Q: What is DSL?
A:
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology uses 2-wire copper telephone wiring to deliver high-speed
data services to homes and businesses. It takes existing voice cables that connect the customers
premises to the phone company's central office and turns them into a high-speed digital link. DSL
offers users a choice of speeds ranging from 144 kbps to 1.5 mbps.
Over any given line, the maximum DSL speed is determined by the distance between the customer site
and the central office. Most ISP's offer Symmetric DSL data with a variety of speeds so customers can
choose the rate that meets their specific needs. At the customers premises, a DSL router or HUB
connects the DSL line to a local-area network (LAN) or an individual computer. The customer must
have an Ethernet card installed in their computer to connect them to the DSL router or HUB. Once
installed, the DSL router provides the customer site with continuous connection to the Internet and use
of the telephone at the same time.
This digital service can be used to deliver bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming audio/video,
online games, application programs, telephone calling, video conferencing, and other high-bandwidth
services.
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Q: What is an IP address?
A:
Every machine on the Internet has a unique identifying number, called an IP Address. A typical IP address looks like this: 216.27.61.137. If you want to connect to another
computer, transfer files to or from another computer, or send an e-mail message, you first need to know where the other computer is - you need the computer's "address."
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is an identifier for a particular machine on a particular network; it is part of a scheme to identify computers on the Internet. (It is different
from the address of your Ethernet card.). IP addresses are also referred to as IP numbers and Internet addresses.
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