Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 01:28:53 -0600 From: Allen Hyer <allenh@wtrt.net> To: "Jacob Suter" <jsuter@intrastar.net>, "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@time.cdrom.com> Cc: <freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Multi port serial cards Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19961220012852.00686100@wtrt.net>
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At 08:33 PM 12/26/96 -0600, Jacob Suter wrote: >> > ugh... 50 modems on a unix box? Ugh!!! >> >> Actually, it seems a lot of folks are starting to have success with >> configurations like this, and they don't need to run radiusd and >> multiply their accounting headaches as a result. > >Hmm... I modified the perl scripts I have found for radius to print out >just like 'ac'... I do run 7 lines off a Cyclades card on my 2.1.5 server, >and yeah it works, but damn its a hassle. > >> Admittedly, a portmaster is more plug-n-play (to an extent anyway) >> just as a Cisco is more p-n-p as a router, but sometimes cost is >> a consideration. :-) > >True. I like both ways, and I have found the pppgetty setup is great and >is possibly a tad faster than my PM2-ER-10 (off a 5x86/160), but when >something breaks on a unix box you have problems (say sendmail goes nuts >and eats the machine... sendmail, pppd, and anything else running is dead >to the world). When you throw together the total cost of a machine to do >this job (AMD 5x86/133, 24 megs ram, 540 MB hard drive, Cyclades 32-Yep, >case, video card, network card, etc) to handle 30 ports, it just doesn't >come out cheaper, when you can buy PM-11's (57.6k, 10 ports) pretty cheap >from guys on the Portmaster-user's list... > >But, If I was just now getting into the business, I wouldn't fool with the >analog modems anymore, get a PM-3, either lease or buy... They're cheap, >they support both ISDN and analog (if you use a PRI), and quite often the >line charges are cheaper.. I have taken all the points presented so far. Here is my situation, and if there is a better way, I would definately be interested. 1. I already have the 54 analog modems. Yes, digital modems are in my future, but this is now. 2. I like the level of control that a unix box presents. I don't mind hacking on the pc hardware, and as far as failures, I have spare pc pieces sitting around (ie hard drives, power supplies, ethercards, etc) to handle these. Also, I don't mind firing up the c compiler to hack a little code either. A unix box gives me that capability. Honestly, I am kind of tired of propriety hardware/software solutions. I don't mind a little more setup time and even a little extra cost to gain this flexibility. And, this machine will be a dedicated terminal server, so I don't really have to worry about sendmail, named, etc going out of control and crashing the system. In the little experience I have, I have found my FreeBSD boxes to be as stable as a cisco router or the xylogics terminal server that I presently use. All hardware/software solutions fail, regardless if they are proprietary or not. Also, A unix box can be more scalable then some proprietary hardware. 3. I can use a comm package to get to the modems to adjust software settings on the modems, reset them, etc. My office is 12 miles away from the building the equipment is in, so this becomes fairly important. And, I can do all those things from home, which is nice when something craters at 2 o'clock in the morning and the pager and the cell phone start going nuts with trouble reports. Admittedly, I am not familiar with all the hardware mentioned in the previous posts. So, if there is a better way I am open to it. I am not trying to start a flame war, just looking for some help. I am not looking for the "cheapest" solution. In reality, I am looking for the most "robust" solution. Cost is always a factor, but not always the biggest factor. Thanks for your help, Allen Hyer System Administrator West Texas Rural Telephone
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