rpbrown@xtra.co.nz wrote:

> Im about to get Jetstart (via xtra), and probably just rent the DSL
> modem for now,

  As I understand it, renting a modem for Jetstart is only an option if
you downgrade from full-rate Jetstream (ie, you're already renting a modem
at the time you switch to Jetstart.) If you go straight from having no
ADSL connection to having Jetstart, you will need to buy your own modem.

> what DSL modem should I be using on a Linux box,

  None of the internal modems currently have drivers for Linux. The 3Com
Dual Link looks like a good option if you want to leave the firewalling to
the Linux box, and it's cheaper than an external router -- however, it may
require playing around with the kernel PPPoE code and/or the Raging
Penguin PPPoE software to get it to work.

  External routers shouldn't care what OS is talking to them, and will
generally also provide reasonable firewalling. However, they range from
"a bit more than the Dual Link" to "a hell of a lot of money", depending
on exactly what features you're after.

> and how can I set it up now...so when I do get the actual guy coming
> round, its just a matter of plugging it in. Another question, does the
> DSL modem come with another network card?

  If you rent a modem from Telecom, I believe they will supply a network
card (I have no idea what sort.) However, as that isn't an option for new
Jetstart customers, it depends on the modem you buy. I don't think any of
them come with a network card, but I could be wrong.

> Our Linux b0x3n has 2 NIC's anyways.

  (<grumble grumble> gratuitous l33t-speak. "Boxen" is plural, anyway.)

> The Linux b0x will be a firewall, I've already pre-loaded
> 2.4.1+zerocopy+lowlatency patches.. any info will be greatly
> appreciated, routing, ip's etc..

  What you'll want to do depends almost entirely on, well, what you want
to do with the connection. If you're not going to be running any servers
on the box (and since you're going through Xtra, you shouldn't be), then
the firewalling is simple: No inbound connections from the outside world
permitted. If you're running servers or server-ish things, you'll need to
punch holes through for them -- but always start with a basic policy of
"no, go away" to any inbound connection.

  Applying zero-copy and low-latency patches for a firewall box connecting
to Jetstart is almost certainly overkill. This is a 128Kbit throttled
connection we're talking about here -- it's not going to put a lot of
stress on the machine. Also, your firewall box is not going to be a major
source of lag -- the connection I'm using here runs over a LAN to a Linux
NAT/cache box (1-2 ms), to the M10 (another 2 to 5 ms), and over to Xtra's
network (adding 40-50 ms.) Admittedly, this is straight Ethernet, not
PPPoE, but it's also an old box with an old kernel and no special patches.

  If you're planning to do a lot of gaming, then this may be more
significant (especially as the games realm should still be full-rate), but
the largest source of latency by far is still going to be on the other
side of the modem and out of your control.

  Basically, as with most questions like this, the answer depends on what
you want to do with it, and as you haven't told us that, there's not a lot
we can do to help.

   Jonathan

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Received on Fri Feb 2 12:37:03 2001