Switching from Openreach to CityFibre involves changing the network that connects your home, even if you already have full fibre. The practical questions are where the new cable will enter, which equipment you will use and how the service change will be coordinated.On this pageCheck the address and… Read More
Cheap Broadband Isn't always the best Read More
CityFibre multi-gig equipment needs to be checked from the router through to the device you use. A fast broadband package does not remove a slower Ethernet port, an underpowered router or a weak Wi-Fi connection. This checklist helps you find those limits before you buy hardware.On this page1. Read More
PPPoE vs DHCP: How Broadband Connections Work
PPPoE and DHCP appear in broadband router settings, but they describe different mechanisms. PPPoE carries a point-to-point session over Ethernet. DHCP supplies IP configuration information. In everyday broadband discussions, “DHCP” often means a service where the router obtains its address without establishing a PPPoE session.
What PPPoE does
PPPoE stands for Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. A router establishes a session with the provider, commonly using supplied credentials. The provider’s instructions determine the required settings; a username field should not be filled with an email login unless that is specifically what the provider supplies.
What DHCP does
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It can provide an IP address and other network configuration to a client. On a broadband WAN connection, the provider may identify the service through the access circuit or other mechanisms rather than a customer-entered PPPoE login.
DHCP is also commonly used inside the home to give devices local addresses. That local use is separate from the router’s WAN connection method.
Which settings should you use?
Use the settings for your specific provider, service and access network. Do not choose a connection method simply because a router offers it or because another customer on the same network uses it. VLAN requirements and any other options must also match the service.
For Exascale-specific compatibility and configuration, read our bring your own router guide. It is the relevant starting point when setting up your own equipment.
Does one method always perform better?
No. Router hardware, firmware, processing and the enabled features all matter. PPPoE encapsulation can affect processing and packet size, but a capable implementation can still deliver the service it is designed for. A DHCP-based connection does not automatically guarantee better latency or throughput.
Traditional PPPoE over standard Ethernet commonly uses an IP MTU of 1492 bytes. RFC 4638 describes support for larger values where the network and equipment can accommodate them. Follow the provider’s supported settings instead of changing MTU in pursuit of a universal performance gain.
Connection method is not an IP address policy
PPPoE versus DHCP does not tell you whether the service uses CGNAT or whether you can obtain a static address. For that separate question, read what CGNAT means for broadband and remote access.
Troubleshooting a router that will not connect
Confirm the cable is connected to the correct WAN port, use the provider’s current configuration instructions and check the exact error shown by the router. Record the model and firmware before contacting support. Avoid repeatedly changing unrelated settings, as that makes the original fault harder to isolate.
Technical references: RFC 2516: PPPoE, RFC 2131: DHCP and RFC 4638: larger PPPoE MTUs.