Which brings us back to the original question lol. As far as I can see you cannot buy a modem that handles the VDSL connection AND the PPPoe config. As far as I can find out, you have to have a modem that handles the VDSL part and a router that handles the PPPoe part. As with the draytek, you can get a router that handles both the VDSL and PPPoe parts, but its not a modem and hence comes with its own firewall thus creating the problem of two firewalls on the network - hence the question. Even BT who are supplying the fibre optic do not sell any modems that handle the PPPoe part as well. I think the problem is that you are looking at modems that can handle ADSL and PPPoe, but as far as I am aware there are no modems that support VDSL and PPPoe. I speak under correction of course.
Alos by having PPPoe on the modem, you effectively have a double NAT situation as the modem and the slackware box would be providing NAT. I would rather keep the modem as a dumb terminal and leave the slackware box to handle the configuration as this would be less complicated to troubleshoot methinks.

Edited by Robdutoit (2013-01-05 01:26 PM)
Edit Reason: added extra info