Page 1 of 1

PPPoE or PPPoA with DSL?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2003 7:49 pm
by dsl-jds
I see many requests for help with DSL connections that are using PPPoE. I have PPPoA and my connection is great. So I was just wondering what the prevailing DSL connection is?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2003 7:59 pm
by Bob Carrick
PPPoE is used in about 90% of residential DSL in North America.

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:20 am
by Lightstream
The only dsl I have seen is with pppoe. :cool:

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:42 am
by YeOldeStonecat
I'm one of the lucky few with PPPoA! :D

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 5:42 pm
by anonusr
PPPoA is used principally in the UK and is determined by the broadband implementation. For more see:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/1416

YeOldeStonecat?

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:04 pm
by mccoffee
Isn't sbc i know mostly it's ppoe client but as a routing protocol is it still connsired ppoe when it's still a hybrid?

I thought they used ppoe/ppoa?? :D

Re: YeOldeStonecat?

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 7:28 am
by YeOldeStonecat
Originally posted by mccoffee
Isn't sbc i know mostly it's ppoe client


SNET/SBC around where I am use PPPoE...but I don't use SBC, I use Veranet. (used to be BiznessOnline which prior to that used to be Cyberzone....Cyberzone was an ISP I used to resell and co-locate some servers at back in my online gaming days)

PPPoE

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 9:51 pm
by mike mcCarthy
For the record....

PPPoE is Point to Point over Ethernet.

PPPoA is Point to Point over ATM (Asychronous Transmission Mode)

Different protocols...

MM

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 2:23 am
by mccoffee
Mike yeah i know that but they some how bridged the two. http://www.dslreports.com/faq/1416 i hate showing this site. but it got to the point.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 6:55 am
by YeOldeStonecat
Originally posted by mccoffee
Mike yeah i know that but they some how bridged the two. http://www.dslreports.com/faq/1416 i hate showing this site. but it got to the point.


Huh, that's odd...it shows PPPoA as "needing" a username and password, like a dial up entry. I don't use anything like that, just pure "obtain IP".

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 12:45 pm
by TruckerT
I have ppoa at 3000/320 and my modem has the sign in stuff. Does it automatically when it aquires a line.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 12:53 pm
by YeOldeStonecat
I'm starting to think my ISP's guy told me the wrong thing, that I'm not PPPoA, but rather "Bridged/DHCP-FRC1483". That matches my setup to the T! Confirmed it via the Netopia router also...by it's status.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 7:58 pm
by ps2wiz
Any way you can find out if you have ppoe or ppoa without contacting your isp?

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:10 pm
by Bob Carrick
Yes PPPoE if you have a userid and password, that simple.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:51 pm
by ps2wiz
Could you explain that a little bit better Mr.Carrick


I virtually have no software installed for my RADSL conection, all i did was add some info in the tcp\ip area (ip, subnet, gateway) I have a static ip also....And I dont log in or anything, I didnt even install any software. Does this classify me as ppoa?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 6:37 am
by Kip Patterson
Your IP address is not static. It is from a pool of addresses. Your last two posts have been from different addresses, for example.

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 7:36 am
by Bob Carrick
No, it just means your not PPPoE. Does not mean you are PPPoA. Could be simple Bridged Ethernet which is even more common then PPPoA but not as common as PPPoE anymore.

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:10 pm
by dsl-jds
I beg to differ about the PPPoA statement. When I check the configuration page in my 3Com 812 ADSL Router the box for PPPoA is checked and I have entries for username and password filled in. The box negotiates the connection when it is turned on to get an IP as it is dynamic. See the first entry in that FAQ linked above.

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:36 pm
by ps2wiz
Is there any sure way you can check?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:51 pm
by ps2wiz
Ok, i finally got my ISP to inform me on this, they said " it just uses regular static IP's, no authentication"

I take that as better then ppoa, right?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:00 pm
by dsl-jds
That statement from your ISP isn't very informative. The link in an earlier post that describes the various protocols indicates that PPPoE and PPPoA both authenticate the user. Just that one does it in hardware, the DSL modem, and the other in software in the PC. If you can bring up a status page for your modem you should be able to determine your protocol type.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 9:27 am
by Kip Patterson
He is using neither protocol. He has a simple, routed or bridged connection. All that is needed is to plug the IP, default gateway address, subnet mask, and DNS servers into each PC and you are good to go. You may need to reboot, depending upon operating system.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 1:10 pm
by dsl-jds
This adds one more choice to my original question.

How many out there aren't using either PPPoA or PPPoE for your DSL connection?