPPoE will operate in an always on fashion. |
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