Internet connections

Dial-up modem versus leased line Internet connections:

Generally, one distinguishes between two kinds of Internet connection: dial-up (modem) and leased line connection.

Through a dial-up connection, one accesses the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP), generally by making a local phone call with your modem to the ISP's Point of Presence (POP) computer in the local area. Some ISP's, for example Cape Internet, charge a flat rate of approximately $20 per month (plus phone charges) for this dial-up service. By today's standards, using a 28.8 modem is a typical speed for a dialup user.

While functional enough in general, one problem with such dial-up accounts from ISPs for corporate use is that this approach does not scale up. Each user is isolated on his or her own machine and on his or her own account, subject to the vicissitudes of that ISP. The company machines are not connected to their own network, and each user has his or her own individual problems and issues dialing up, as opposed to the whole company having one uniform system for accessing the Internet. While internetworking from a dial-up machine is certainly possible, it is nowhere near as fast as the second option, that of a leased line.

A leased line is a direct connection to the Internet, thanks to a dedicated line linking an office computer, or network of office computers, directly to the Internet. Typically, leased lines at this time would be 56 KB or of T1 size. There are no modems involved for the users. Whenever the office staff comes into the office and turns on their computers, they are on the Internet.

Even with the best connection, however, great surfing speed is not always possible. The speed at which you surf is dependent on three basic connectivity issues: the speed of your connection; the speed of the machine you are connecting to; and the speed of the net in general at the time you are surfing.

From a system administrator's perspective, leased lines are generally easier to manage and in many resepcts, more cost efficient for companies with twenty or more employees, or companies who use the Internet intensively.

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