Sierra Wireless 20070914 - Manual (Page 21)

Introduction to the PinPoint X
Rev 3.0B Feb.08 8
Figure 1-8: Connecting to the Internet
The PinPoint X will perform a one‐to‐one routing for all
internet traffic to and from the computer or other end device.
One‐to‐one means that your PinPoint X will provide a
connection for one device to the Internet at a time. In Private
Mode, the PinPoint X will provide NAT (Network Address
Translation) for the computer or other end device.
Note: The PinPoint X does not provide advanced routing required by
one-to-many (several devices connected to one port). If you need to
have more than one device connected to the Internet through your
PinPoint X, you will need to have a router connected to the modem.
The modem would provide the one-to-one connection to the router
with the router configured to provide a broader NAT service to the
other devices connected to it.
Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses
There are two types of addresses on networks: dynamic and
static.
• Dynamic addresses are assigned on a “need to have” basis.
Your PinPoint X might not always receive the same
address each time it connects with AT&T.
• Static addresses are permanently assigned to a particular
account and will always be used whenever your PinPoint
X connects to the Internet. The IP address will not be given
to anyone else.
Most ISPs (cellular included) use dynamic IP addresses rather
than static IP addresses since it allows them to reuse a smaller
number of IP addresses for a large number of customers. A
dynamic IP address is suitable for many common Internet
uses, such as web browsing, looking up data on another
computer system, or other client functions (such as data only
being sent out or only being received after an initial request).
Tip: If your account with AT&T includes a dynamic IP address and
you need a static IP, please consult your AT&T Representative for
more information about changing your account for static IP support.
If you need to contact your PinPoint X, a device connected to
the PinPoint X, or a host system using the PinPoint X from the
Internet, you need to have a known IP (such as one which is
static) or domain name (an IP address which is converted by a
DNS server into a word based name). If you have a dynamic IP