Ascend Frequently Asked Questions

This is a hybrid list of actual frequently-asked questions and answers, a hodgepodge of useful information, and some bloated exposition on my part. :)
I hope you find it useful. -ddl

Table of Contents

0. Acknowledgements
1. Introduction -- What's Ascend, anyway?

1a. Okay, what's ISDN?
2. The Ascend User's Mailing List
2a. Mailing List Archive
3. What ISDN equipment does Ascend make?
3a. Pipeline 50
3b. Pipeline 50 HX
3c. MAX
3d. MAX 4000 [MAX HP]
3e. Pipeline 400
3g. Pipeline 25 [coming soon]
4. Where can I purchase an Ascend ?
5. How should a BRI be provisioned for a Pipeline 50?
5a. What about AT&T Multipoint, and the AT&T "type sets" (A/B/C/D/E)?
5b. Should my BRI channels be provisioned as CSV, CSD, or PSD?
6. What ISDN terminal adapters are compatible with Ascend's?
6a. Cisco 2500 series with BRI
6b. Digiboard Datafire / PC-IMAC
6c. Combinet
6d. Gandalf
6e. 3Com Impact / AccessWorks
6f. Sun on-board BRI with PPP (SunLink, Morningstar)
6g. Notes on Windows NT
7. Does my computer need anything special to connect with Ascend equipment?
8. Can I use a digital (ISDN) phone and a Pipeline 50/50HX on the same BRI?
9. Can I use an analog (POTS) phone and a Pipeline 50/50HX on the same BRI?
10. Should I route or bridge IP between two Pipeline 50s?
11. How does Ascend measure current line utilization?
12. Filtering overview
13. I'm bridging over ISDN, and my connection won't stay down! Help!
13a. Novell "spoofing"
14. Does Ascend support third-party security extensions like SecurID?
15. How can I set up my Ascend router as an Internet firewall?
16. How can I protect against IP spoofing attacks?
17. I'm seeing terrible performance in my Novell IPX file transfers. Why?
18. I'm seeing really odd routing table entries. Why?
19. I want to assign IP addresses to my workstation dynamically. ... How?
20. How can I prevent incoming telnet console connections to my unit?
21. How can I log and account for calls?
22. Does the Ascend support Caller-ID/ANI authentication?
23. How can I debug a problem? What are all the debug commands?
24. What's RADIUS? How can I use it?
25. How can I make an outbound call with a RADIUS profile?
26. How can analog dial-in users modify their own RADIUS passwords?
27. I sometimes get "LAN security error" violations. ... Why?
28. Why do I see lots of CRC errors? Why is my line so slow?
29. Can I use an Ascend router/bridge to hook up to the Internet?
30. How does Ascend support Frame Relay?
31. What's a digital modem board, and how does it work?
32. SNMP
33. How can I upgrade system code or configurations remotely?
33a. How do I save/restore configurations over the network?
34. What can I do if my new software upload gets screwed up?
35. Some info on software release 4.4B

Reference Material

Here's a plain text version of the entire FAQ, for those who don't feel like navigating the table of contents.

This FAQ is also available via anonymous ftp, at

ftp://ftp.shore.net/members/dreaming/ascend-faq.txt

This document is copyright 1995 Derek D. Lichter. Last modified 7 June 1995. Individual contributors retain copyright over their words. I have attempted to contact other authors whose writing is quoted herein, and obtain permission for using excerpts of their work (if I have missed contacting you and you wish to give (or withdraw) your permission, please contact me).

Other legal issues should be satisfied by The Disclaimer.

This document is neither affiliated with nor supported by Ascend Communications, Inc.