DSL knowledgable people, please read this question

[radarnbo]

My parents live in a very rural area. The local phone company sent out an e-mail probing about interest for DSL. It would be expensive, but if it has certain features it would be worth it. For example, I have an excellent DSL provider. We get a static IP, near T1 speeds, and we only pay $35. I am able to run my own server here and network my other three computers. What I need is the lingo so that my parents can ask the telephone company intelligent questions. How do I ask them if the upload speed is good? I have heard of ADSL and other things, but don't quite understand them. Also, my DSL is always on, but my friend has a DSL that disconnects her all of the time. It is fast, but the disconnecting would drive me nuts. I would like to move my server to my parents house when I move back to CA this summer, but I need to know if it will stay on all of the time and if it will be fast enough. Also, if they don't have static IP it won't work for me. Anyway, I hope this message isn't too confusing. I am just looking for the right questions to ask to see if it will support my server, without having to tell them I want to run a server. Thanks.

 

Best question to ask is if its static or dynamic.
What the up and downstreams are.
Never mention that you are going to run a server.

 

[Daniel]

Yes I'm very surprised that your current provider would allow servers, anyway ask if it's a static or dynamic ip. If it's a bell/verizon they probably use pppoe which uses a dynamic, I have one site with this and it's annoying even through a router.

 

[tjll11a]

how does an isp know you run a server. I have dsl service with a dynamic ip but i use a dns name instead of and ip for my server. So when people put in dns name they get routed to me. Even though its dynamic it seems to never get shut down as long as i stay connected. But to be honest theres always atleast 30k a sec of bandwidth moving around somewhere. The ISP has never said anything about it though.

Just curious

Thanks
Jason

 

[Russ]

My ISP has no problem at all with me running servers. I have several web sites setup. Once you lease a block of IP addresses, they'd be pretty stupid to think that the customer isn't going to use them all, otherwise they wouldn't lease blocks.

They know, they don't care, but they also don't provide support for any beyond the first one.

Russ, NCNE

 

[radarnbo]

Oops!

 

[radarnbo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think my ISP cares because they talk about how you can "do business from home" and all kinds of things. They switched me to a dynamic IP for a little while and I just called them up and told them to switch me back. They don't mind and even though I am running a few websites, I don't think I get enough hits for it to even register.

I will send a note to my mom about the questions to ask. I would even be willing to pay more for a static IP, but the speeds have to be there. What kind of answers for speed do I want to hear? Thanks again.

 

[JackMDS]

If you don't install DSL what other options you have?

 

[radarnbo]

Well right now I have DSL and it works fine and I am sure I could get it in LA when I move back, however, if my parents can get a decent DSL I could save myself some hassle by just setting it up at their house. I am just trying to learn the technical DSL questions to ask. For example, I can ask "How fast will it be?", but I don't know what would be considered fast. That's all. Right now I have DSL and it's good until at least September, but then I might have to move everything (buying a new house, etc., etc.) Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[JackMDS]

You can start here:
Eable cookies, and type in your parents zip code.

http://www.dslreports.com/search