For more information about the high-speed Internet services offered by EarthLink, see:

• New customers
• Customer support

Contact EarthLink by Telephone

• New customers: 1-800-628-3781
• Technical Support: 1-800-719-4660
• Billing Support: 1-800-719-4660

Check Availability

Packages and services vary by region. See http://www.earthlink.net/access/ to determine services for your area.

EarthLink offers both cable and DSL high-speed Internet connections. If you are using EarthLink cable and any other provider is involved (two examples include Time Warner Road Runner and AT&T Broadband, but there are others), please see the provider-specific connection information for the other partner, and donot use the EarthLink DSL connection information on this page.

For EarthLink DSL, see the section, Set Up Your Connection.

Choose your connection type

For EarthLink DSL, we suggest you use either a direct connection or a router connection

Before following any connection steps below, you should print or save an offline version of this page, as you may need to disconnect your PC from the Internet.

Also, before following any connection steps, see your Xbox Instruction Manual for important safety information.

Direct Connection with EarthLink

For a direct connection, you will need a standard Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors. To directly connect your hardware:

1. Turn off your devices (Xbox console, EarthLink DSL modem, and, if you have one, your PC) before connecting any cables.
   You must disconnect your modem from its power source to turn it off.
2. If the PC NIC is already connected to the modem, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the PC NIC.
3. Connect the Ethernet out port on the modem to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console using the Ethernet cable.
4. Turn on your modem.
5. Turn on your Xbox console, with no disc in the disc tray.
6. From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, and then Network Settings.
7. Configure your Xbox console to use PPPoE settings provided by EarthLink.
8. From the Network Settings screen, choose Connect.

Your settings are now used to connect to Xbox Live. Progress is displayed on the Connect Status screen. If the last item is "Connected to Xbox Live," congratulations! You are connected to Xbox Live. To create your Xbox LIVE account, see Account Creation, or for more information about managing your account, see Account Management

If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, see the Troubleshooting Your Connection with EarthLink section of this document for more detailed information about the problem and steps you can take to fix it.

Router Connection with EarthLink

To connect to Xbox Live with a router connection, you'll need three Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors and a cable/DSL router. To share with a PC, you'll also need an Ethernet NIC installed in the PC.

To share your EarthLink Internet connection with your PC using a router:

1. Turn off your devices (Xbox console, DSL router, EarthLink DSL modem, and PC) before connecting any cables.
   You must disconnect your modem from its power source to turn it off.
2. If the PC NIC is already connected to the modem, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the PC NIC.
3. Connect the Ethernet out port on the modem to the Ethernet in port on the router using an Ethernet cable.
4. Connect one of the Ethernet out ports on the router to the Ethernet in port on the PC NIC using an Ethernet cable.
5. Connect another Ethernet out port on the router to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console using an Ethernet cable.
6. Turn on your devices. You should turn them on in order from the wall jack out. This means, first turn on your modem, then your router, then your PC.
7. If you're setting up your own home network, configure your router to use EarthLink PPPoE settings. For more information about configuring your router, see your router documentation.
   EarthLink supports a home networking solution based on the 2Wire Home Portal device. If you are using this device, configure it according to EarthLink's instructions. If you use the 2Wire Home Portal, you may need to upgrade your firmware.
8. Verify that the PC can access the Internet.
9. Turn on your Xbox console with no disc in the disc tray.
10. From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings,Network Settings, and thenConnect.
    

    Note

    With a router connection, you do not need to turn on your PC to access Xbox Live from your Xbox console.

Your settings are now used to connect to Xbox Live. Progress is displayed on the Connect Status screen. If the last item is "Connected to Xbox Live," congratulations! You are connected to Xbox Live. To create your Xbox LIVE account, see Account Creation, or for more information about managing your account, see Account Management

If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, see the Troubleshooting Your Connection with EarthLink section of this document for more detailed information about the problem and steps you can take to fix it.

Troubleshooting your Connection with EarthLink

You may need to configure your Xbox console to use PPPoE settings provided by EarthLink.

Configuring PPPoE Settings

1. Turn on your Xbox console with no game disc in the disc tray.
2. From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, and then Network Settings.
   These steps assume you cannot connect to Xbox Live until you finish configuring your Xbox console to use your EarthLink PPPoE settings.
3. From the Network Settings screen, select PPPoE Settings.
4. Select Configuration and set it to On.
5. Select User Name and enter your EarthLink email address.
6. Select Password and enter your EarthLink password. Leave Service Name empty.
7. To attempt connection to Xbox Live using the new PPPoE settings, return (Back) to the Network Settings screen, then select Connect.

Upgrading 2Wire Firmware

For a router connection, some older versions of 2Wire firmware do not work with Xbox Live. To check and upgrade your firmware:

1. To check and upgrade your firmware, open the page http://172.16.0.1 in a web browser on your PC.
2. To upgrade the firmware in your Home Portal, select the Network tab, then click the Home Portal Upgrades button on the right side of the configuration window.
3. Once upgraded, you should be able to simply connect your Xbox console to a network hub (which is connected to your working 2Wire Home Portal), and connect.