Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 15:16:57 -0400 From: Bill Lloyd <wlloyd@mpd.ca> To: doc@freebsd.org Subject: isdn documentation changes Message-ID: <32443F29.7604@mpd.ca>
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I have written up a more complete set of pages for the isdn section of the handbook. I do not subscribe to the doc mailing list, so please cc feeback to me directly. The file /usr/src/share/doc/handbook/isdn.sgml follows. There is no signature at the bottom. -bill wlloyd@mpd.ca --------------CUT HERE------------------- <!-- $Id$--> <!-- The FreeBSD Documentation Project --> <!-- Modified by wlloyd@mpd.ca --> <sect><heading>ISDN<label id="isdn"></heading> <p>ISDN for FreeBSD is still largely under developement. Specifically, there are a lack of drivers for cards. <p>A good resource for information on ISDN technology and hardware is <htmlurl url="http://alumni.caltech.edu/~dank/isdn/" name="Dan Kegel's ISDN Page">. A quick simple roadmap to ISDN follows: <itemize> <item>If you live in Europe I suggest you investigate the ISDN card section. <item>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. <item>If you are conecting two lans together, or connecting to the internet with a dedicated ISDN connection I suggest you follow the Standalone router/bridge option. </itemize> <p>Cost is a significant factor in determining what solution you will choose. The following options are listed from least expensive to most expensive. <sect1><heading>ISDN Cards</heading> <p><em>Contributed by &a.hm;.</em> <p>This section is really only relevant to European ISDN users. The Teles cards supported are not yet(?) availible for North American ISDN standards. <p>There is the bisdn ISDN package available from <htmlurl url="ftp://ftp.muc.ditec.de/isdn" name="ftp.muc.ditec.de"> 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. A majordomo maintained mailing list is available, to subscribe, send the usual majordomo requests to <htmlurl url="mailto:isdn-request@muc.ditec.de" name="isdn-request@muc.ditec.de">. <sect1><heading>ISDN Terminal Adapters</heading> <p>Terminal adapters(TA) are to ISDN what modems are to regular phone lines. <p>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 <ref id="ppp" name="PPP"> exactly the same as for a modem setup. Make sure you set your serial speed as high as possible. A TA will allow you to do Dynamic IP with your Internet provider. Unless you can get a static IP this is really your only option to do ISDN with your Internet provider. <p>The following TA's are know to work with FreeBSD. <itemize> <item>Motorola BitSurfer and Bitsurfer Pro <item>Adtran </itemize> The real problam with external TA's is like modems you need a good serial card in your computer. You should read the <ref id="uart" name="serial ports"> section in the handbook for a detailed understanding of serial devices, and the differences between asynchronous and synchronous serial ports. To get the maximum throughput from your ISDN line you should really use a syncronous card to connect to your TA. A synchronous card with a TA is at least as fast as a standalone router. 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 <htmlurl url="http://www.freebsd.org/search.html" name="archives"> for the complete discussion. <sect1><heading>Standalone ISDN Bridges/Routers</heading> <p>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. <p>As the cost of low end ISDN routers/bridges approaches that of a Terminal Adapter, 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. <p>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. <em>Branch office or Home network</em> Network is 10 Base T ethernet. Connect router to network cable with AUI/10bT transciever if necessary. <verb> ---Sun workstation | ---FreeBSD box | ---Windows 95 (Don't admit to owning it) | Standalone router | ISDN BRI line </verb> If your home/branch office is only one computer you can use a twisted pair crossover cable to connect to the standalone router directly. <em>Head office or other lan</em> Network is Twisted Pair ethernet. <verb> -------Novell Server | H | | ---Sun | | | U ---FreeBSD | | | ---Windows 95 | B | |___---Standalone router | ISDN BRI line </verb> A router will also usually allow you to have 2 ISDN connections open at the same time. One on each B channel. This is not supported on most TA's, except for specific(expensive) models that have two serial ports.
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