Netopia R9100, User Reference Manual

Page: 16 / 244

2-2 User’s Reference Guide
Endorsements
Consider recommendations from colleagues and reviews in publications.
Deciding on an ISP account
Your ISP may offer various Internet access account plans. Typically, these plans var y by usage charges and the
number of host IP addresses supplied. Evaluate your networking needs and discuss them with your ISP before
deciding on a plan for your network.
The following checklist is a guide to ensure that you obtain the Internet ser vice you require.
Setting up an account using a Netopia R9100
Check whether your ISP has the Netopia R9100 on its list of suppor ted products that have been tested with a
par ticular configuration. If the ISP does not have the Netopia R9100 on such a list, describe the Netopia R9100
in as much detail as needed, so your ISP account can be optimized. As appropriate, refer your ISP to Netopia’s
Web site www.netopia.com for more information or call us at 1-800-NETOPIA. Our representative can call your
ISP and introduce them to the product. As necessar y, we can provide them with the technical background they
need to suppor t the product.
Obtaining an IP address
Typically, each network computer that requires Internet access requires its own unique IP address.
Consider expected growth in your network when deciding on the number of addresses to obtain. Alternatively,
you can use the Network Address Translation and DHCP features of Smar tIP.
If some or all of your networked computers require simultaneous Internet access, and you don’t want to use
DHCP, obtain a block of IP host addresses large enough for each computer to have its own address, plus one
for the Netopia R9100.
SmartIP
The Netopia R9100 Ethernet Router suppor ts the Smar tIP™ feature, which includes Network Address
Translation.
Network Address Translation provides Internet access to the network connected to the Netopia R9100 using
only a single IP address. These routers translate between the internal or local area network (LAN) addresses
and a single external IP address, and route accordingly.
For more information on Network Address Translation, see Chapter 9, “IP Setup and Network Address
Translation.”
Obtaining information from the ISP
After your account is set up, the ISP should send you the IP parameter information that will help you configure
the Netopia R9100.