Interesting ADSL host question

Haggisman · 7 Dec 2007 at 11:22

ok, this is a wierd one...

Is there any way to configure a PC to act as an ADSL server, i.e. like an ISP would use, or does it require dedicated hardware? I have a feeling it is probably the latter, but just in case anyone knows of some software i can use i thought i would post here

V-Spec · 7 Dec 2007 at 11:35

Haggisman said:
ok, this is a wierd one...

Is there any way to configure a PC to act as an ADSL server, i.e. like an ISP would use, or does it require dedicated hardware? I have a feeling it is probably the latter, but just in case anyone knows of some software i can use i thought i would post here

You only need a radius server to understand how it works as, all DSL connections terminate on the BT network, and hit one of their RAS boxes where a L2TP tunnel then connects to a provider's (in this case you) radius server, where it gets authenticated via ppp and dishes out an IP address... then assuming you're a provider you would have connections into the rest of your network.

Haggisman · 7 Dec 2007 at 12:13

hmm...well, it was more to set one up in a networking lab to give a demonstration to some students, so...it wouldn't be going anywhere near BT!

I was guessing you would need some special kit to get the line synchronistation etc. set up.

V-Spec · 7 Dec 2007 at 15:03

Haggisman said:
hmm...well, it was more to set one up in a networking lab to give a demonstration to some students, so...it wouldn't be going anywhere near BT!

I was guessing you would need some special kit to get the line synchronistation etc. set up.

Well this is done with the Dslam, however if you really want to demonstrate it in a lab you can get DSL simulator boxes, but they're not cheap, and it'll only really demonstrate the phoneline connection from the exchange to the router, and not really how DSL works..
When we do our DSL testing <and we do a lot of it> we just buy DSL lines and test/show it off, that way!