Selecting an ISDN Router
------------------------

Q.  I'm waiting for my ISDN line to be installed.  How do I pick and
purchase the right ISDN adapter for my needs?

A.  There are a wide range of ISDN adapter/routers available.  While
standards have solidified somewhat and interoperability has improved, it
is still important to ensure that the adapter you choose is capable of
working with the ISDN routers that Northwest Nexus uses to provide
service.

Northwest Nexus maintains a list of ISDN devices that it has certified
as interoperable and supportable.  We strongly recommend that you choose
one of the devices on this list. We regret that we can not provide any
support whatsoever for customers using devices not on the certified list.

If you have not already done so, we strongly recommend that you obtain
and review the other FAQs in this series; see the end of this document
for a list of the available FAQs.


Q.  Where do I find the list of certified ISDN routers?

A.  If you have access to the World Wide Web, visit

    http://www.nwnexus.com/isdnserv.htm
    
If you do not have access to the Internet, contact Northwest Nexus sales
staff toll-free at 1 888-NWNEXUS (1 888 696-3987).


Q.  Does Northwest Nexus sell ISDN routers?

A.  Service packages are available that include ISDN routers as part of
the one-time setup fee.  Contact a Northwest Nexus sales representative
for details.


Q.  What should I look for in choosing an ISDN router?

A.  The following should be considered in choosing an appropriate ISDN
adapter:

    - Inclusion on the Northwest Nexus certified list
    - Ease of setup, programming, and maintenance
    - Availability of required interfaces 
    - Future upgrade path
    
Ease of Setup, Programming, Maintenance
---------------------------------------
Northwest Nexus will pre-program ISDN routers purchased from Northwest
as a part of the service set up fee.  Nevertheless, it is possible that
you may need to make minor adjustments to your router as you install it
or in the event you make changes in your local network.

While there is no ISDN router on the market today that has a simple
programming interface, Farallon offers a line of routers whose interface
is relatively clear and menu-driven.  The Ascend line of routers also
offer a menu-driven interface, but many have found the interface more
difficult to use and the menu items somewhat cryptic.  The Farallon is
the clear winner in providing better external status, with a wider range
of status LEDs on its case.

Farallon offers a graphic, Web-based programming interface to its routers,
eliminating the need to program the router using a serial console cable or
telnet terminal session.

Availability of Required Interfaces
-----------------------------------
In most cases, an ISDN router connects to the LAN via a 10baseT or 10base2
jack.  Both the Ascend and Farallon products offer 10baseT connections; the
Farallon routers offer two of their "EtherWave" jacks, allowing you to directly
connect two devices to the router without requiring a separate hub.  Farallon's
routers also come in both PC-oriented and Mac-oriented versions.  The Mac
versions include a Macintosh DIN-8 serial port, as well as a LocalTalk port
and built-in LocalTalk to Ethernet bridge.

Most ISDN routers don't include POTS jacks, the assumption being that both
channels will be used for data communications.  Both Ascend and Farallon
offer routers that include two POTS jacks, which can be quite useful in
small business or home-office installations.  This writer, for example, uses
a router with two POTS jacks, using one for a business phone and the other for
a fax line.  One directory number is assigned to each port, so that fax calls
go only to the fax machine, and business calls are routed to the telephone.
One of the ISDN line B-channels is always connected to route a small network
to the Internet; the other B-channel is available for making or receiving
business calls or faxes (but not both at the same time).

Future Upgrade Path
-------------------
We've been speaking of ISDN routers up to this point.  If you are
starting with 64kb/s or 128kb/s ISDN service, but are considering moving
up to higher-bandwidth connections in less than a year, you may want to
consider ISDN adapters that don't include a router, so that when you
move from ISDN to frame-relay or other service, you can use the separate
router you used with your ISDN adapter with your new line interface
device.

Choosing discrete ISDN adapters and routers nearly always costs more at
the outset.  A cost-effective alternative is offered by Ascend; their
Pipeline 130 includes both ISDN BRI and frame-relay line interfaces,
allowing you to upgrade from ISDN to a partial or full T-1 frame-relay
connection, or even to use both type of connection simultaneously, with
one providing fallback to the other.


Q.  What ISDN devices do you recommend for Dial-Up ISDN service?

A.  For most small office applications, the Farallon Netopia series of
routers is highly recommended.  The routers are available with a range
of capabilities and capacities to fit most situations, and their
interface and support is outstanding.  The Netopia Router comes with an
extensive software package, including a two-license version of
Farallon's excellent Timbuktu Pro remote control software, and (in the
Windows versions) a Web-based configuration and management interface
and Windows 95 plug-and-play support.  It's clearly an excellent choice
in a wide range of environments. 
       
For applications where a growth path to frame-relay is important,
consider the Ascend Pipeline 130.  The Pipeline 50 and Pipeline 75
(includes POTS jacks) are highly configurable, but most of the available
parameters won't matter much in typical applications. The Pipeline
interface is, frankly, a lot less friendly, unless you're a programmer
or the guy who designed it.  The president of Northwest Nexus likes the
Ascend interface, but this writer would much rather talk a customer
through configuring using the Farallon interface.


Q.  Where can I find out more about the ISDN devices you've discussed?

A.  Here are Web pages with comparison charts for the routers discussed
in this document:

    Farallon Communications Inc.
      http://www.farallon.com/product/netopia/rouglanc.html
      
    Ascend Communications Inc.
      http://www.ascend.com/products/pipelinefamcompare.html
    
    ADTRAN Inc.
      http://www.adtran.com/cpe/isdn/isu.html
  
      
Q.  Where can I purchase the ISDN devices you've discussed?

A.  Northwest Nexus offers selected ISDN devices packaged with ISDN
service. Contact the Northwest Nexus sales department toll-free at 1 888
NWNEXUS (1 888 696-3987) or via e-mail at sales@nwnexus.com.

If you are comfortable with mail-order or ordering via the Internet,
many of our customers have found a reliable overnight source of many
ISDN products in

    Data Comm Warehouse
    1 800 328-2261
    http://www.warehouse.com/DataComm/	
    
If you'd prefer a local supplier in the Western Washington area, you might
try

    Network Computing Architects Inc. (NCA)
    Bellevue, Washington
    1 206 455-4520
    http://www.ncanet.com

      

Q.  What number do I tell my ISDN adapter to use to contact Northwest Nexus?

A.  A chart of the available ISDN access numbers is available on the Web at

      http://www.nwnexus.com/phones.htm
    
    
Q:  Am I done yet?  What do I do next?


A.  Obtain and review the appropriate "How to Configure..." FAQ for the
ISDN adapter or router you have chosen.  The complete set of ISDN FAQs
includes the following titles:

	ISDN for Home or Business:  An Introduction and Brief Orientation
    (ISDN basics)
  ISDN Glossary
    (ISDN-related terms, acronyms and definitions)
	Establishing ISDN Service with Northwest Nexus
		(how to order, install ISDN service)
	Selecting an ISDN Terminal Adapter
		(how to select, overview on install and setup)
	Selecting an ISDN Router
		(the FAQ you are reading)
	Configuring Your ISDN Terminal Adapter
	Configuring Your ISDN Router
		(specifics on adapter configuration and software setup))
	Debugging ISDN 
	  (general debugging tips)


Q:  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]