Verizon DSL modem - router vs. bridge (was: Does the White Russian ...)

[Ben Scott]

On 6/19/07, John Abreau <jabr at blu.org> wrote:
> My DSL modem has a static internal IP address, and transparently
> handles the external dynamic address.

  If it's Verizon DSL (and likely some other brands, too), you can
change this, if you prefer.  For example, if you'd prefer to get the
public IP address on your own equipment, where you presumably have
more control.  You see, Verizon sets their DSL modems to be NAT
routers when they give them to you, but you can switch them back into
bridge mode, and use PPPoE on your own equipment.

  You'll need to know your Verizon username and password.  The
username will be in the form of "something at verizon.net".

  Open up the management UI of the DSL modem in a web browser.  This
will be the default gateway address it's built-in DHCP server is
handing out -- it  will be http://192.168.1.1 from what I've seen.  Go
in to configuration, and look for something about "VC" or "bridge"
configuration.  There may be multiple VCs (virtual circuits) listed;
pick the first one.  Change it from "PPPoE" to "Bridge".  Save
changes.

  The DSL modem may prompt you for a password.  When I did this,
Verizon hadn't set it, so you can try looking up the default admin
password for the brand and model of modem you have.  I've also seen
reports of the password being set to your Verizon password.  YMMV.  If
all fails, look up the instructions on resetting your modem to it's
factory defaults (typically a pin switch).

  Once this is done, your Internet feed will go dead until you
configure your own equipment for PPPoE.  With a LinkSys NAT box,
config is right on the first page of their web UI.  For Linux, the
rp-pppoe is the PPPoE implementation of choice.  'doze XP and newer
have PPPoE built-in.

-- Ben