I have received adsl connection using an alcatel 5 modem from my isp running PPPoA. I want to use a router to share the connection with 10 other computers. I thinking of buying a four port router but all i see so far supports PPPoE and not PPPoA Questions: whats the difference between the two and what will buying the router with PPPoE work with the PPPoA protocol

PPPoE is PPP over Ethernet. PPPoA is PPP over ATM. ATM is an alternative to Ethernet. ATM is usually implemented as a backbone communication medium (if at all) for basically the WAN line. From there, the transition is easily made into Ethernet for the LAN. Generally, ATM is expensive for desktops and home users compared to Ethernet. Most serious routers support both PPPoE and PPPoA. However SOHO routers, such as those from Linksys, will not support PPPoA right now (been a big rumor in places like Singapore about Linksys coming out with a firmware upgrade that supports PPPoA - whatever). I think some Cisco SOHO routers (ex SOHO77) support PPPoA. Try some names like D-Link, Netgear, Hawking (probably not), 3com (probably not), SMC (doubt it), Cayman, and Nexland. There are lots of resellers of Cisco routers and lots of places to get refurbished ones. Even eBay works. Another thing to do is go to places like ZD-Net and other comparison sites and search by PPPoA (and/or ATM). Good luck.