How to Configure ISDN Routers ----------------------------- Q. How do I configure my ISDN router to work with Northwest Nexus Dedicated ISDN service? A. Believe it or not, in general, it's a lot easier to get an ISDN router configured and working than it is to do the same for an ISDN terminal adapter. Now that we've said that, let us add that actually getting a network successfully routing through an ISDN router can be complex and confusing. If you purchase your router from Northwest Nexus as a part of your ISDN service, Northwest Nexus will pre-program your router for your ISDN line and assigned IP address. If you wish to add additional addresses or default routes, consult with your local LAN management staff or contact Northwest Nexus customer service for assistance. This FAQ will concentrate on the ISDN part of getting a router up and running, as we can't take on all the complexities of routers and networks. Because every ISDN router also includes an ISDN adapter, we'll refer to the device as an adapter in most cases, so don't be confused. Three Steps to Getting Up and Running ------------------------------------- There are three steps to getting up and running with ISDN, once you have your ISDN line installed and working and your ISDN router in hand: 1. Confirm that you have a working Ethernet connection 2. Program SPID, directory numbers, IP address, etc. into adapter 3. Confirm that adapter is communicating with telephone company switch At the end of this FAQ are notes and tips on setting up or using some popular adapters. 1. Confirm that You Have a Working Ethernet Network ---------------------------------------------------- Because most ISDN routers connect to your local LAN via Ethernet, you'll need to have the systems that you intend to have access to the Internet connected to your LAN using Ethernet cards, and have the appropriate software configured to use TCP/IP networking. This varies greatly by machine, OS, and software. To make contact with the ISDN router, each machine ("node") on the network will need to be configured with the following: - An IP address assigned from the 254 addresses in the "Assigned IP Address" below - The address of the ISDN router ("Router Address" below). This address is often called the "gateway address" in PC and Mac Ethernet software. - DNS address(es) supplied by Northwest Nexus. Use one or more of the following addresses: 198.137.231.1 206.63.63.1 2. Program SPID, Directory Numbers, IP Address, Etc. into Adapter ------------------------------------------------------------------ a) To prepare for programming your adapter, gather the following information: *SPIDs* are the 14-digit numbers provided by your telephone company when your line is ordered and/or installed. For U S WEST ISDN lines, SPIDs end in "1111." For GTE ISDN lines, SPIDs end in "0101." *DNs* look just like telephone numbers (because that's what they are). They begin with your area code and have 10 numbers total. *Switch type* in most cases will be "NI-1" -- use this value unless you've been specifically told otherwise. *Nexus ISDN number* varies depending on your location. The number you should call was supplied by the Northwest Nexus personnel who helped you establish service. If you don't remember this number, or your assigned IP address or gateway address, contact Northwest Nexus toll-free at 1.888.NWNEXUS. *Domain Name* is the name that Northwest Nexus has associated with your Assigned IP Address*. This will be either a custom name that you have registered with InterNIC and Northwest Nexus, or a name that Northwest Nexus has assigned you *Assigned IP Address* is the /24 address (formerly called a "Class C" address) that Northwest Nexus has assigned you for use on your local LAN. *Router IP Address* is the IP address that you'll use for your router. You arrange this address with Northwest Nexus when you establish ISDN service. In the form below, we've filled in "254" because most routers are assigned addresses ending in either "1" or "254." The first three sets of numbers will be the same as the first three sets in the "Assigned IP Address" in the field above. *Remote IP Address* is the address supplied by Northwest Nexus of the ISDN router on the Northwest Nexus side of the ISDN connection. Your router will send packets destined for locations outside of your LAN to this address for routing to the Internet. *Router Name* is the name you wish to associate with your router. It should be the account name that Northwest Nexus supplied you when your ISDN service was established. *Router Password* is the password that will be used to secure programming access to your router. The console or configuration screens of many routers can be accessed via telnet; for those routers, you should also set a separate (and different) telnet password to control access to your router. You should choose these passwords and make sure that you remember them, as you will not be able to make changes to your router without them. SPID #1 _________________________________________________ SPID #2 _________________________________________________ DN #1 _________________________________________________ DN #2 _________________________________________________ Switch Type NI-1 ____________________________________________ Domain Name _____________________________________ Assigned IP Address . . . _____________________________________ Router IP Address . . . 