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Chapter 49 PPPoE Intermediate Agent 
Configuration 
49.1 Introduction to PPPoE Intermediate Agent 
49.1.1 Brief Introduction to PPPoE 
PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) is a protocol that apply PPP protocol to Ethernet. 
PPP protocol is a link layer protocol and supply a communication method of point-to-point, it is 
usually selected by host dial-up link, for example the link is line dial-up. PPP protocol is applied 
to Ethernet that means PPPoE protocol makes many hosts of Ethernet to connect a remote 
access  collector  through  one  or  multiple  bridge  devices.  If  the  remote  access  collector  is 
broadband access server (BAS), it can supply broadband access and accounting functions for 
these hosts, so PPPoE  protocol is used to broadband access authentication  of Ethernet 
usually. 
49.1.2 Introduction to PPPoE IA 
Along with broadband  access technique is rapidly developed, broadband  access network is 
also developing from strength to strength, but security problem gradually becomes the focus, 
soever  the  clients  or  the  access  device  and  the  network  are  faced  with  security  problem 
(especially from the client) in the current access network. Traditional Ethernet user can not be 
identified,  traced  and  located  exactly,  however  in  exoteric  and  controllable  network, 
identification and location are the basic character and requirement for user, for example, when 
supplying  the  application  that  use  user  accounts  to  login,  this  method  supplied  by  PPPoE 
Intermediate Agent can availably avoid user accounts embezzled. 
There are two stages for PPPoE protocol work: discovery stage and session stage. Discovery 
stage is used to obtain MAC address of the remote server to establish a point-to-point link and 
a session ID with the server, and session stage uses this session ID to communicate. PPPoE 
Intermediate Agent only relates to discovery stage, so we simply introduce discovery stage. 
There are four steps for discovery stage: 
1.  Client  sends  PADI  packet:  The  first  step,  client  uses  broadcast  address  as  destination 
address and broadcast PADI (PPPoE Active Discovery Initiation) packet to discover access 
collector in layer 2 network. Notice: This message may be sent to many access collector of 
the network. 
2.  Broadband  Access  Server  responds  PADO  packet:  The  second  step,  server  responds 
PADO (PPPoE Active Discovery Offer) packet to client according to the received source 
MAC address of PADI packet, the packet will take sever name and service name. 










