From gnu@toad.com Fri Mar 5 10:57:32 1993 Received: from toad.com by fido.wps.com (5.67/1.34) id AA00365; Fri, 5 Mar 93 10:57:26 -0800 Received: from localhost by toad.com id AA18349; Fri, 5 Mar 93 10:58:46 PST Message-Id: <9303051858.AA18349@toad.com> To: tomj@fido.wps.com Subject: [xtcn.com!lamb@eddie.mit.edu: Re: ISDN routers] Date: Fri, 05 Mar 93 10:58:44 -0800 From: gnu@toad.com Status: OR ------- Forwarded Message Subject: Re: ISDN routers To: gnu@toad.com Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1993 09:49:22 -0500 (EST) From: xtcn.com!lamb@eddie.mit.edu Cc: 2960 In-Reply-To: <9303050838.AA08270@toad.com> from "gnu@toad.com" at Mar 5, 93 00:38:02 am Message-Id: <9303051449.aa06177@gateway.xtcn.com> > I've cc'd Tom Jennings, who manages our network (the Little Garden net). > > > The box has a AUI+10BaseT interface on one end and a RJ-45 to connect to the > > pair out of the wall for ISDN (2B1Q signalling). > > Almost perfect... > > This means to daisy-chain one site to the next in the network, you > need two, which is kinda steep ($4K/site since you need one at each > end). > > Livingston 56K IP routers with four serial ports and AUI are running > about $2300. Add $600 per port in use, for a DSU/CSU. Presumably > ISDN will be easier and cheaper to deal with, eventually. At the > moment it's too exotic to be cheap, I guess. Sounds like youd like a box of ISDN Terminal adaptors. I agree that if you are into large numbers of serial connections, our solution isnt too effective. Our goal was to bring ISDN to the not so astute individuals (hence IPX routing). Most of the cost is in making the device standalone with its own ethernet+sw power supplies... What about a bunch of ISDN-PC cards, an ethernet Card, and a PC to plug it all into ? We are working on a PC-ISDN card that would have a list of $500. We could provide Packet drivers. Add KA9Q and maybe you have something ? This would give you 4 @ 128kbs (or 8 @ 64kbs) connections for about the same price as the livingston. The user end could do what they want. Either a card or a box with ethernet built in. Would you be willing to beta such a card ? > Is the product brand new? What volumes would you need to sell to get > the price down to about $500? What size is it? (Preferable size is Ethernet > transceiver size -- big enough for the connectors and nothing more.) Yes its new. We are 3 SW/HW hackers (You helped me many years ago in getting Chessons paper when I wrote DCP - now UUPC. Ive also saw you on a roof with Mark Mason). Dont think I could get it down to $500 but the "special price" would be something like $700 without any support (maybe a ROM update or two but no handholding - which I dont think you would need) for 10 pcs or more. It is a std aluminum "modem" enclosure. > We don't need RIP; we set up static routes in our network. Sounds easy. > How is it managed? Over the Ethernet? Livingston has a great Yes. For the current product, you telnet to it and set ISDN phone numbers, plug in the 2-wires from the wall, plug in ethernet, plug in power. No other software is nessesary. (No pretty windows either) > Some of our sites can get them. Our Mt. View offices can. Our SF > site can't yet. It depends on when the telco last replaced the CO > serving that area. Damn ! I thought New England was the only screwd up area. Rick Lamb XtcN Ltd, lamb@xtcn.com, Tel:508-655-2960, FAX:508-655-4559, Telex:6504829720 11 Roxbury Ave.,Natick MA 01760,4425 Butterworth Pl.N.W.,Washington D.C. 20016 ------- End of Forwarded Message