If you read my Tech talk article this month, you saw I am talking about DSL and cable connections. I am always getting upset at people when they say they have a cable modem. As I discussed in the article, you use a "modem" when digital signals need to be converted to analog signals. Then, and only then, is a true modem used to convert the computer signals into tones (actually, it sounds more like a "hash" noise), and to transfer those tones over that phone line through a POTS splitter and into another modem at the Central Office. IDSL, SDSL, HDSL, VDSL, and even cable connections are digital all the way.
I was with a client the other day and they had a Cayman router installed on an ADSL line. This Cayman is a combination modem and router in one box. I thought it was pretty cool to see how one programs it compared to other routers.
I just replaced my Cabletron router (the power supply went out) at home with an Efficient router of the same basic type. A lot of companies are beginning to build routers. However, Cisco is still in the lead of the high-end router market.
Speaking of Cisco, I was called to reprogram a small Cisco 2610 last month at an Internet Plaza with with two T1 connections. When I asked why they had two connections, they took me on a tour of their upcoming Internet Café. It was so cool! You can walk in, get a cup of coffee, sit down at a terminal, and browse for an hour in a state-of-the-art room that looks like the control room of NORAD. Just kidding, but it is going to be real nice when it opens. I’ll keep you informed of the opening date.
Another cool thing about Cisco is that Cisco Systems created an impressive Config Maker program to help you program Cisco routers. However, you have to be Cisco-certified in order to download it. It doesn't do everything, either. I noticed that I still had to hand program the default gateway for the router itself on the WAN side, and it does not allow you to put in more than one DNS entry for the router, either. Access Control Lists are also something that Config Maker doesn't do. However, if you are Cisco-certified, play with this programmer—it's really fun if you enjoy that sort of thing.
All this router talk - not too many people really care about the nitty-gritty details. They just want to plug the cables into the back of the box and be good to go. But if you're like me, you have to research everything from the workstation to the server to the switch to the router to the telco line and back again. I can’t get enough!
