Modems and Dial-Up Networking: What Happens When You Make a Dial-up Connection?

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Modems and Dial-Up Networking:
What Happens When You Make a Dial-up Connection?

When you try to make a dial-up connection with your Internet Service Provider (including AOL), a sequence of events has to take place for the connection to be successfully established. If the process goes wrong at any one of these stages, you'll have connection problems. Knowing the steps in the process can help you find the solution if you're having a problem.

Here, roughly speaking, is what happens when you tell your computer to connect to the Internet. (This is written for Windows computers, but the process is basically the same for other operating systems.):: If you're using a non-AOL Internet Service Provider (ISP), telling the computer to connect activates the Windows Dial-Up Networking process within your computer. AOL installs and uses its own proprietary networking setup, which looks different on your screen, but goes through the same sequence of steps behind the scenes. (Note: having AOL installed on your computer can not infrequently cause modem and dial-up networking problems with other non-AOL connections you're trying to maintain).; Your computer's dial-up networking process tries to find and communicate with your modem.; If it successfully finds the modem and gets a response from it, it has the modem dial your ISP's access number. You'll hear the dialing, if your modem's volume is turned on.; The ISP's access number (including AOL's) is answered by a modem, which is connected to your ISP's network. Your modem and the ISP's modem "talk" to each other to negotiate a connection speed and communication protocols governing such things as how data is compressed. This modem-to-modem negotiation is the squeaks, squawks and bonging sounds you hear after your modem finishes dialing. Once this process is complete, you shouldn't hear any more noises out of your modem.; If the modems succeed in their negotiations, your computer attempts to use your user name and password to log onto your ISP's network, and through it to get a connection to the Internet. For this to happen there must be additional communications protocols configured on your computer which are compatible with your ISP's setup.; Once you are successfully logged on to your ISP, the Dial-Up Networking icon (two little computers connected by cables) will appear in the system tray at the lower right of your screen. (This does not happen if you're using AOL). If you hold your mouse cursor over this icon, a little box will appear saying something like "connected at 33,600," which is the speed of your connection. AOL will also give you a brief message about connection speed, if you watch carefully when it first connects.; Now, and only now, can you surf the Net.

This is a complex series of events, many of which (such as using the modem) are quite complex and prone to problems all by themselves. Windows usually does a good job of setting everything up so that it works smoothly. When problems arise you can hope for a quick and simple solution, but be prepared to spend a significant amount of time and energy straightening things out.

By using your common sense and powers of observation, there's a good chance you can narrow the problem down, and thus speed the search for answers.

Next: Go to "Watching and Listening to Narrow Down the Problem"

Pine Tree Folk School
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
207/848-2433
E-mail: info@ptfolkschool.org

December 23, 1999