11.2. Types of DSL line and router in the United Kingdom

11.2. Types of DSL line and router in the United Kingdom
	Chapter 11. PPPoE

In the UK there are various types of DSL line and router than can be used. Any device that supports PPPoE can work with the FireBrick, but some options are only available with some devices, as listed below :-

BT 20CN or 21CN lines can support PPPoE and PPPoA on the wire. This means you can use them with a PPPoE/A modem (such as a Vigor V-130) out of the box, or with a bridging router such as the Zyxel P660 configured in bridge mode. BT support baby jumbo frames too.
Other carrier PPPoA lines only support PPPoA, in theory. In practice they also support PPPoE. This means you can use a PPPoE/A modem, or a bridging modem.
TalkTalk lines support both PPPoA and PPPoE, and so can work with a bridging modem. They support baby jumbo frames too.
BT FTTC lines come with a VDSL modem which supports PPPoE directly so no extra equipment is needed to connect to the FireBrick.
BT FTTP lines terminate on an active NTE which supports PPPoE directly so no extra equipment is needed to connect to the FireBrick.

For other types of lines in the UK, or those in other countries, you need to know what they can do on the wire (PPPoA or PPPoE) and have a suitable modem/router to talk that protocol and convert to PPPoE on the LAN link to the FB2900. It seems most DSL routers will bridge PPPoE on the wire to PPPoE on the LAN, but few will act as a PPPoE access concentrator. The Vigor V-130 is one of the few that handle PPPoA on the wire and PPPoE link to the FB2900.

A significant benefit of the Vigor V-130 is that it works with no configuration on BT 20CN and 21CN lines as well as other carrier PPPoA lines and TalkTalk lines - you just plug it into the line and the FB2900 and it just works. There are also modems that work in bridged mode, and support baby jumbo frames allowing PPPoE through to the carrier BRAS with full size MTU.

For fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) and fibre to the premises (FTTP) service you connect the FB2900 directly to the service (BT supplied modem) with no extra equipment.


Chapter 11. PPPoE		11.3. Definining PPPoE client links