Hello, everyone: I am using a DSL modem (Seamens SpeedStream) and a router (Belkin). The setup works OK from day one, but it just occured to me that I do not fully understand a relationship between the two. Without a router, DSL modem would have an IP address of 192.168.2.1 (for instance) for LAN and something like 70.52.xxx.xxx for WAN (Internet). I would be able to access modem settings by entering
192.168.2.1 into a browser address box. Now, with router attached, I can access router settings by entering the same or similar IP address. Now I have three hosts on my home network, namely: router - 192.168.0.1 for LAN and 70.52.xxx.xxx for WAN (kinda converts one address into another and splits it with DHCP) desktop - 192.168.0.2 laptop - 192.168.0.3 Fair enough. But what happened to DSL modem in this scheme. Does it have any IP address? How does it communicate with a router? Or is it simply done on different OSI layer, such as MAC address? And is there any way to access DSL modem's settings the way I can access router's settings? I would appreciate if someone takes time and clarifies this to me or provides me with appropriate links. Thank you. Viatcheslav