Maybe I'm going nuts but....

[Feebes]

I am forced to use Comcast for my internet connection at my office. When the tech came he installed the cable modem which in fact turned out to be a cable modem AND a router/switch combination. To me this seems like a really bad solution. Talking to them they tell me that 90% of their business users just plug another router (linksys, d-link....whatever) into the included router if they want features like wireless.

Now, this seems like a crazy topology to me. Let me know if I am wrong.... Now you are creating all kinds of potential problems. Imagine you are running software that needs you to open some ports, so you do the standard practice of opening the port on your router, but if you are a casual user you don't realize you are also running through the Comcast router you are going to have no idea why those ports aren't open.

I mean obviously that's just one example of a potential problem...but it boggles my mind that the best thing Comcast comes up with for networking businesses is "just plug the router into the router we gave you".

 

[skyking]

Comcast and most other ISP's won't support setting up that device as a bridged modem, but they will provide you the information on how to do it.
I do that with qwest's DSL, for example.

 

[JackMDS]

Option 1. Waste your time and energy on useless complains.

Option 2. Find how their Modem/Router does the service authentication and get your own "Modem Only" device that can do the same authentication.

Option 3. Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[spidey07]

Why does that seem weird? That is how almost ALL managed business services are, it includes the router. You can even get a OC12 managed solution and it's going to include a router unless you provide one yourself. The provider is giving you the service that will work best for almost all customers - the give you an ethernet port with internet service. What you do with it from there is up to you.

This is standard practice in networking unless you get an unmanaged service where you provide router/csu/modem/sonet mux/etc. They just give you the circuit.

 

[imagoon]

Originally posted by: Feebes
I am forced to use Comcast for my internet connection at my office. When the tech came he installed the cable modem which in fact turned out to be a cable modem AND a router/switch combination. To me this seems like a really bad solution. Talking to them they tell me that 90% of their business users just plug another router (linksys, d-link....whatever) into the included router if they want features like wireless.

Now, this seems like a crazy topology to me. Let me know if I am wrong.... Now you are creating all kinds of potential problems. Imagine you are running software that needs you to open some ports, so you do the standard practice of opening the port on your router, but if you are a casual user you don't realize you are also running through the Comcast router you are going to have no idea why those ports aren't open.

I mean obviously that's just one example of a potential problem...but it boggles my mind that the best thing Comcast comes up with for networking businesses is "just plug the router into the router we gave you".

Comcast Business modems will bridge with no issue. You need at least one static IP address.

The modem will hand out DHCP on a range you specify in the config and NAT that while routing/bridging the device with a static IP. Don't even need to call TAC to do it for you.

I had Comcast Business for 3 years.