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Business and
Home Broadband Access
The primary differences between
residential and SME/SOHO broadband customers is the criteria they
use to select their service. For SME/SOHO users, performance and
price will be key ingredients in selecting a broadband service,
as well as support for value-added services such as VPNs. Fixed
price packages versus fixed volume also play a role for large or
small businesses. For consumers, it’s all about price and
value.
For those who are planning to
use broadband services in a business environment, there are
several differentiators to look out for, particularly in the DSL
space. Business DSL services for example, can include support for
multiple users and tailored network configurations, additional
technical support and a higher level of guaranteed network
performance.
Static and Dynamic IP
addresses
A key factor for business users
to consider is the static IP address options. To understand why
there are two different ways of assigning IP addresses, it is
important to know what an IP address is used for.
An IP address is the defining
tag which identifies the host computer on the Internet. This
includes identifying the network being used to access the
Internet, as well as the host computer accessing the data across
that network.
A good way to understand the
difference between a static and dynamic IP address is to compare
a public telephone (dynamic IP) to your home phone (static
IP).
The dynamic IP address is like
a public telephone, as it provides you with a temporary
connection to the Internet for you to download information from.
Once you log off the internet (hang up the phone), you will lose
that particular IP address (phone number) and the IP address will
be thrown back into the network and re-allocated to another user.
The next time you log on to the internet, your ISP will allocate
you a number from its available pool of numbers.
In comparison, a static IP
address is fixed to either or both the sender or receiver of data
across the Internet (much like your permanent home phone number
is allocated to you). With dynamic IP, Web servers will only be
able to locate you through that IP address for that partcular
Internet session. So, if you want to upload information (eg. give
Web servers your IP address so they can contact you, such as with
e-mail or hosting your own Web site), you will need to ensure
whatever service you sign up for provides you with a static IP
address.
However, having a permanent
connection (by giving other Web servers the ability to locate
you) will pose a greater security risk, so you will need to put
security measures in place, such as firewalls.
Around half of ISPs currently
providing ADSL residential services offer static IP addresses
with some of their plans, but often the monthly rates will be
higher than those offering dynamic IP addresses.
Cable providers in the
residential market offer dynamic IP addresses only.
Sharing broadband across
multiple PCs
There are a number of ways to
share your broadband with multiple computers. These fall into two
categories. The first is a line sharing option provided by the
ISP. This requires additional outlets to be installed in your
home or office for each PC. It is a simple solution that requires
no additional configuration, but is currently only available with
certain cable companies.
The second involves running a
Local Area Network (LAN) in your home or office. It is important
to note that while most ISPs will allow you to run a LAN from a
single connection point on ADSL or cable services, they will not
provide any support for the LAN, and recommend you consult a
communications specialist to set it up for you. In some instances
the ISP may be able to refer you to an appropriate consultant,
but this will depend on the ISP. Some ISP will refer its ADSL
customers wanting to establish a LAN to a professional
third-party consultant, but others do not deal with LAN services
at all.
The other issue with setting up
your own LAN is providing each user with their own e-mail
account. If you want to have multiple user accounts included in
your broadband service but have only signed up as an individual
user with your ISP, you may incur a fee for each additional user
you introduce. For instance, customers who have signed up to the
service as a single user initially, will have to pay extra setup
and ongoing monthly fees for each user account they want to add
on to their service. This means that if you want to have seven
people hooked up on your LAN with different e-mail addresses, you
will need to pay an additional $77 per month ($11 per user
account per month) on top of your monthly service charges to have
the additional user accounts connected. However, other ISPs do
not have this restriction on multiple user accounts. Most will
provide residential subscribers with as many as five e-mail
accounts on its cable service free of charge.
If you are going to set up a
LAN on your broadband service, be it cable or ADSL, there are
three main ways of sharing the connection between multiple
PCs.
Firstly, you can use a hardware
router, which is arguably the best solution, although it is also
the most expensive one. Router prices start at a couple of
hundred dollars, and allow you to simply plug your modem into one
side and your PCs into the other and you’re away. They handle the
logging-in, line sharing and security without the issues that
plague most of the alternatives, which involve specific hardware
and software configuration, as well as a dependency upon a single
server PC.
