DSL for Dummies

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Conventions Used in This Book

How This Book Is Organized

Part I: Getting Comfortable with DSL

Part II: Shopping for DSL

Part III: Connecting Your PC or LAN to DSL

Part IV: The Part of Tens

Part V: Appendixes

What You're Not to Read

Icons in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Comfortable with DSL

Chapter 1: DSL: More than a Pipe Dream

A Bad Case of the Bandwidth Blues

Modems, POTS, and the PSTN

ISDN: Too little, too late, too expensive?

T1 and frame relay: High speed, high cost

DSL: The Bandwidth Sweet Spot

DSL is riding the winds of change

The Telecommunications Act and DSL

Meet the DSL family

The great DSL bypass

Availability and price

A DSL Connection Changes Everything

DSL Reality Check

Subject to change without notice

Keeping your distance

Please stand by, we're experiencing technical problems

Fragile competition

Waiting for interoperability

Bandwidth shell game

What's on Cable?

Should you check out cable modem service?

Cable competition can't hurt

Chapter 2: The Telecom Side of DSL

Welcome to the Telecommunications Jungle

Gatekeepers of the last mile

Changing the rules

Through the regulatory maze

Inside the Telecommunications Network

All loops lead to the central office

Keeping tethered through local loops

Extending the reach of COs through DLCs

The big PSTN switch

Inside the DSL Network

DSLAM: Center of the DSL universe

Is your loop qualified?

Going the distance

End of the Line

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

The great divide

Getting wired for DSL

Know your connectors

CLECs and DSL Service

How a data CLEC operates

CLECs, ISPs, and DSL service

ILECs and DSL Service

Chapter 3: The Zen of DSL

DSL Data Communications 101

The nature of digital communications

Frequencies and bandwidth

Changing channels

Signaling and modulation

Asymmetric or symmetric

Data swimming upstream or downstream

Throughput (bandwidth in the real world)

The Many Flavors of DSL

ADSL

UADSL (G.Lite)

SDSL

RADSL

IDSL

HDSL and HDSL-2

VDSL

MVLDSL

DSL Standards and Forums

Know your DSL standards organizations

The current state of DSL standards

Chapter 4: All Nodes Lead to TCP/IP

TCP/IP and Your DSL Connection

The five layers of TCP/IP

The life of packets

Gateway to the TCP/IP universe

Any port in a storm

Creating Identity with IP Addresses

IP addresses have class and no class

Subnet subdivision

Using private IP addresses

It's all in the translation

Using registered IP addresses

Using static and dynamic IP addressing

What's In a Name Anyway?

Host names, domains, and subdomains

Top-level domain names

A new crop of top-level domains

The domain name game

IP Configuration Recipes

Using a block of registered IP addresses

Using NAT and private IP addresses

PPP on DSL

PPP over Ethernet

PPP over ATM over DSL

Chapter 5: DSL CPE Field Guide

Types of DSL CPE

DSL CPE Interoperability

Chipsets, Firmware, and DSL CPE

Single-User DSL CPE Options

USB: Say goodbye to UART

In the PCI modem cards

Single-computer bridges

Multiuser DSL CPE Options

Bridge over DSL waters

Going the DSL router route

Sharing a DSL Connection

Chapter 6: To Serve and Protect: Internet Security

Internet Security 101

Understanding Firewalls and Proxy Servers

Packet filter firewalls

Proxy servers

Security Solutions for the Rest of Us

DSL routers as firewalls

Software proxy servers

Proxy server in a box

Security as an appliance

Isolating your protocols

Part II: Shopping for DSL

Chapter 7: Getting Your DSL Connection

Creating Your DSL Game Plan

The big three pieces of DSL service

DSL game plan checklist

Checking DSL Availability

Tracking down DSL service

Have your phone number and address ready

Behind the scenes in DSL local loops

Figuring Out Your Need for Speed

Checking Out Your DSL Service Options

Finding a good Web site

Getting the quote

The devil is in the details

Crunching the Numbers

Start-up charges

Monthly recurring charges

Chapter 8: TCP/IP Applications for Your DSL Service

Stop, Take a Deep Breath, and Think

Harnessing your DSL connection

Monitoring Your DSL Performance

Using ping and tracert commands

Visual Route

Net.Medic

Running a Web Server

Going with a Web hosting service

Web server bandwidth requirements

Web server software

Running an E-Mail Server

Microsoft Exchange

Deerfield's MDaemon

Eudora WorldMail Server

Show and Tell through IP Video Conferencing

DVC system primer

Microsoft NetMeeting

CU-SeeMe

WebCams and video clips

Net Phones, Faxes, and Pagers

IP phone home

Net faxing

Buzz me (IP paging)

