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[rljames]

My ISP supports both PPPoE and "Bridge" ADSL connection.

Recommendations, or comments, on PPPoE vs Bridged?
Any 2540B, or overall network, performance difference between the two modes?

A few Pros & Cons I see - With PPPoE, I can use the 3 extra 2540B LAN ports but lose a wireless router LAN port. With Bridged, all 3 extra 2540B LAN ports are inoperative but allows for wireless WAN connection.

And if I go with Bridged are all other firmware features (QoS, DMZ, etc) of the 2540B still operational?

[FurryNutz]

Bridge mode is when you have an external network router and want it to handle the PPPoE connection. In most cases when people have this router, it's preferred to Bridge the DSL modem.

[rljames]

I understand the need for DHCP and I do use an "external" router that provides this service.

I'm asking if there is a difference in performance between PPPoE and Bridge? And if so, what specifically is affected? Why is Bridging preferred as you suggest?

And am I right in assuming all 2540B options (Firewall,QoS, DMZ, Port Forwarding, etc) work against the incoming data stream at the DSL (phone line) connection? And if so, where should these types of configurations be managed - in the Modem or upstream at the WAN connected Router?

D-Link needs to provide a little better documentation on their products. Or at least make it optional available...

[FurryNutz]

If an external router is being used then bridging is preferred since some external routers have better features, WiFi, QoS and filters.

If an external router is going to use used, there would be no performance gain since having 2 routers on the line will effectively slow your data down since the 2 routers are having to process information at each point. This also causes Double NAT and since both are trying to NAT, the connections get confused since NAT is looking for specific port and connection information. Adding another router makes this a problem.

If your are using a external router that has better features than the ISP DSL modem, then bridging the DSL modem is preferred and let the external router handle the PPPoE connection and maintain 1 NAT.

There are many variables and ways to set up networking and it's hard for DLink to always give details on what is preferred since there are many networking things to consider. DLink makes available many products to try to handle what there customers needs are. Alot of the needs are based on where it all starts, with the ISP service. Customer have to be aware of what ISP services they get and what ISP modems offer. Even Cable modems now come with built in routers that we have to configure with customers using external routers. In most cases configuration is simple. However in some cases, modems can't be bridged or the ISP lock down the modems so users can't access them at all. In some cases like this, users fail to realize that not all external routers will work for them, however maybe just adding a DLink DAP model AP to there existing modem can and is preferred to work better than using a dedicated router.
Please review this:
Bridge Mode vs Relay vs Acess Point (AP) / Routers vs Dedicated Access Points (AP)

Overall, if some of the features on the ISP modem are not as good as the external router, then use the external router and let it handle the PPPoE connection. This will ensure that your data flow is working well and connections are good for Internet, gaming and such.

However if your ISP modem handles everything and maybe you only want to upgrade to better WiFi, don't get a dedicated router, get into a dedicated AP instead.

Realistically, All this is up to the users and customers.

[rljames]

Well, you make my point when you say "... up to the users and customers" - How can it be determined which features are "better" (modem or router) if the details of how they work aren't provided? It's hard, with the limited info D-Link provides in the 2540B UM, to make informed, intelligent decisions.

Anyhow, seems very inefficient but I guess in lieu of decent documentation the only method is specific questions. Let's start with these assumptions and questions. I'm operating the 2540B in Bridge mode to wireless router WAN port. Overall, wired and wireless connection to Internet appears to be working OK.

How can I determine if NAT is being applied by the modem?

I want to enable "QoS" on the 2540B, where do I set this option and what does it mean as implemented by D-Link?

Thanks for the reply and help.

[FurryNutz]

Well, you make my point when you say "... up to the users and customers" - How can it be determined which features are "better" (modem or router) if the details of how they work aren't provided? It's hard, with the limited info D-Link provides in the 2540B UM, to make informed, intelligent decisions.

Anyhow, seems very inefficient but I guess in lieu of decent documentation the only method is specific questions. Let's start with these assumptions and questions. I'm operating the 2540B in Bridge mode to wireless router WAN port. Overall, wired and wireless connection to Internet appears to be working OK.