254 _____________________________________ Remote IP Address . . . _____________________________________ Router Name ______________________________________ Router Password ______________________________________ Nexus ISDN Number ______________________________________ b) Program the router following the manufacturer's instructions and using the information you gathered in the previous step. If you purchase your router from Northwest Nexus, your router will be programmed for you by Northwest Nexus staff. For programming popular routers, ask your Northwest Nexus representative if there is a router-specific FAQ to assist you. When you have configured the router, use the router's "save config" feature to create a text file containing all of the router's configuration data. This will make recovering from a router failure or replacement much easier. 3. Confirm that Adapter Is Communicating with the Switch -------------------------------------------------------- It's time to check if things are working well on the ISDN side of the router. Connect the adapter to AC power, and using the supplied cable, connect your ISDN adapter to your ISDN jack. BE CERTAIN THAT YOU CONNECT THE ADAPTER TO THE CORRECT JACK. Plugging an ISDN adapter into a standard telephone outlet almost certainly will damage the adapter. Adapters also include indicators that allow you to observe the state of the adapter's connections. Consult the manufacturer's instructions for the specifics of your adapter's indicators. In general, the following indicators are provided: AC Power: Lit when AC power is supplied and the power switch is turned on WAN: Indicates that the adapter has established a valid connection with the telephone company switch. This connection must be established before your adapter can make or receive calls. In some cases, this indicator flashes while a connection is being established, then goes out when the connection is made. Note that adapters establish a D-channel connection when the adapter is powered on and connected to the ISDN line; the connection will be maintained unless there's a malfunction of your ISDN line, the adapter, or the telephone company switch. B-channel These indicators show the state of each of the two B channels. Often the indicator can show that a call is being made ("dialed"), that it has been answered, and the type of call (voice or data, if your ISDN router has POTs jacks). Checking the Internet Connection -------------------------------- If all has gone well to this point, your router is communicating with the ISDN switch. You can establish an ISDN connection to Northwest Nexus either by using your router's "Establish Connection" console command, or by starting and using any Internet application on a node connected to your local LAN. When your ISDN router receives packets from the application, it will establish a connection to the Northwest Nexus router. You should be able to observe this connection using the router's indicators, and by observing the connection on the router's console status monitor. If your application does not receive the expected response from the network, check the following: - Ensure that you can communicate with the router via your local LAN. Use a "ping" application and the Router IP on a node on your LAN. - Ensure that the node you are using for testing has the address of the router entered as the node's TCP/IP gateway. - Verify that your ISDN router has made a connection to the Northwest Nexus ISDN router. Q: I've followed the instructions and It doesn't work. Now what? A. Obtain and follow the debugging procedures in the "Debugging ISDN" FAQ. Q: It worked. How can I stay up to date on ISDN developments at Northwest Nexus? You can keep abreast of ISDN at Northwest Nexus by subscribing to one of our ISDN mailing lists, or by participating in our ISDN newsgroup. Our ISDN mailing lists are low-traffic, one-way e-mail lists that contain ISDN-related and news, announcements, and tips. If you're a Northwest Nexus customer, you may join the isdn-interest list. If you're not yet a customer, subscribe to isdn-announce. Both lists get news of our latest ISDN products and offerings. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to majordomo@halcyon.com In the body of the message, include these two lines: subscribe isdn-interest end or subscribe isdn-announce end Northwest Nexus also maintains a newsgroup for our users to discuss ISDN issues, share tips, and troubleshoot problems. Use your browser or a newsreader and subscribe to halcyon.isdn [1Apr97/MJT]