I Want My VPN

Practicing Safe Downloads

Working by Remote Control

Chapter 9: Checking Out DSL Providers

CLECs and DSL Service

The CLEC and ISP relationship

Checking out CLEC DSL

CLECs and CPE options

NorthPoint Communications

DSL service options

DSL service availability

CPE options

ISP partners

Covad Communications

DSL service options

DSL service availability

CPE options

ISP partners

Rhythms NetConnections

CPE options

DSL service availability

ISP partners

ISPs Acting as DSL CLECs

ILECs and DSL Service

Pacific Bell

DSL service options

DSL service availability

ISP partners

US WEST

DSL service availability

ISP partners

Bell Atlantic

DSL service options

DSL service availability

BellSouth

Southwestern Bell

Ameritech

GTE

DSL service options

DSL service availability

ISP partners

Chapter 10: Facing the ISP Interface

The DSL and ISP Connection

Walking through a DSL service installation

Navigating your CPE options

Bridged DSL service

Routed DSL service

Putting Your IP Package Together

Getting IP addresses

Domain Name Service

Getting your domain name

Transferring your domain name from another ISP

Internet E-Mail Services

Internet e-mail primer

Hosting your Internet mailboxes with the ISP

Running your own e-mail server

Network News Service

Web Hosting

Part III: Connecting Your PC or LAN to DSL

Chapter 11: Building Your LAN Foundation

The LAN Plan

The LAN-to-DSL connection

Go fast with Fast Ethernet

A star is born

A Matter of Networking Style

Nice and easy with peer-to-peer networking

Power networking through client/server networking

NIC Your Computer

Taking the PCI magic bus

Installing a NIC in a PC

Installing a NIC driver in Windows 95 and 98

Installing a NIC driver in Windows NT

Connecting a notebook using a PC Card NIC

Adding multiple NICs on a PC

The Media Is the Message

Twisted pair isn't a deviant couple

Getting wired

One-on-one with crossover link

Journey to the Center of the LAN

What's all the hubbub?

Making the switch

Chapter 12: Windows 95/98 Meets DSL

Windows 95/98 and DSL Connections

Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows 95/98

Configuring Windows 95/98 TCP/IP Clients

Configuring Windows 95/98 clients for DHCP

Configuring Windows 95/98 clients for static IP addresses

Managing network card properties

Managing your protocol bindings

Working the DUN Way

Installing Dial-Up Networking

Setting up a new connection profile

Configuring your DUN connection profile

Making the DUN connection

Bypassing the Connect To dialog box

Handy Windows 95/98 TCP/IP Utilities

What's your IP status?

Reach out and telnet someone

Ping, ping, ping

Tracing your routes

Chapter 13: Windows NT Meets DSL

Windows NT and DSL Connections

Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows NT

Configuring NICs for TCP/IP in Windows NT

Configuring Windows NT for dynamic IP addressing

Configuring Windows NT for static IP addressing

Beyond basic TCP/IP configuration

Working the DUN Way

Installing and configuring RAS for DUN

Creating a Phonebook entry

Configuring your Phonebook entry for TCP/IP

Keeping up appearances

Making the connection

Handy Tools of the IP Trade

What's your IP status?

Reach out and telnet someone

Ping, ping, ping

Tracing your routes

Part IV: The Part of Tens

Chapter 14: Dave's Top Ten Reasons for Getting DSL Service

Cut Your Web Surfing Times

Move Big Files Quickly

Run Your Own Web Server

Add Show and Tell to Internet Communications

Telework in the VPN Fast Lane

Use Push and Pull Applications

Level the Data Communications Playing Field

Run Your Own E-mail Server

Share Your Internet Connection

Tap into Flat Rate Service

Chapter 15: Ten DSL Service Shopping Tips

Use the Caveat Emptor Defense

Shop around to Compare DSL Offerings

Know What You Need Before Ordering

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Know Your CPE Options and Prices

Ask about Promotional Deals

Ask for Price Protection Guarantees

Get a Written Quote

Read the Fine Print

Ask about Backbones and QoS

Chapter 16: Ten Questions to Ask about DSL Service

Is DSL Service Available in Your Area?

What's Your Need for Speed?

Which Type of CPE Do You Want to Use?

What's Your IP Configuration?

What's Your TCP/IP Application Strategy?

What Will DSL Service Cost?

How Helpful Is the ISP?

What Are the ISP's Terms and Restrictions?

Do You Plan to Connect Multiple Computers?

What Other Services Do You Want from an ISP?

Part V: Appendixes

Appendix A: DSL Products, Services, and Resources

DSL CPE Vendors

DSL Proxy Server and Security Products

TCP/IP Utilities and Applications

TCP/IP utilities

Video conferencing

Web servers

E-mail servers

Net phones, net faxing, and IP paging

Remote control programs

Virtual private networking

ILEC and CLEC Web Sites

Other DSL Resources

Appendix B: Glossary

Index