DSL router Option two is to use
a proxy server, which is a piece of software that runs on the PC
that is connected to the modem. In addition to proxy software,
you will need a network card and cable for each computer as well
as a network hub. For cable, this requires that the server PC has
two network cards – one for the modem and one for the LAN. ADSL
users have the additional option of plugging the modem directly
into the uplink port on the hub (using a special crossover
cable).
Once you have your hardware
sorted, there are plenty of proxy server software packages
available. Many of these are freeware (such as AnalogX at
www.analogx.com), but most are inadequate if you want to do more
than just surf the Web and read e-mail. Those that are suitable
for using with other applications such as IRC, gaming, instant
messaging, FTP and peer to peer networking will usually involve a
fair amount of configuration and trial and error to get working
properly. If you have an old, unused PC, it might be worth
considering using it as a dedicated proxy server. Using software
such as Smoothwall (http://www.smoothwall.org/), you can quickly
and easily configure it to run as a standalone proxy server
without the need for a Windows licence (as it is Linux based) or
any other cost, aside from a network card.
The benefit of using a proxy
server is primarily the level of control you have over how PCs on
your LAN connect to the Internet. The downside is that each
Internet application on each client PC must be configured to use
the proxy. If you are running Windows 95 or you want to keep your
LAN secure and undetectable, then a proxy is probably the best
way to share your connection. If you are running a later version
of Windows, or Linux, or your PCs are going to be using Internet
applications such as instant messaging and multiplayer games,
then using Network Address Translation may be a better option for
you.
Option three is to use Network
Address Translation (NAT). This is commonly done using Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS) built into Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP.
Linux users will need to configure ipchains or install something
like freesco (http://www.freesco.org) to utilise connection
sharing via NAT. This option is transparent to users on your
network as it involves each computer being assigned an IP address
by the ISP. So if your ISP doesn’t allow you to use LANs, then
this is not really an option. The benefit of NAT is that it
requires almost no configuration at all and allows you to use all
your PCs as if they were directly connected to the modem. As per
the proxy server option, you will need a network card and cable
for each computer as well as a network hub. You will also need an
additional network card for the server PC unless you are using
ADSL and choose to connect the modem to the hub with a crossover
cable.
It is worth bearing in mind
that of all the options available, the last two are limited by
the fact that if the computer connected to the modem crashes or
is shut down, the Internet connection will be unavailable. If you
use a router or have multiple outlets installed, then all your
PCs are online all the time, and none are dependent on the others
working correctly.
Running a server on your
computer
Most broadband packages do not
allow you to run server software from any computer connected to
your modem, be they Web, FTP, e-mail or other type of server.
Those that do usually involve your server being assigned a static
IP address. Essentially, this means that your computer’s online
location will be predetermined. Therefore, a static IP address is
useful because it allows it to be mapped to a domain name in the
DNS. So, for example, if you want to run a Web server for
www.yourname.com.au from your home or office, you need to have a
static IP that can be mapped to that domain name in order to make
it visible on the Internet. If you haven’t specifically requested
an IP address from your ISP, then you will almost certainly be on
a plan that dynamically assigns you an IP each time you log on
with your modem.
It is possible, though, to have
a domain name mapped to your computer even if you are assigned an
IP address dynamically. The general name given to this technique
is Dynamic DNS, or DDNS. To use DDNS, you need to use a service
provider such as dynIP.org or cjb.net, which require you to
install client software on your PC. The function of this software
is to broadcast your PC’s IP address to the DDNS server, allowing
your IP address to change without your domain name seemingly
disappearing from the Net.
If you run remote access
software such as pcAnywhere or VNC, then a dynamic DNS service
such as those mentioned may be quite useful if you want to access
your desktop from the Internet.
A back-up plan
Although broadband operators
have a scheme to refund their Internet clients for network
outages, this doesn’t solve the problem of what to do when your
broadband connection goes down. So if you’re moving from a
regular dialup modem, our advice is not to uninstall it. Chances
are it will come in handy when you need to send an e-mail or use
the Web but you can’t connect because the ADSL network is down.
Remember, DSL is still a newly installed technology to some
operators may have a few hitches during their initial roll-out
phase.
If you use your modem to send
and receive faxes, then bear in mind that broadband won’t replace
this particular function at all. If you have a second phone line
that was dedicated to the modem, then you can probably justify
ditching it and sharing the one line for the phone and
modem.
