Networks ADSL Public IP address

Hi All,

I'm just about to sign up for some nice ADSL at home (going with Zen 1MB after glowing reviews). I have a quick question:

Which device gets the public IP address? To expand here is my setup:

ADSL Ethernet Modem -> Wireless Router -> PCs

So I'm wondering whether the Ethernet Modem gets the public IP address or the Wireless Router gets it? I'm thinking the router should get it as the Modem is dumb, but it is an Ethernet Modem (is an ethernet modem essentially a router?) so I'm not so sure...?

 

If your using NAT only the router gets the IP Zen give out.

The other PCs on the LAN have private IPs prob assigned by the DHCP server (router)

 

Thanks Atomic, I just wanted to be sure the Router would get the public IP address, not the modem, seeing how it is an Ethernet modem and all (not sure how those work...).

 

Well could depend on the modem, but bets are it will be as I said.

 

Why are u concerned who gets the public IP? what difference does it make?

 

As far as security is concerned a helluva difference!

Also if the internet company uses the MAC address of the connecting device to identify/authedticate it might screw things up if an internal computer gets the IP not the router.

 

As Atomic said, if the modem is actually acting as a router (and so getting the public IP) then I need to secure that, but if it is the wireless router getting the public IP, then I need to secure that.

A router should have as few services running as is absolutely neccesary, so if the modem is getting the public IP, then I need to find a way of securing that properly (killing the web interface, telnet, etc), but if the wireless router is getting the public IP, I should be OK, as I am already running OpenWRT on that.