2-2 User’s Reference Guide
Unique requirements
Make sure the ISP can meet any unique requirements you may have, such as:
■Dynamic or static IP addressing
■IP address range
■Custom domain name
■Multiple
■Web site hosting
■
■VPN support
Pricing and support
Compare pricing, service, and technical support service among various ISPs.
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.
Setting up a Netopia R5000 Series account
Check whether your ISP has the Netopia R5000 Series on its list of supported products that have been tested with a particular configuration. If the ISP does not have the Netopia R5000 Series on such a list, describe the Netopia R5000 Series in as much detail as needed, so your ISP account can be optimized. As appropriate, refer your ISP to Netopia’s Web site, http://www.netopia.com, for more information.
Obtaining an IP address
Typically, each network computer 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 R5000 Series.
Consider expected growth in your network when deciding on the number of addresses to obtain. Alternatively, you can use the Network Address Translation feature such that you require just one address from your service provider.
