[TriLUG] help with Bellsouth DSL static IP

[Aaron S. Joyner]

Dan wrote:

>
> I signed up for the Bellsouth enhanced service that gives me 3Mb down 
> and a static IP.  I've got the 3Mb but I can't seem to use the static 
> IP.  I think I know what is wrong but I want to run it by the list 
> because I know that there are some of you that have this thing working.
>
> I use the Westell Wirespeed DSL modem and a Linksys firewall/router. 
> Before I got the Westell I had a different modem (that got lightning 
> fried).  In the original setup, before Westell, the Linksys router did 
> the authentication with Bellsouth so the router got an external 
> address.  When the Westell came the instructions were to have _it_ do 
> the authentication and not the router.  So the Westell is what gets 
> the external IP address. So I ping my static IP I am pinging the modem 
> and not the router, which means all of the DMZ Stuff the Linksys 
> offers me is useless because the external world never hits the router 
> on the static IP...
>
> Any of this make sense?  I hesitate to go back to router 
> authentication because the connection with the Westell was flaky until 
> I changed.

The configuration difference is simple.  The Westel is making a PPPoE 
(or PPPoA) connection to BellSouth for you, just as you presumed.  This 
is the default setup, and what they suggest, as far as I am aware.  You 
may be able to configure the Westel to do RFC 1483 Bridging, and then 
your Linksys would need to do PPPoE and it would get your static IP 
address and you'd be in business.  I'm not certain if the Westel can do 
bridging - it should be able to, but I simply don't have much experience 
with it.  Generally the things I know about the Westel is that they 
hard-code the firmware with BS-specific settings - specifically the 
domain that gets tagged onto your username has to be @bellsouth.net 
which locks you into using their BBG service.  We often have to tell 
customers switching to us from BellSouth that not only to they *want* to 
get a new modem for stability reasons (the Westel is fairly crappy, from 
everyone I've ever heard from), but they *have* to because that one has 
been built specifically for use only with their service.  The more I 
type the more I realize it probably can't be a 1483 bridge or we'd be 
able to use it as well.

So, as one solution, you can head over to your local Intrex and pick up 
a BestData DSL modem.  The retail cost is $99.99, but don't forget about 
your TriLUG discount - details available in the member section 
(http://members.trilug.org/benefit_info/).  That modem (which I use at 
home myself) is entirely capable of being a bridge so that your Linksys 
device can do the PPPoE negotiation and get the IP address you're 
looking for.

Best of luck,
Aaron S. Joyner