Re: DSL modem recommendation

From: Chris Hodgins (chodgins_at_cis.strath.ac.uk)
Date: 02/23/05

  • Next message: Richard Jansson: "Problems with installing freeBSD 4.8" 
    Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:40:09 +0000
To: Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm@toybox.placo.com>

    Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
    >
    >>-----Original Message-----
    >>From: Chris Hodgins [mailto:chodgins@cis.strath.ac.uk]
    >>Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 3:51 AM
    >>To: Ted Mittelstaedt
    >>Cc: markzero; freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
    >>Subject: Re: DSL modem recommendation
    >>
    >>
    >>[snip]
    >>
    >>>STAY AWAY from ANY dsl modem that does NOT have an ethernet
    >>>jack on it!!! Such as the USB speedtouches that Pipex
    >>>was handing out for free!! There's a reason they are free!!
    >>>You can't pay people (who know anything) to take them!!!
    >>>
    >>>Ted
    >>
    >>What is so wrong with USB DSL modems?
    >
    >
    > The USB port was designed for use with joysticks, keyboards,
    > mice, etc. Not ethernet speeds.
    >
    > If you ever have an opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison
    > between an ethernet modem and a USB you will see your CPU
    > utilization much lower on the ethernet. Ethernet controllers
    > are far superior and efficient than USB chipsets.
    >
    > Now of course, DSL is not high bandwidth (compared to Ethernet)
    > so there is that argument that it makes no difference.

    I was just thinking that. :)

    >
    > Another argument is that if you have no need to run a server,
    > USB means you have to waste CPU on translation. Of course the
    > counter to that is that with a modem/router, you can't get a
    > public IP address.

    I guess generally most would not require to run a server so thats a fair
    point.

    >
    > And yet another is that if the hardware changes in the future,
    > a day might come when a new motherboard with a new USB chipset
    > is not detected and usable by some version of FreeBSD. Ethernet
    > your pretty much guarenteed will be around forever.

    Why would I buy a computer with a motherboard not supported by FreeBSD?
      I guess if we are speaking about the general user that may apply but
    you could also argue the general user would most likely be using windows
    and pretty much guaranteed a working proprietary driver. Of course by
    the time this new chipset is out, Windows may be dead and FreeBSD is the
    new ruler of the free world. You just never know. ;)

    >
    > But, speaking as an ISP I can tell you the biggest reason
    > we recommend against USB for our customers - most of our
    > customers are windoze users, and if you put a USB modem on
    > their windows boxes, when they connect in, they get a public
    > IP address assigned to their Windows box.

    Yeah, I can understand why that might be a problem.

    >
    > And if they aren't currently patched (few 'doze user are ever)
    > within an hour their machine will be compromized by someone's
    > trojan and their machine will then become a menace and a problem
    > on the network. Our network.

    Indeed...bad user...bad!

    >
    > We do not see the advantage to us to have a couple dozen
    > 'doze users on our 1.5x1M DSL circuits, infected with the
    > latest virus and attempting to reinfect the rest of the
    > Internet. Maybe you do?

    You come across as being a very smart guy so why ask this question? I
    am asking a general "why not USB?", not "USB modems are awesome and you
    should all convert!".

    > Certainly the cable Internet providers
    > in the US seem to think there's an advantage, that is why
    > the cable networks all run like dog crap.
    >
    > Ted
    >

    Well they have made there bed and now they have to lie in it. :)

    Chris
    _______________________________________________
    freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list
    http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
    To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"

  • Next message: Richard Jansson: "Problems with installing freeBSD 4.8"

    Relevant Pages

    • [patch/RFT 2.4.26-rc2] update usbnet matching 2.6.recent
      ... The "usbnet" driver has gotten a bit out of sync with the newer ... +Multi-purpose USB Networking Framework ... like two-node Ethernets, so you can use 802.1d Ethernet Bridging ...
      (Linux-Kernel)
    • Re: Linux sys as a ADSL router?
      ... use one of the Speedtouch USB modems. ... Most DSL modems come in the form of ethernet bridges. ... The DSL modems that connect via USB actually implement USB ethernet ...
      (comp.os.linux.networking)
    • Re: Do you still use "RS232" or something else?
      ... The point is that you can communicate with your device via layer 2 mac/ ... Ethernet II frame = DIX frame - most used ... Windows Vista do not support the networking parts of the USB CDC, ...
      (comp.arch.embedded)
    • Re: Windows XP Boot Up Hang, USB Router
      ... updated drivers from the manufacturers web site. ... fortunately I will soon be getting a router that has 2 ethernet ... on a fresh couple of Windows XP using a USB connection from router ...
      (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
    • Re: Airpot extreme o express
      ... quest'ultimo ha 2 connessioni ethernet. ... Quindi la soluzione airport Express è ... In ogni caso l'Hub USB autoalimentato è collegabile sia all'airport Express che all'extreme al fine di utilizzare l'HArd disk comune? ... Multifunzione Brother 7420 (via USB) ...
      (it.comp.macintosh)