SMC Networks SMC7204BRA manual Configuring EOA Interfaces, Overview of EOA

CONFIGURING EOA

INTERFACES

This section describes how to configure an Ethernet-over-ATM interface on the ADSL Barricade, if one is needed to communicate with your ISP.

Overview of EOA

The Ethernet-over-ATM (EOA) protocol is often referred to as RFC1483, which is the Internet specification that defines it. It is commonly used to carry data between local area networks that use the Ethernet protocol and wide-area networks that use the ATM protocol. Many telecommunications industry networks use the ATM protocol. ISPs who provide DSL services often use the EOA protocol for data transfer with their customers' DSL modems.

EOA can be implemented to provide a bridged connection between a DSL modem and the ISP. In a bridged connection, data is shared between the ISP's network and their customer's as if the networks were on the same physical LAN. Bridged connections do not use the IP protocol. EOA can also be configured to provide a routed connection with the ISP, which uses the IP protocol to exchange data.

Before creating an EOA interface or modifying the default settings, contact your ISP to determine which type of protocol they use.

Note: [PPP vs. EOA]: Your ISP may use a protocol other than EOA for communication with the ADSL Barricade, such as the point-to-point protocol (PPP). One type of PPP, named PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), actually works on top of the EOA protocol. The other type, PPP over ATM (PPPoA), does not. However, if your ISP uses either type of PPP, you do not need to separately create an EOA interface. See Configuring PPP Interfaces on page 105 for instructions on creating or configuring a PPP interface.

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