A good backup plan for times
when your broadband service goes down may be to find an ISP that
offers a prepaid dialup account. This way you’re not locked into
a monthly fee for a service you rarely need, but when you do, you
only pay for what you use.
Security
Whenever you are accessing the
Internet you are exposing your computer to potential risk.
Because people don’t tend to stay too long on a PC when they have
dial-up connections, most don’t pay that much attention to the
threat. Many users are savvy
when it comes to security, installing not only antivirus software
but firewalls as well. Zone Alarm is the clear favourite if
HelpScreen is a judge – largely because it is free (there
is a Pro version which has more features, but this incurs a cost)
and very effective.
The importance of a firewall
when you are connected to a broadband service cannot be stressed
enough. Unlike dial-up, where a user can disconnect their
Internet connection and then in an inadvertent way also secure
their PC because they are offline, broadband users don’t have
that luxury. They are exposed to the Net’s nasties continously.
So when you are not monitoring your computer, why not get
software to do it for you. It is up to you whether you want to
use a free Firewall or pay for one – most of the antivirus
vendors offer some sort of firewall. But whatever the case,
install it. Having a broadband connection without a Firewall is
an invite to security incursions.
Other Questions to Ask the
ISP
Is this service available in
my area?
The best way to check whether a
broadband service is available in your area is via an ISP’s Web
site. One way to do this, for example, is to enter your phone
number or postcode in the ISP facilities on their Web sites which
will allow you to see whether you can receive their chosen
services.
For a complete list of
broadband providers in the world, check out the broadband Choice
Web site: www.Broadbandchoice.com.au.
How much does it cost to
install?
Installation prices will depend
on a range of conditions, including whether you install the
service yourself or opt for a technician; how long you sign up to
the plan; what modem you choose (for example,
if you select a 1 or 4 port ADSL modem, or if you buy a modem
independently of the ISP) and any additional equipment you
need
(such as a Ethernet card, additional phone line filters or
splitter).
Self-installation
packages
Several broadband ISPs have
also been actively promoting self-installation ADSL packages,
which not only save subscribers from the hassle of waiting for a
professional technician to come out to their home, but also
reduce the cost of installing ADSL services.
To give an example, a new range
of self-installation packages for 1 and 4 port ADSL services are
available, which take money off the price of having the service
installed by a professional. These savings are based on
subscribers installing the modem and service themselves. Users
will be charged an additional fee to have the service installed
by a technician. Prices are again on an ISP-by-ISP basis, so
check out some of their Web sites for more details on
professional versus self-install charges.
ADSL broadband in a box ADSL
router
A range of ADSL services have
now been introduced as bundled broadband packages available from
retailers shelves. Much like purchasing a pre-paid mobile phone,
these broadband in a box bundles provide subscribers with an
approved selection of modems, service plan, and one fixed IP
address and are targeted at home and SME users. If you’re
confident you can install the service yourself, or you need the
static IP address, this option may be a good one for
you.
What are the download limits
per month?
Most broadband services are now
capped at a certain amount of download capacity per month, which
means you will be charged an additional amount for any excess
downloads (usually around 15 cents per megabyte). Some service
providers, however, offer uncapped plans which do not charge for
additional usage, but instead reduce in speed as users exceed
their monthly limit. This is worth looking into if you think you
are likely to go over your specified download limit.
The download limit is
determined by the plan you sign up for. Plans for both ADSL
services and cable in the residential space range from 300MB
download limits per month, to up to 10GB (and of course, the more
download bandwidth you require, the higher the monthly usage
charge). Make sure you check these limits thoroughly before
subscribing to a service.
Note: Some ISPs will also
charge for upstream traffic. If you are planning to upload a lot
of data onto the Internet (running a Web site for example),
you’re best to check out what the ISP’s policy is regarding
uploading information before you sign on the dotted
line.
Why are download limits so
high?
You will find that when you
exceed a download limit and then start paying by the megabyte the
normal fee hovers around the 15 cent mark – but this varies
with some operators charging slightly more. The main reason for
this is because the most Internet traffic in the world is
directed at US sites. The problem with this is that the cost of
sending information undersea is expensive. So these high tariffs
imposed by the undersea cable operators are then passed onto to
the broadband service provider who then passes these on to
users.
What is the acceptable use
policy?
