I have a one-computer ADSL connection. My ISP (who has a virtual monopoly here in Cyprus) provides an obscure 4-port router (B-Focus 400pr), configured for bridge network, effectively making it a one-port modem. They will not supply password, etc. for modem, nor manuals, so I can't even check its settings.

I have been given a Netgear WG834v2 router (thanks, Santa), but have found no way to replace their modem with this.

The only advice from ISP is that they use a bridge network (thanks guys) and LLC/SNAP encapsulation.

Will I be able to use my shiny new router in place of theirs, or do I need to piggyback then in order to use its ports for more than one machine?

I've been googling/experimenting since Christmas, and just getting more and more confused.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Current system uses Mandrake 2006

Happy 2006, guys.

You have "OTE" in Cyprus too ?
The modem/router is fine. It is not the greatest but it does its job. It's not the
router's problem. It's cytanet problem. I am afraid you can't do much.
From what i understand it works in RFC1483 bridged mode and you get an ip with DHCP
I don't know what was cytanet thinking when they did this setup
Even OTE in Greece is not so stupid.

Anyway, i found some things you can do. There is a thread in a Greek forum about this.
They have the manual and the username/password and also how you can flash new firmware
to overcome these limitations placed by cyta, but is illegal

http://www.myphone.gr/forum/showthre...t=13602&page=1

This is the thread.
It's a pity to have a 100Euro router with 4port switch and Firewall/NAT/other features
and have it work as a 5Euro bridge.

You can see the settings from the B-Focus, write them down and then put the same
settings in the Netgear, although bridged modem doesn't have many settings. It should
work out of the box, if you setup the Netgear as bridged. Weird.

I wish you luck.
I would post in Greek but this way other people wouldn't be able to understand, that is
why i post in English.

Many thanks for the fast response. I'm glad you did write in English - my Greek isn't that great, I was just about able to follow the Greek thread, though. (I'm a brit ex-pat).

Unfortunately, my Hebrew doesn't exist, and I couldn't make sense of the Israeli site linked. I did manage to follow the link there to the .pdf files (and bin) but only got as far as the opening page again.

I'll keep looking around.

Thanks once more.

Right, I've got hold of an English manual for the ECI B-Focus 400PR (also covers the 270PR & 285PR) so if anybody requires a copy let me know.

Although the manual is in English, it might as well not be - I've got a lot of studying to do to make some sense of it.

One further point, if anybody has one of these devices, the manual has the user as 'admin' and the password 'bezeqwow' whilst mine is much, much simpler (the account that gives you full control over system, and the first four digits). The address, BTW, is 192.168.1.1

Now for an upgrade.