B-2 User’s Reference Guide
Unique requirements
Make sure the ISP can meet any unique requirements you may have. Potential requirements include:
■Dynamic or static IP addressing
■Class C IP address
■Custom domain name
■Multiple email addresses
■Web site hosting
■Call back for web site hosting at your site
Pricing and support
Compare pricing, service, and technical support service among various ISPs.
ISP’s Point of presence
Check with your ISP for the location of their nearest point of presence (POP) in reference to your site. In some instances, the ISP that you choose may not offer a POP in your local area. If that is the case, you may incur additional fees for
Endorsements
Consider recommendations from colleagues and reviews in publications. Netopia lists Netopia Certified ISPs on our web site at ‘http://www.netopia.com’.
Deciding on an ISP account
Your ISP may offer various Internet access account plans. Typically, these plans vary by usage charges and the number of host IP addresses supplied. Evaluate your networking needs and discuss them with your ISP before deciding on a plan for your network.
The following checklist is a guide to ensure you obtain the Internet service you require.
Setting up a Netopia R2020 account
Check whether your ISP has the Netopia R2020 on a list of supported products that have been tested with a particular configuration. If the ISP does not have the Netopia R2020 on such a list, describe the Netopia R2020 in as much detail as needed, so your ISP account can be optimized. As appropriate, you may refer your ISP to Netopia’s web site for more information.
Obtaining an IP host address
Typically, each computer on the network that requires Internet access requires its own unique IP address. If some or all network computers require simultaneous Internet access, obtain a block of IP host addresses large enough for each computer to have its own address, plus one for the Netopia R2020.
