Settings That Might Be Required by Your ISP

Depending on your ISP, you might be required to enter some other settings using the administration panel for your access point/router besides just selecting dynamic IP addressing (or providing a static IP and DNS server address).

Hostname and Domain Name Settings

Some ISPs (particularly cable operators) require a hostname and domain name. Figure 15.3 shows these being entered in the Linksys Wireless Broadband Router administration panel.

Figure 15.3. Some cable ISPs require a hostname and a domain name, which can be entered in the access point/router using the device's administration panel.

Click Apply at the bottom of the administration panel to keep these settings.

Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet

Many DSL providers use PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet). If your ISP uses PPPoE, you need to select PPPoE from the Internet Connection Type drop-down list in your access point/router's administration panel. Figure 15.4 shows PPPoE selected in the Linksys Wireless Broadband Router.

Figure 15.4. Many DSL ISPs use PPPoE. If yours does, you need to select it as the connection type.

With PPPoE selected as the connection type, you'll need to enter your username and password, as shown in Figure 15.4. Click Apply to save the settings.