Broadband connection question...

[Boricuamed]

I wasn't sure where to post this question, but here goes...

I'm ready to upgrade my internet connection to Broadband, any recomendations on ISP's? Any recomendations on which modem/router I should buy? (I'd prefer an NIC hookup)

I will primarily use the connection for downloading and gaming, with a small network hook-up (4 machines).

Thanks in advance. :cool:

[Nekopa]

Hi there!
I use cox@home which is fast and stable in my area. But as someone pointed out in another thread, it all depends on how many people in your location are using it. What you need to do is find people in your area who use DSL and cable modems, and what results they are having.
Also be prepared for the cable modem people to tell you that cable modems will not work under Linux, thats what they told me, and here I am :)

As for networking, there are various options, the main one I think is to buy a hub and connect up that way. You might also want to look into putting two NIC cards in you linux machine and setting it up as a firewall between the broadband and you network.

Anyway, that should give you a bit to think about and search for on the net

Good luck

Lee

[GrassMunk]

Up here in ontario canada i use @home The manual says that they will only support windows... but so long as you know pasic IP info in linux you can lie no problem.

Im not sure about DSL up here. I know they 'support' linux which means they have the PPPOE program... but thats all you need.

If you have any of these services available both are fine. But be prepared to keep a windows partition on your box when you cant seem to get online in linux but in windows it works fine... and then you come here for support.

::gm::

[Boricuamed]

Well in Orlando Fl the best rated (by users) is SW Bell, but they are DSL. Also they do not support static IP's for the basic contract (only "corporate" accounts have them), so..... Will I be able to set up a firewall with my machine using dynamic IP addresses? I ha a spare NIC around here somewhere...so I should be able to set up a firewall, but I'm not sure if it would work with a dynamic IP...

[Malakin]

I've used both dsl and cable under different versions of mandrake, I've never had a problem and it's always automatically set things up for me. In the older versions I just told the installer to use dhcp, now it gives you a choice and I just pick cable.

As was already said you will have to ask people in your local area for advice on the same isp's you are considering using otherwise the information is useless.

Edit: You can do both firewalling and ip masquerading with a dynamic ip.

[ 27 September 2001: Message edited by: Malakin ]