Brian Mc wrote:
In uk.telecom.broadband PeterD wrote:

: What does a router have to do with this problem. That's an ethernet
: device, and knows zip, zero, nothing, nada about DSL.

I had presumed this meant that most routers will give an analysis of the DSL
line (S/N levels, sync speeds etc.) on their control interface.
Well it depends if you mean by router a 'generic device for machining
wood' a ' device that purely routes computer network traffic' or ' A
device thet purely routes ethernet traffic or 'a device that not only
routes IP traffic but also does NAT, and contains a DSL modem as well'

I THINK the definition is a device that maintains a routing state table
of some sort, that connects networks at a layer *above* the transport
address level. This clearly marking where an ethernet switch ends: That
being a device that routes Ethernet packets irrespoective of what
protocol is layered above.

Strictly a 'broadband router' is hardly a router at all. Its a DSL modem
with ATM support and almost (but not quite) a bridge between the CPE and
the ISP termination equipment.