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STEP 1: Obtain information about your Internet Service
Provider (ISP) and your network
Setting up your Router is a simple procedure, even if you are not familiar
with networking. This guide will take you step by step through to the
setup process for successfully sharing your Internet connection. There are
a few pieces of information that you will need to obtain about your Cable
or DSL provider as well as about your network. Most of the time,
information is available online from your provider. You may have to call
your provider.
Answer the following questions either by checking with your ISP’s online
technical support or by calling your ISP’s technical support hotline. A
worksheet has been provided in this manual to record your information
for use later.
Is my IP address Static or Dynamic?
Your IP address is either static or dynamic. You will need to determine
whether your provider assigns you a new IP address every time you log
on (dynamic) or they assign you an IP address that never changes (static).
For more about what an IP address is, see the Glossary of Networking
Terms in the appendix of this manual.
Does my Internet service provider use PPPoE?
It either does or does not. If you have a DSL modem, your service
provider may use PPPoE (for Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) as the
communication language between your DSL modem and the provider’s
network. If your DSL provider gave you software that you use to connect
to your Internet account, such as WinPOET, Enternet300 or any other
software that you need to run to connect to the Internet, then your service
provider uses a PPPoE connection. Follow the directions in this manual to
configure your router for PPPoE. For more about PPPoE, see the Glossary
of Networking Terms in the appendix of this manual.
