From owner-freebsd-hackers Mon Mar 18 09:32:06 1996 Return-Path: owner-hackers Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) id JAA08055 for hackers-outgoing; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:32:06 -0800 (PST) Received: from brasil.moneng.mei.com (brasil.moneng.mei.com [151.186.109.160]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) with ESMTP id JAA07986 for ; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:32:02 -0800 (PST) Received: (from jgreco@localhost) by brasil.moneng.mei.com (8.7.Beta.1/8.7.Beta.1) id LAA25980; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 11:30:40 -0600 From: Joe Greco Message-Id: <199603181730.LAA25980@brasil.moneng.mei.com> Subject: Re: Microsoft "Get ISDN"? To: taob@io.org (Brian Tao) Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 11:30:40 -0600 (CST) Cc: hackers@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: from "Brian Tao" at Mar 18, 96 11:58:21 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL24] Content-Type: text Sender: owner-hackers@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk > On Mon, 18 Mar 1996, Joe Greco wrote: > > > > consumer. I agree with you, an ISP who sticks a bunch of high-speed > > > serial ports connected to a bunch of Bitsurfrs to provide ISDN access > > > is just asking for trouble. > > > > Why is that? People keep telling me how the Portmasters can handle 115200 > > on all ports simultaneously... what's the difference between this and > > hooking up a bunch of 28.8's? > > Actually, I was referring specifically to the situation with ISDN. > Instead of having a pile of serial controllers, a pile of Bitsurfrs, a > pile of power bars, a pile of serial cables and a pile of phone > cables, get yourself a Portmaster with BRI cards or if you're a larger > operation, something like an Ascend MAX series and run BRI's and PRI's > right into the box. Looking at our machine room, the most problematic > area is the nest of cabling and wires between the modems, the > Portmasters and the bix blocks. I'd love to be able to plug a single > cable into a PRI port and be able to run 23 B channels from there. No > fuss no muss. Okay, I'll agree that a stupid ISP could make a stupid mess... however I think I'd shoot for the rack mount version of the UTA-220's. That's just a matter of choosing wisely.... obviously it's always in your best interests to come up with as clean a solution as possible. The RM versions of the UTA-220 are cheaper too. Basically I will probably never get past my distaste of any sort of equipment where I have to take down multiple circuits to get my hands on a single device. That's one of the reasons I don't like in{t,f}ernal modems and ISDN PRI gizmos, etc. > > > However, for a workstation or PC at home, > > > a serially-connected ISDN TA will work just fine. Heck, I can even > > > connect a 28.8k modem to the POTS jack on my Bitsurfr as a dialin port > > > and keep my analog voice line free. > > > > Yes, that is quite attractive :-) > > I forgot... I also have a regular analog phone connected to the > modem, which serves as a second voice line. :) For the price, a > Bitsurfr is flexible and ideal for casual home use. Yes, that is quite attractive :-) Been thinking about dumping my POTS service at home (yes, yes, I know the dangers of being without power and only having an ISDN circuit..).. :-) First I actually have to get something beyond an XT laptop though. ... Joe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Greco - Systems Administrator jgreco@ns.sol.net Solaria Public Access UNIX - Milwaukee, WI 414/546-7968