Hi there Alex ... thanks for your thoughts

Out of the three options you mentioned number one i feel is my
prefered "solution".Time is not too big an issue nor is the money
really but hey good used second hand gear for a great price makes
me feel good.

I have seen some unfavourable reports on the DSL-500 on various
Xlug lists.

Currently reading up on the Blue Stingray Speedtouch (my p133 has usb!)

just want to get the best gear for the job without unnecessary "extra
features"

Thanks again for your intrest and time
Dean

On Mon, 2003-08-04 at 15:34, Alex King wrote:
> I've been watching this thread, and I ust have to add my 2c worth.
>
> Much of what's been said is accurate.
>
> You have 3 options:
>
> 1. External device nating (router)
>
> 2. External device passing the connection thru to linux
>
> 3. Internal PCI card.
>
> Options 2 & 3 are more time consuming and harder, espcially if you are
> not already very familiar with networking, iptables, ppp etc, whereas
> option 3 will be much closer to plug and go. If you have spare time and
> an interest in learning, go with 2 & 3. If you just want it to work and
> you don't care about running services/ obscure protocols, go for option
> 1.
>
> Most external boxes that are plugged into the ethernet port on your
> computer are routers (option 1), some can also be set up in a mode to do
> 2.
>
> If you get an external device with that can do 1 & 2, you have the best
> of both worlds. You can set it up as a router now, and play with PPTP
> and the like if you want/need to.
>
> The cheapest option is 3, and I would say best except for one thing.
> AFAIK, all the drivers are binary modules, and therefore subject to
> breakage as you upgrade your kernel version. They are not ethernet
> devices, and don't use standard ethernet drivers. They need a modified
> pppd daemon, because there is a ppp connecion between the telecom
> equiptment and your computer. Many are based on the ITEX chipset which
> I suspect (but haven't really confirmed) doesn't work with kernel
> 2.4.21. I have several of them and I'll be in a bind if this turns out
> to be the case. The company that originally make the ITEX chipset went
> out of business. I daresay another company bouht the designs and is
> still producing them, but with binary drivers you are relying on that
> company to keep the linux support up to date. What is going to happen
> when 2.6 comes out?
>
> At home I have an alcatel SpeedTouchUSB - the blue stingray thing. It
> is one USB modem with an open source driver, and the modem is relatively
> inexpensive. Appart from that I wouldn't buy any USB modem, I don't
> think there are any drivers for them.
>
> Steer clear of the Ni500, it is cheap and really nasty. It's a basic
> router with few features that can't be used to pass the connection
> through to linux (optin 2). The two that I had experience with didn't
> even work. Pile of ****.
>
> Another one to steer clear of is the Dynalink external RTA-xxx. It is
> an external router that is incpmpatable with ECN (an option in linux),
> and this limitation is in the hardware rather than firmware (so I've
> been told.)
>
> Alex
>
> On Mon, Aug 04, 2003 at 02:12:15PM +1200, d simak wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi Reagan Chris & everone else ..
> >
> > so whats the verdict PCI / external ... i did some reading through
> > past months lists and got alarmed and confused by the PPPoA stuff
> >
> > how about the Dlink DSL-500 ?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> > Dean
> >

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