From 4137d9d152bd82f6b1b6e1dcca1e7086c466b2bb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: John Fieber Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 16:52:40 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] New isdn docs. Submitted by: Bill Lloyd --- handbook/isdn.sgml | 217 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-- 1 file changed, 208 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/handbook/isdn.sgml b/handbook/isdn.sgml index f341758c1b..3e3833e4e8 100644 --- a/handbook/isdn.sgml +++ b/handbook/isdn.sgml @@ -1,21 +1,220 @@ - + ISDN -

Contributed by &a.hm;. +

Last modicified by . -There is the bisdn ISDN package available from - +

ISDN for FreeBSD is still largely under developement. Specifically, +there are a lack of drivers for PC ISDN cards. + +

A good resource for information on ISDN technology and hardware is +. + +A quick simple roadmap to ISDN follows: + +If you live in Europe I suggest you investigate the ISDN card +section. + +If you are planning to use ISDN primarily to connect to the +internet with an Internet Provider on a dialup non-dedicated basis, I +suggest you look into Terminal Adapters. This will give you the most +flexibility, with the fewest problems, if you change providers. + +If you are conecting two lans together, or connecting to the +internet with a dedicated ISDN connection, I suggest you consider the +Standalone router/bridge option. + + +

Cost is a significant factor in determining what solution you will +choose. The following options are listed from least expensive to most +expensive. + +ISDN Cards + +

Originally Contribution by &a.hm;. + +

This section is really only relevant to European ISDN users. The +cards supported are not yet(?) availible for North American ISDN +standards. + +

PC ISDN cards support the full bandwidth of ISDN, 128Kbs. These +cards are often the least expensive type of ISDN equipment. + +

There is the bisdn ISDN package available from + supporting FreeBSD 2.1R, FreeBSD-current and NetBSD. - -Currently all (passive) Teles cards and their clones are supported for the -EuroISDN (DSS1) and 1TR6 protocols. - The latest source can be found on the above mentioned ftp server under -directory isdn as file bisdn-096.tar.gz. +directory isdn as file bisdn-097.tar.gz. + +There are drivers for the following cards: + +Currently all (passive) Teles cards and their clones are supported +for the EuroISDN (DSS1) and 1TR6 protocols. +Dr. Neuhaus - Niccy 1016 + + +There are several limitations with the bisdn stuff. +Specifically the following features usually associated with ISDN are not +supported. + +No PPP support, only raw hdlc. This means you cannot connect to a +some standalone routers, such as a Cisco unit. +Bridging Control Protocol not supported. +Multiple cards are not supported. +No bandwidth on demand. +No channel bundling. + A majordomo maintained mailing list is available, to subscribe, send the usual majordomo requests to . + +ISDN Terminal Adapters + +

Terminal adapters(TA), are to ISDN what modems are to regular phone +lines. +

Most TA's use the standard hayes modem AT command set, and can be +used as a drop in replacement for a modem. + +A TA will operate basically the same as a modem except connection and +throughput speeds will be much faster than your old modem. You will +need to configure exactly the same as for a +modem setup. Make sure you set your serial speed as high as possible. + +The main advantage of using a TA to connect to an Internet Provider is +that you can do Dynamic PPP. As IP address space becomes more and more +scarce, most providers are not willing to provide you with a static IP +anymore. Most standalone routers are not able to accomidate dynamic IP +allocation. + +TA's completely rely on the PPP daemon that you are running for their +features and stabiliy of connection. This allows you to upgrade easily +from using a modem to ISDN on a FreeBSD machine, if you already have PPP +setup. However, at the same time any problems you experienced with the +PPP program and are going to persist. + +If you want maximum stability, use the kernel +option, not the user-land . +

The following TA's are know to work with FreeBSD. + + +Motorola BitSurfer and Bitsurfer Pro +Adtran + + +Most other TA's will probably work as well, TA vendors try to make sure +their product can accept most of the standard modem AT command set. + +The real problam with external TA's is like modems you need a good +serial card in your computer. + +You should read the section in the +handbook for a detailed understanding of serial devices, and the +differences between asynchronous and synchronous serial ports. + +A TA running off a standard PC serial port (asynchronous) limits you to +115.2Kbs, even though you have a 128Kbs connection. To fully utilize +the 128Kbs that ISDN is capable of, you must move the TA to a +synchronous serial card. + +Do not be fooled into buying an internal TA and thinking you have +avoided the synchronous/asynchronous issue. Internal TA's simply have a +standard PC serial port chip built into them. All this will do, is save +you having to buy another serial cable, and find another empty +electrical socket. + +A synchronous card with a TA is at least as fast as a standalone router, +and with a simple 386 FreeBSD box driving it, probably more flexible. + +The choice of sync/TA vs standalone router is largely a religious +issue. There has been some discussion of this in the mailing lists. I +suggest you search the for the complete discussion. + +Standalone ISDN Bridges/Routers + +

ISDN bridges or routers are not at all specific to FreeBSD or any +other operating system. For a more complete description of routing and +bridging technology, please refer to a Networking reference book. + +In the context of this page, I will use router and bridge +interchangeably. + +

As the cost of low end ISDN routers/bridges comes down, it will +likely become a more and more popular choice. An ISDN router is a small +box that plugs directly into your local ethernet network(or card), and +manages it's own connection to the other bridge/router. It has all the +software to do PPP and other protocols built in. + +A router will allow you much faster thoughput that a standard TA, since +it will be using a full synchronous ISDN connection. + +The main problem with ISDN routers and bridges is that interoperability +between manufacturers can still be a problem. If you are planning to +connect to an Internet provider, I recommend that you discuss your needs +with them. + +

If you are planning to connect two lan segments together, ie: home +lan to the office lan, this is the simplest lowest maintenance +solution. Since you are buying the equipment for both sides of the +connection you can be assured that the link will work. + +For example to connect a home computer or branch office network to a +head office network the following setup could be used. + +Branch office or Home network + +Network is 10 Base T ethernet. Connect router to network cable with +AUI/10bT transciever if necessary. + + +---Sun workstation +| +---FreeBSD box +| +---Windows 95 (Don't admit to owning it) +| +Standalone router + | +ISDN BRI line + +If your home/branch office is only one computer you can use a twisted +pair crossover cable to connect to the standalone router directly. + +Head office or other lan + +Network is Twisted Pair ethernet. + + -------Novell Server + | H | + | ---Sun + | | + | U ---FreeBSD + | | + | ---Windows 95 + | B | + |___---Standalone router + | + ISDN BRI line + + +One large advantage of most routers/bridges is that they allow you to +have 2 SEPERATE INDEPENDANT PPP connections to 2 seperate sites at the +SAME time. This is not supported on most TA's, except for +specific(expensive) models that have two serial ports. Do not confuse +this with channel bonding. + +This is a very usefull feature for example if you have an dedicated +internet ISDN connection at your office and would like to tap into it, +but don't want to get another ISDN line at work. A router at the office +location can manage a dedicated B channel connection (64Kbs) to the +internet as well as a use the other B channel for anything else, +including dialin or dialout to another location or dynamically bonding +it with the internet connection for more bandwidth. + +An alternate use of this is to connect to 2 different branch offices at +the same time from the same ISDN line at your central office.