The typical method to configure the connection to the phone company in a small coffee shop offering free Wi-Fi with a network that includes a wireless router and a DSL modem is to set the DSL modem as a DHCP client to the phone company. This configuration allows the DSL modem to receive an IP address automatically from the local phone company. Additionally, the DSL modem acts as a DHCP server for the internal network, providing IP addresses to devices within the coffee shop. In other words, the DSL modem obtains its public IP address from the phone company (ISP) via DHCP, while internally it manages the network addresses for devices connected within the shop. The wireless router connects to the DSL modem and typically gets a private IP address from it, enabling the Wi-Fi network for customers. This setup is common in small office/home office (SOHO) environments, where ISPs assign IP addresses dynamically through DHCP to modems communicating with their network. Summary:
- The DSL modem is set as a DHCP client to receive the public IP from the phone company.
- The DSL modem acts as a DHCP server for the internal network.
- The wireless router connects behind the DSL modem to distribute Wi-Fi to customers.
This method ensures a seamless connection to the ISP without the need for manually configuring static IP settings on the modem or router.
