router question

[Byte 2.0]

What is the Lan port used for on the back?

Ok, example a person has a westell DSL modem with a built in router.

one ethernet port.
say a customer has a linksys router with a wan and Lan port on the back

should they connect the Lan to the westell modem?
since the westell modem would be making the PPPoE connection?

[DrZaius]

WAN (internet) port is connected to the DSL/cable modem, LAN (network) port is connected to a hub/switch to which the computers are connected.

[Dave22]

If you're asking about using the Linksys as a firewall, then connect the WAN port of the Linksys to the Ethernet port of the Westel. Configure the WAN port of the Linksys as static with an address in the same subnet as the Westel's Ethernet port. The LAN port of the Linksys would plug into a hub or directly to the customer PC network card.

For example:

Westel Ethernet port: 192.168.2.1 / 255.255.255.0
Linksys WAN port: 192.168.2.2 / 255.255.255.0
Linksys LAN port: 192.168.1.1 / 255.255.255.0

[Byte 2.0]

I guess what I am trying to get at is a way to by pass using the linksys as a router. A simple 10/100 switch would do, but most of the customers I deal with have went out and brought a 10/100 router instead.

The westell has a built in NAt router, the westell will do it's own PPPoE connection. I believe their is a way to connect linksys and other routers up in a bridge somehow to make the linksys router appear to be a 10/100 switch.

I know some other agents have told people to connect the linksys up on the lan to the westells and where able to get the westell to do the connection and make an unsupported network work.

I know it is possible to reset the westell, then connect the linksys on the wan and let the linksys make the pppoe session, but that by passes some of the diagnostic tools that are in the westell and I really hate doing thaat.

I want the westell to assign out DHCP IP addresses to the PC's.

[morriswindgate]

I would go buy a switch with enough ports tell the customer this is what is needed and it costs this much, but I am willing to make an even trade switch for the router. Then you get to hook it up the easy way. And if you deal with this often enough, go to pricewatch and buy up a couple of cheap switches so that you have one on hand at a good price.

[Byte 2.0]

I don't deal direct with customer. I just work over the phone and they are monitored, I can't wheel and deal like that or I would be rich by now. But I do tell them to go get a switch and sell the router in their case.

[glc]

Why don't you just tell them how to switch the Westell over to bridge mode and go ahead and use the router - and let them know the disadvantages (no diags, unsupported)?

[Byte 2.0]

GLC
that would be the simple way. I will probably just do that.

[glc]

When SBC here was still Ameritech, they were shipping Westells in the kits preset to bridge mode, and they were telling people to use Enternet 300.

[Byte 2.0]

GLC the way all westells I have worked with start in bridge mode. they will then work with NTS 300, win XP native PPPoe, or any other PPPoE client. To put them back all you have to do is hit the reset button in the back.

However are are encourged no to do that because it unsupported in that modem and you lose all the built in diag tools. They prefer to ask the customer to put their router in bridge mode. But I am kinda unuse about how to really do that correctly.