Choosing an ISP and Configuring Dial-up

What’s an ISP?

Internet Service Provider– The guy who provides you access to the

internet– Usually maintains an expensive, high

bandwidth connection to the rest of the internet, which is shared by many cheap, slow modems that give access to users.

ISP

Home PC

ISPThe Internet

Slow, frequently downconnection to ISP via phone

Fast, always up, reliableconnection, dedicated line

ISP

Server

Program

ISP InternalsISP contains Servers

The Internet

Clients:

*Client for Microsoft Networks,Notepad

* File and Printer sharing

*Browser,E-mail,Ftp, etc

DNS

FTP

DHCPTCP

IP

Drivers

Apache,IISWeb pages

RAS

ppp

ISP

The ISP is a sort of retailer of bandwidth that also handles all the nasty details of running a real internet connection

ISPs in the area:– NPS– mbay.net– redshift.com– aol.com

See Power point notes of a former student

Things to look for

Large modem pool so you can get a connection Local phone call to modem pool Modems as fast as yours (56K these days) Fast, reliable connection to the outside world Cheap Good support service Good availability/up time Free services , web page hosting, email Web upload mechanism, server scripts Hidden costs i.e. charges on service calls, adds

Using NPS to access the Internet

It’s free Some people complain about modem pool

availability, modem speed – # of Modems and Trunk Line (T1 1.5Mbps)

connection issue Appropriate use restrictions May be temporary Home Setup not so easy

Configuring Dial-up to NPS Assuming TCP and dial-up connection is

installed:– My Computer->dialup networking->make new

connection

– Follow wizard directions

– See DialUpClassPageConnect.ppt

See http://intranet.nps.navy.mil/Code05/New05/UserGuide/RAS.htm

Other ISPs

Mbay.net is popular and has a discount for NPS students

redshift.com is the other major ISP in the area AOL is an ISP--they provide access to the

internet, and add a lot of other stuff too, for a higher price– If you travel a lot they will usually have a local

dialup

Faster non-modem options

Modems are cheap but limited in speed Other options:

– ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) • New from PacBell, just being deployed• Aprox $40/mo for both voice and data• Always up• 1.5 mbps download, 128 mbps upload• Limited range--you need to be close to a central office• Uses new Descrete Multitone DTM modulation on existing

phone lines. Voice on low frequencies<64kbs data on higher frequencies

Other Options

Cable Modem– Allegedly available Real Soon Now from Cox, others

– Pilot program at La Mesa?

– Approx 10 mbps speed bidirectional

– Shared with other users in area; if the guy next door is downloading the Star Wars trailers, you’ll get less bandwidth

Faster Connections

ISDN– Rapidly being obsoleted by faster, cheaper

options like ADSL– PacBell is $24/mo plus daytime hourly charges– Aprox 120 kbs speed, on standard phone cables– May be your only option for a higher speed

connection. Must be within 5.5km of central office or BRI service or repeaters required.

Wireless

Ricochet is popular (www.ricochet.net)– Wireless access from a laptop– Limited coverage (SF Bay Area, Washington

DC, Seattle)

$300 modem, $30/mo for service At least 28.8 kbps service, some places

apparently up to 128 kbps.

Free Internet Services

Search Yahoo for Free ISP– Free is temporary, and disappearing

Free Web hosting– Try Angelfire.com

– Usually require • adds

• Sponsor Web site visits

See Power point notes of a former student See INetServices_pswrd_CHARLIE