With most Internet services,
subscribers are expected to sign a contract to cover the usage of
these services. When signing up to a broadband service, this is
known as an acceptable use policy. In other words it is a code of
conduct.
Some of the conditions
subscribers must adhere to when signing such a policy is not to
knowingly transmit a computer virus or disrupt the network,
illegal acts such as accessing another person’s computer system
or sending bulk unsolicited e-mail. A copy of the ISP’s
acceptable use policy should be available on their Web
site.
What service level
guarantees (if any) do you supply with this
service?
In the residential broadband
space, very few ISPs provide service level guarantees for their
ADSL broadband service. Business plans will tend to offer a more
reliable service, and guarantee a certain level of performance
from the network. This guarantee will be up to the ISP. Most of
the equipment provided by the ISP will be covered by a warranty
(the length of which will depend on the contract you have signed
up for).
What level of customer
support do I receive?
Again, this will depend on the
individual ISP, as well as the plan you select. Business
customers can expect a higher level of support than residential
users, but they will pay more for the privilege.
How long does it take to
install?
For DSL services, ISPs suggest
it will take around 15 working days to have the entire
installation process completed (this can however, stretch out to
four weeks depending on the availability of the required modem,
or the number of subscribers in the queue to be connected). Note:
broadband in a box customers are also subject to these waiting
times. Cable customers on the other hand are able to hop onto the
service immediately after it has been installed.
Do I get a discount if I
already have an existing phone account?
ISPs that offer other services
such as Internet or telephony often have special deals in place
for existing customers who want to sign up to broadband, so it’s
worth checking these out to see what kind of deal you are
entitled to. For example, customers can receive discounts on the
monthly costs for broadband services if they have existing
telephony accounts or cable TV. Other ISPs may waive the costs of
installing the service if you are already a dial-up
customer.
How long is the service
plan?
The length of the service plan
you select can also have a bearing on the amount you pay for the
installation of the service. Generally, the longer the contract,
the cheaper the cost of installation will be (the difference
between a three month and 18 month contract can be over $100).
Bear in mind, if you wish to cancel the service, ISPs will charge
a cancellation fee (this is usually worked out on the proportion
of months you had remaining on the contract – much like a
mobile phone bill).
What system requirements do
I need?
- ADSL
system requirements
For a PC connection, you will
need a 200MHz or higher Pentium processor, with a Windows
operating system (with the exception of a very few who can
support Windows 95, you will need Windows 98 S.E. or up). The
amount of RAM you require to run the service will depend on the
operating system you use: for example, users with Windows 98 will
need 16MB – 64MB of RAM, while Windows 2000 and ME users
will need 64MB RAM. All users will also need between 20MB – 150MB
of free hard disk space, as well as either a USB or Ethernet port
(depending on the modem).
Mac users are recommended to
have a Power PC or iMac, and require 20MB free hard disk space as
well as an Ethernet connection. Mac OS users will need 12MB RAM,
while Mac OSX users will require 128MB RAM in order to access an
ADSL service.
Both Mac and PC users need to
have a CDROM drive for the installation software.
- Cable
system requirements
System requirements for cable
services are similar, and Windows users will need a system with
similar RAM specifications as those mentioned above. Cable
services will require 125MB – 150MB of free hard disk space
(although some Windows XP users with cable plan will need 500MB
of free hard disk space). All cable modems for Windows connect
through to your PC via either a PCI slot or USB port, so users
will also need to have a spare USB port, while Macintosh users
will need to have an Ethernet connection.
- Can I use
Linux?
Cable and ADSL providers do not
officially support Linux, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the
service with this operating system.
Some cable services use DHCP to
allocate IP addresses to users. DHCP is a standard protocol for
allocating IP addresses on Ethernet networks, and has been used
in small and large office networks for years. All you need to do
to switch your broadband service to your Linux computer is
configure a UNIX DHCP client with the correct DHCP id.You also
need to ensure your network card is set up correctly for
Linux.
Some cable users will need to
configure their Linux machines for unique home-grown protocols.
These programs provide user/password login control, as well as
regular network checks, but was designed for the officially
supported platforms only – not Linux.
While Linux is not officially
supported by ISPs offering ADSL services, the PPPoE protocol
(more on this below) used in ADSL technology to connect users to
the service is well supported by Linux. Again, it’s just a matter
of configuring the PPPoE client to suit your Linux set
up.
What modem should I choose?
