devon-lad
asked on
Why does PPPoE work on a DSL line?
Hi,
My understanding of the difference between PPPoA and PPPoE is that the former uses ATM and the latter Ethernet. Therefore if you have a DSL connection through your normal analogue phone line, you use PPPoA. If you've got a cable connection, you use PPPoE.
For many years this understanding has fed and clothed the kids and kept the wife in shoes.
However, the other day a friend asked if I could help him setup a wireless router at home on his DSL line - he's got an AOL account. "Yes, no problem" I said. But couldn't get it to work.
After a call to AOL they told me that I needed to be using PPPoE not PPPoA. After much protestation on my part that PPPoE wouldn't work, I grudgingly agreed to try it. And what do you know - it worked.
How can that be?
My understanding of the difference between PPPoA and PPPoE is that the former uses ATM and the latter Ethernet. Therefore if you have a DSL connection through your normal analogue phone line, you use PPPoA. If you've got a cable connection, you use PPPoE.
For many years this understanding has fed and clothed the kids and kept the wife in shoes.
However, the other day a friend asked if I could help him setup a wireless router at home on his DSL line - he's got an AOL account. "Yes, no problem" I said. But couldn't get it to work.
After a call to AOL they told me that I needed to be using PPPoE not PPPoA. After much protestation on my part that PPPoE wouldn't work, I grudgingly agreed to try it. And what do you know - it worked.
How can that be?
ASKER
bhanu - I look after a number of company networks, and their DSL lines all use PPPoA - and most of them have 8Mbps lines. So how can there be a restriction on PPPoA?
Also, PPPoE implies an ethernet connection - how can an ethernet connection be established on a phone line without some other underlying connection?
Also, PPPoE implies an ethernet connection - how can an ethernet connection be established on a phone line without some other underlying connection?
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ASKER
Ah, right...think I've got it now.
Thanks
Thanks
PPPOA was used earlier where the the data travelling from the tele exchange was going to the ATM circuit server and the authentication also used to happen on that server, and the customer used to connect. This connection speeds are limitation.
Now for enhanced functionality PPPOE is being used by all the DSL service providers. They no longer provide a PPPOA connection type.
Or rather now a days PPPOE is the global standard for DSL.
as you said
PPPOA - Point to point protocol over the ATM
PPPOE - Point to point Protocol over Ethernet
ideally in a PPPOA connection there is a limitation on the bandwidht or speed a customer can be provided it was ok when the DSL speeds were 256 or 512 kbps now a days we talk about 9 MBPS speeds a PPPOA connection dose not provide that flexibility.
thats the reason why u find PPPOE even if its a DSL connection.
regards
bhanu