I’m looking for advice and other peoples experience with the mentioned client connection methods over Wireless. I am about too launch a WISP in my area and am confused as to the preferred method for client conectivity to my AP’s. My backend uses ( MT router boxes ).
I have been testing with PPPOE and PPTP and have found various reliability issues with both. I have found PPPOE to be the most reliable method over marginal quality links. I am after other peoples thought and experiences as I want too do it right and not have to change my clients half way thru. I have found that PPPOE only works with certain CPE’s, whereas PPTP works with all. If PPPOE seems to be the preffered method
then I will be using SMartBridge CPE’s. I have settled on AirPoint Total for my AP’s.
I appreciate any feedback or experience.
Re: Which is better PPPOE / PPTP / L2TP for CPE
hello.
it depends, of course, from your network design.
for PPPoE a layer 2 connection to the access concentrator (AC) is necessary, for PPTP a routed on.
in germany every DSL-router is PPPoE capable, most PPTP.
only newer operating systems integrate a PPPoE driver, and e.g. MacOS X cant bind it to the wlan-interface
i dont think L2TP is a choice here, as afaik only PPP type connections could be managed through RADIUS.
if MikroTik-based APs are used, it would be possible to have EoIP tunnels to the AC, therefore using standard PPPoE clients/routers. there would be no (un-encrypted) customer traffic on the wireless backbone.
If therse a routed backbone anyway, PPTP tunnels might be the better choice.
we found them both reliable enough. probably PPPoE /EoIP will result in a higher cpu-load.
i guess this is more a general networking problem, than a wireless on.
it depends, of course, from your network design.
for PPPoE a layer 2 connection to the access concentrator (AC) is necessary, for PPTP a routed on.
in germany every DSL-router is PPPoE capable, most PPTP.
only newer operating systems integrate a PPPoE driver, and e.g. MacOS X cant bind it to the wlan-interface
i dont think L2TP is a choice here, as afaik only PPP type connections could be managed through RADIUS.
if MikroTik-based APs are used, it would be possible to have EoIP tunnels to the AC, therefore using standard PPPoE clients/routers. there would be no (un-encrypted) customer traffic on the wireless backbone.
If therse a routed backbone anyway, PPTP tunnels might be the better choice.
we found them both reliable enough. probably PPPoE /EoIP will result in a higher cpu-load.
i guess this is more a general networking problem, than a wireless on.
Both PPPoE and PPtP can both be encrypted. Encryption will reduce the bandwidth.
PPPoE does work on Mac OSX WLAN (Airport) you just need this script:
http://www.nomadic.bristol.ac.uk/howto/osx/roaming/
The advantage of PPPoE is that you only need supply the user with a username/password combination. PPtP requires username password and endpoint IP address.
AP and CPE from http://www.osbridge.com/support.html can pass PPPoE without any problems and are cheaper than smartBridges.
PPPoE does work on Mac OSX WLAN (Airport) you just need this script:
http://www.nomadic.bristol.ac.uk/howto/osx/roaming/
The advantage of PPPoE is that you only need supply the user with a username/password combination. PPtP requires username password and endpoint IP address.
AP and CPE from http://www.osbridge.com/support.html can pass PPPoE without any problems and are cheaper than smartBridges.