(ADSL) 4-port ADSL modem
External ADSL modems are
available with two network interfaces: USB or Ethernet. USB
compliant modems allow users to connect the modem to their PC via
a USB port, while Ethernet-based modems connect up via the PC’s
Ethernet port. (Note: users will also need a network card to
support an Ethernet modem).
While your choice of modem will
effect the cost of your ADSL installation, modems can also play a
suprisingly influential role in the security of your high-speed
connection. Some ADSL modems for example, offer additional
features, such as built-in firewalls or PPPoE clients.
If you are going to bring your
own modem, be wary that ISPs will not let you use any old modem;
you will need to buy a product approved by the ISP. This will
also mean that your modem will not be covered by any warranty
from the ISP. In addition, some ISPs will not allow you to bring
along your own modem – you will only be able to get the
modem available at the time of installation.
Another thing consumers should
be aware of is that not all ISPs offer modems with their services
– and in some cases, the use of the modem is on a rental
basis. This means that if you want to cease services with one ISP
and join another before your contract is up, you will be expected
to return the modem to your original ISP. Make sure you check the
conditions of modem use before signing up to any
plans.
Before we leave this point, it
is important to stress the importance of the modem as a security
measure. If possible, do not skimp on the modem. Security is a
big issue with broadband (see Security) and if you install a
modem with a in-built Firewall – and there are many
available today, you are cutting down the risk to your
information from the outside world considerably.
Once the modem is connected and
you have confirmation from your ISP that the service has been
connected at their end, install the software, enter your username
and password through the PPPoE client (see glossary for more
details) and you’re online.
PPPoE client
PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) is a
specification for connecting multiple computer users on an
Ethernet local area network to a remote site through a modem or
similar device. This client is used by ADSL service providers to
authenticate their customers on the network.
During an initial exchange
between the PC and the remote site (or ISP), the PPPoE client
learns the network address and allocates the dynamic or random IP
addresses assigned to a user each time they authenticate to a
broadband service. When an Internet session ends, that IP address
goes back into the pool and gets allocated to someone
else.
As the PPPoE client is a
generic program, users do not have to stick with the client
packaged alongside their broadband service. A list of PPPoE
clients can be obtained by doing a Google search. Some PPPoE
clients are listed at
http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe.htm#38.
Unlike dial-up connections, DSL
and cable modem connections are “always on”. Since a number of
different users are sharing the same physical connection to the
remote service provider, a method is needed to keep track of user
traffic, including which user should be billed. Once a session is
established between an individual user and the ISP, the session
can be monitored for billing purposes.
Because it is similar to the
client used for dial-up, PPPoE clients are exposed to the same
amount of vulnerability to attack.
About the Author:
Enrique de Argaez MBA, P.E., is the webmaster of several
multilingual Internet websites and author of four newsletters. He
is active in Internet World Marketing, and Internet Market
Research. Visit his main English websites Internet World Stats and All About Market
Research.
Internet Broadband Glossary
XDSL: Term used to
describe a family of digital subscriber line technologies
(eg. ADSL, VDSL, HDSL).
HFC (Hybrid fibre coaxial
cable): A shared broadband access architecture
using optical fibre between exchanges and hubs in suburban
streets, and
coaxial cables between the hubs and customers to carry cable
services.
ISP (Internet Service
Provider): Provides individuals and other companies
access to the Internet and other related services such as Web
site building
and virtual hosting.
POP (Point of Presence):
Physical access point to the Internet.
PING times: Ping is a
basic Internet program which lets you verify an
IP address exists. Loosely, the term means “to get the attention
of” or
”to check for the presence of” another party online. When it has
determined
that the IP address is valid, the program will then send files
to that address
and can also accept requests. The computer acronym (for Packet
Internet
or Inter-Network Groper) was designed to match the submariners’
term for
the sound of a returned sonar pulse.
Router: A router is a
stand-alone device (much like another PC) which sits
between the PC or network and the Internet and determines where
and what
information should be sent and received between them. It also
acts as a
security device by preventing unauthorised access by other PCs
to that
network or PC. As a whole, routers can be found at any gateway
between a
network and the Internet, or at the junction between two
different networks.
In broadband, a router can be used to share information from the
Internet to
a network by simply plugging in the modem at one end, and the
LAN (Local
Area Network) connection in the other.
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