DHCP vs PPPoE
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I recently replaced my 6-year-old D-Link wireless router
with Linksys WRT54GL. I am wirelessly
connected with a Windows desktop, Apple laptop, and Brother laser printer. While setting up the new Router I had
difficulty in setting up as DHCP.
So I selected PPPoE and used address as 10.10.10.1. I also selected WPA2
security algorithm. Everything
seems to be working fine and I am able to print both from my Windows and Apple
devices.
My question is what is the advantage of selecting DHCP, which I had before (on D-Link router). Do I need to try again? Pros and cons on DHCP vs. PPPoE?
Thank you,
SbElectric
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Software/Hardware used:
Linksys router WRT54GL
My question is what is the advantage of selecting DHCP, which I had before (on D-Link router). Do I need to try again? Pros and cons on DHCP vs. PPPoE?
Thank you,
SbElectric
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Software/Hardware used:
Linksys router WRT54GL
ASKED:
July 25, 2011 10:22 PM
UPDATED:
March 31, 2012 8:21 PM
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Using PPPoE is more like ‘dialing’ between devices.
Using DHCP automatically distributes IP address and settings such as default gateway etc… As the name suggests it is dynamic so if the device’s IP lease expires it can renew it and if there is conflict it can resolve it by assigning another IP address.
If everything is working on PPPoE and you have no issues then take a backup of the setting on the router.
Then you can have a play around with DHCP and see which you feel is better for you knowing you can just revert back to your backup if it all goes wrong.
Also PPPoE Can be more secure if used correctly.
Thanks for the suggstion. Yes, I .may indeed “play” with various settings to undrstand the differences.
SbElectric
Your question is not really answerable, as the protocols are not used in the same way.
DHCP is used on a
local
area network to dynamically assign local IP addresses.
PPPoE is used between networks, and is given a router address assigned by the wide area network controller. (ISP) This could be dynamic, but it is out of your control.
As others have said PPPoE and DHCP are two different items doing two different jobs.
PPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) is used to connect from your DSL modem to the ISP. Your router usually will need your ISP ID and password to connect over the DSL modem using a PPPoE based connection. Most ISPs will use DHCP to provide the DSL modem its IP address rather than a static IP address. This is often refered to as the public IP address.
Commonly, people use NAT (Network Address Translation) on the router and set it to provide private IP addresses to all of your systems by way of DHCP. DHCP is easier to manage and use than manually setting static IP addresses for all of your systems.
Less common usages are that you do not use NAT and the ISP provides public IP addresses via DHCP service to all of your systems or you have all static public IP addresses.
If it is all working then you do not _need_ to change anything.
The advantage of DHCP is that you can connect a new device and it automatically gets an IP address without any additional effort. If you take the device, say a laptop, some other place like a wireless hotspot it will automatically get a DHCP assigned IP address from the hotspot without any changes by you.
The disadvantage of a static IP adresses is when you decide to go some place else with your laptop you will need to change from static to DHCP to connect at say a hotel or wireless hotspot. Then when you return home you will need to change back to a static IP address to connect at home.