PC connection to ISP

This may not be all of them but this is all i know. the computer you will be connecting from, the server computer(main computer that connects you to internet) your isp operates and maintains this. and any additional servers that your computer will have to go through to get to the server. the farther away you are the more systems you will have to go through. hopes this helps.
daniel

Your answer depends on what kind of a connection you're making.

When I dial up to AT&T, my modem dials into a bank of modems hosted in an AT&T facility. A username/password is sent over that initial connection, and compared to a database using some kind of protocol like RADIUS or TACACS+. Once authenticated for dialup, an IP address is assigned to my workstation for the duration of the call, and then I'm "on" the network, and I use whatever resources and gateways I am authorized.

Here at work, we have a T-1 crossconnect to our ISP; at their end, they convert that serial signal to ethernet, which they plug into a switch (I'm simplifying a bit) that makes me part of their LAN; then my packets are routed to servers on their network orout into the "real" Internet (the "cloud"). The authentication was performed when we signed up for service and arranged the cross connects into our offices.

Hope this helps answer the question.

Kent

Please don't assign me any points , as the other answers are what is happening , but I suggest you call you ISP, and talk to a tech, as I think you want more info than you are asking for , the Tech can answer your quiries about you platform settings, and likely when talking the him/her your other reservations can be addressed. Happy Holiday

This question was closed by the author