How can I determine if NAT is being applied by the modem? When the modem is in bridge mode, NAT, DHCP, QoS and all other features of the modem are disabled. Effectively your modem is just that, a stand alone modem that just connects to the IP to allow xfer of data from the ISP to the router and thats is. Everything should be not handled and configured by the external router. No configuration or management needs to be done on the modem when in bridge mode.

I want to enable "QoS" on the 2540B, where do I set this option and what does it mean as implemented by D-Link? See above reply.

[rljames]

OK, wouldn't it be great if the 2540B UM gave that Bridge connection info...

Now, let's assume I'd like to add a PPPoE "service" to the 2540B for handling devices attached to the modem LAN ports. I know I need static IP's for these connections because DHCP is upstream at the router. Are all the options you just mentioned as "disabled" under Bridge, applicable to the LAN ports?

Could I have selected a better simple bridge device/modem for use with a wireless router?

[FurryNutz]

OK, wouldn't it be great if the 2540B UM gave that Bridge connection info...

Now, let's assume I'd like to add a PPPoE "service" to the 2540B for handling devices attached to the modem LAN ports. I know I need static IP's for these connections because DHCP is upstream at the router. Are all the options you just mentioned as "disabled" under Bridge, applicable to the LAN ports? Again, I belive this is not possible if the modem is already in Bridge mode. PPPoE services are handled at the external router when in bridge mode. The modem can't do concurrent modes at the same time. It's either, or.

Could I have selected a better simple bridge device/modem for use with a wireless router? I recommend that if one should want to use a external WiFi router with any ISP modem, make the ISP modem a stand alone modem with out any built in router features. However when those multi-function modems are the only option, then bridge mode is the best method. Sometimes if modems can't be bridge, like in some Arris or 2Wire modems, the DMZ option on these modems, if available, can be used to help put the external router on the front lines of communications. DMZ allows ALL data traffic to be passed to the router if placed in the DMZ with little or not modem router processing taking place.

[rljames]

Again, I belive this is not possible if the modem is already in Bridge mode. PPPoE services are handled at the external router when in bridge mode. The modem can't do concurrent modes at the same time. It's either, or.

Well apparently the 2540B can, and does, handle concurrent DSL connection profiles. My install is a "bridge" for one LAN port passed to a wireless router and the remaining 3 modem LAN ports are PPPoE, bypassing the wireless router. All work as expected in terms of internet connections and related data flow. The question is; What 2540B firmware services are active for the PPPoE ports? And how can I demonstrate those services, if any, are actually working as expected?

(And again, this should be information provided in D-Link documentation)

[FurryNutz]

Maybe you can share how you accomplished this in a detailed step by step post so others can gain knowledge on how to use there modems better?

I recommend that you phone contact DLink support and ask them if they can include this and any other items you feel that is missing from documentation to be included.

Thank you for sharing.

[rljames]

Don't exactly know how or why my 2540B is operating with concurrent connections as I described. Because of poor documentation, I'm essentially experimenting on the fly. But I suspect what I'm observing is somehow centered around the "Port Mapping" feature/ability as briefly described on Page 42 of the UM.

*If* (and that's a big "if") I am able to repeatably sort things out in a way I understand I'll share as best possible.

As for contacting D-Link Technical Support. First, I'm really not knowledgeable enough about the 2540B to convey what I think is missing or how things are, or should be, working. And second, to be honest I don't really have time to be doing work that should be D-Links job.

[FurryNutz]

Post the details if you can.

As for DLink support, if they don't know what customers needs as desires are then it's kind of hard for them to make improvements to there products with out someone helping them out and telling them.  Yes, of course please feel free to post and talk about it here, however there is little or no review by any official DLink support or engineering personnel here in the forums. We are volunteer help for DLink and here to help out with set up and problems that are posted by users here in the forums. If we can not resolve those issues here or if there are problems with anything beyond our capabilities here in the forums, we ask the users please contact DLink directly for continued help and information. Problems with FW and documentation fall under this reasoning as we do not have the ability to effect any changes.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.