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Difference between PPPoE and PPPoA
PPPoE and PPPoA are two protocols for connecting to the internet through DSL technology. Both protocols allow you to authenticate and connect to your internet service provider (ISP) over a phone line.
PPPoE is a protocol that encapsulates PPP frames in Ethernet frames so that they can be carried over Ethernet networks. PPPoA encapsulates PPP frames in ATM cells and allows them to be sent over ATM-based networks.
Read this article to find out more about PPPoE and PPPoA and how they are different from each other.
What is PPPoE?
PPPoE is a protocol that encapsulates PPP frames in Ethernet frames so that they can be carried over Ethernet networks. PPPoE is frequently used in DSL connections where the ISP's DSL infrastructure uses Ethernet as the physical layer. PPPoE connects the user's computer to the ISP's network through a PPPoE client, and the ISP's network provides a PPPoE server to handle authentication and connection setup.
A PPPoE connection connects the user's PC or router to the ISP's network through an Ethernet cable. The PPPoE protocol, like a dial-up connection, establishes a point-to-point connection between the user's computer and the ISP's server. PPPoE wraps PPP frames within Ethernet frames, allowing them to be transferred over a LAN or WAN.
The PPPoE connection process involves three steps −
Discovery Phasee − The user's device transmits a PPPoE discovery packet to the ISP's network during this phase. The user's ID and password are included in the discovery packet and are used to authenticate the user with the ISP's server.
Session Phase − When the ISP's network receives the discovery packet, the PPPoE server responds with a session packet that includes the server's ID and password. After that, the user's device sends an authentication packet to the server, which validates the user's credentials and opens a session.
Termination Phase − The user or the ISP's server can terminate the PPPoE session. When the user closes the session, the PPPoE server sends a termination packet to the user's device, and the connection is terminated. When the ISP's server stops the session, a termination packet is sent to the user's device, signalling that the connection has been terminated.
PPPoE can prioritize network traffic based on its type, ensuring that time- sensitive data, such as VoIP and video streaming, takes priority over less vital data. PPPoE is simple to set up and configure, making it an excellent choice for home internet connections.
What is PPPoA?
PPPoA (Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM) is a protocol for connecting to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection. PPPoA is primarily used for large-scale enterprise broadband connections. It is a network protocol that allows PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) packets to be encapsulated and sent over an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network.
A telephone line connects the user's PC or router to the ISP's network in a PPPoA connection. The PPPoA protocol, like a dial-up connection, establishes a point-to-point connection between the user's computer and the ISP's server. PPPoA encapsulates PPP frames within ATM cells, allowing them to be transferred to the ISP's network over the phone line.
The PPPoA connection process involves three steps −
Discovery Phase − The user's device transmits a PPPoA discovery packet to the ISP's network during this phase. The user's ID and password are included in the discovery packet and are used to authenticate the user with the ISP's server.
Session Phase − When the ISP's network receives the discovery packet, the PPPoA server responds with a session packet that includes the server's ID and password. After that, the user's device sends an authentication packet to the server, which validates the user's credentials and opens a session.
Termination Phase − The user or the ISP's server can terminate the PPPoA session. When the user closes the session, the PPPoA server sends a termination packet to the user's device, and the connection is closed. When the ISP's server stops the session, a termination packet is sent to the user's device, signalling that the connection has been terminated.
Due to the overhead involved with the ATM cell-based network, one possible disadvantage of PPPoA is that it may not allow as high data rates as PPPoE. In addition, ATM networks are less extensively used than Ethernet networks, which can limit PPPoA connection availability in some places.
Difference between PPPoE and PPPoA
The following table highlights the major differences between PPPoE and PPPoA −
Characteristics |
PPPoE |
PPPoA |
|---|---|---|
Network Technology |
Ethernet |
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) |
Authentication |
Username and Password |
Username and Password |
Data Rates |
It supports high data rates. |
It doesn't support high data rates as PPPoE. |
Overhead |
Lower Overhead |
Higher Overhead |
Availability |
It is widely available, especially in residential broadband. |
It is less common and mainly used in European countries. |
Quality of Service |
It supports QoS |
It supports QoS |
Encryption |
PPPoE supports encryption for added security. |
PPPoA supports encryption for added security. |
Reliability |
It has a reliable connection with low packet loss. |
It has a reliable connection with low packet loss. |
Stands for |
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) |
Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM (PPPoA) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, PPPoE and PPPoA are two different protocols for connecting to the internet over a DSL connection. PPPoE uses Ethernet as the underlying network technology, whereas PPPoA uses ATM. PPPoE is more common than PPPoA, particularly in home broadband connections.
Both protocols require a username and password for authentication and offer a reliable and secure method of connecting to the ISP. The user's choice of protocol depends on the ISP's network architecture and the type of connection available.
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