Using Office-to-Office Connections        15

This chapter also briefly describes how to configure multiline load balancing and ISDN BRI on-demand connections for office-to-office use.

The following topics are discussed:

•  "Overview of Example Configuration" on page 15-1

•  "Configuration Steps for an Office-to-Office Connection" on page 15-3

•  "Setting the Console Port for Multiline Load Balancing" on page 15-13

•  "Using ISDN for On-Demand Connections" on page 15-14

  See the Command Line Administrator's Guide for more detailed command descriptions and instructions.

Overview of Example Configuration

The PortMaster Office Router is designed to provide cost-effective connectivity between small remote (branch) offices and larger headquarters (main) offices. These types of connections are typically established on an as-needed basis. For most applications, a continuous connection is not cost-effective to maintain when a dial-on-demand connection can be established to transfer network traffic when necessary.

A dial-on-demand link establishes a connection with the specified location when network traffic is queued. The PortMaster PCMCIA Office Router OR-M is designed to support a dial-on-demand connection with another office using the PCMCIA modem port S1. Figure 15-1 shows an example of this configuration. The console port S0 can be used as a console, or with an external modem and a straight-through cable connected, as an additional dial on-demand port for multiline load balancing during peak traffic periods.

  Office-to-Office Dial-On-Demand Configuration The PortMaster ISDN Office Router OR-U has an ISDN BRI port designated S1/S2 instead of a PCMCIA modem port. The ISDN port can be used for ISDN dial-on-demand connections.

The example in this chapter uses the PCMCIA asynchronous modem port on the OR-M. To use the ISDN port on the OR-U, see "Using ISDN for On-Demand Connections" on page 15-14.

Configuration Steps for an Office-to-Office Connection

To install your PortMaster, follow the instructions in your hardware installation guide. If you need additional help, refer to the troubleshooting chapter of the installation guide.

Once you have assigned an IP address to the PortMaster, continue with the steps. The following values shown in this chapter apply only to this example; when you are configuring your PortMaster, use values appropriate for your network.

1. Configure the following settings for the PortMaster PCMCIA Office Router in the London office:

a. Global settings (page 15-4).

b. Ethernet interface settings (page 15-4).

c. PCMCIA serial port settings (page 15-5).

d. Dial-in users (page 15-6).

e. Dial-out locations (page 15-7).

1. Configure the following settings for the PortMaster in the Paris office:

a. Ethernet interface settings (page 15-8).

b. Dial-out port settings (page 15-9).

c. Dial-in users (page 15-10).

d. Dial-out locations (page 15-11).

1. Test the configuration (page 15-12).

2. If necessary, configure the console port for multiline load balancing (page 15-13).

   Alternatively, you can configure a PortMaster Office Router for ISDN dial-on-demand connections. See page 15-14 for instructions.

Configuring the Office Router in London

Configuring Global Settings

Once you have configured the global settings shown in Table 15-1, save the configuration by using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information about global settings, refer to Chapter 3, "Configuring Global Settings."

Configuring Ethernet Interface Settings

Once you have configured the Ethernet interface as shown in Table 15-2, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information on Ethernet settings, refer to Chapter 4, "Configuring the Ethernet Interface."

Configuring PCMCIA Serial Port Settings

Leave all the other settings at their default values. Once you have configured the port as shown in Table 15-3, reset the port and save the configuration using the following commands:  

Command> reset s1 Command> save all

For more information about asynchronous ports, refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring an Asynchronous Port." For more information about configuring modems, refer to Chapter 10, "Using Modems."

Dial-In User Settings for London

Once you have configured the user table as shown in Table 15-4, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information about configuring user table settings, refer to Chapter 7, "Configuring Dial-In Users."

Dial-Out Location Settings for London

Location Table Values

Setting	Command
Location name	add location paris
Type	set location paris manual
Protocol	set location paris protocol ppp
IP destination	set location paris destination 192.168.1.1
Netmask	set location paris netmask 255.255.255.0
IPX network	set location paris ipxnet F2
RIP routing	set location paris rip on
MTU	set location paris mtu 1500
Compression	set location paris compression on
Idle timer	set location paris idle 5
High-water mark	set location paris high_water 0
Dial group	set location paris group 1
Telephone	set location paris telephone 5551212
Username	set location paris username London
Password	set location paris password anypasswd
Maximum ports	set location paris maxports 1

Note ¯ Configuring the maximum ports setting to a value higher than 0 causes the PortMaster to dial out to a continuous location, or become available for dial-out to an on-demand location. By configuring the maximum ports setting last, you ensure that the PortMaster will not attempt to make a connection with a location until you have configured all the settings for that location.

Once you have configured the location table as shown in Table 15-5, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information about configuring location table settings, refer to Chapter 8, "Configuring Dial-Out Connections."

Configuring the PortMaster in Paris

Configuring Ethernet Interface Settings

Once you have configured the Ethernet interface as shown in Table 15-6, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information on Ethernet settings, refer to Chapter 4, "Configuring the Ethernet Interface."

Configuring Dial-Out Port Settings

Leave all the other settings at their default values. Once you have configured the port as shown in Table 15-7, reset the port and save the configuration using the following commands:  

Command> reset s1 Command> save all

For more information about asynchronous ports, refer to Chapter 5, "Configuring an Asynchronous Port."

Configuring a Dial-In User

Once you have configured the user table as shown in Table 15-8, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information about configuring user table settings, refer to Chapter 7, "Configuring Dial-In Users."

Configuring Dial-Out Location Settings

Note ¯ Configuring the maximum ports setting to a value higher than 0 causes the PortMaster to dial out to a continuous location, or become available for dial-out to an on-demand location. By configuring the maximum ports setting last, you ensure that the PortMaster will not attempt to make a connection with a location until you have configured all the settings for that location.

Once you have configured the location table as shown in Table 15-9, save the configuration using the following command:  

Command> save all

For more information about configuring location table settings, refer to Chapter 8, "Configuring Dial-Out Connections."

Testing the Setup

1. Enter the following commands to connect from the Paris office to the London office:

   Command> set console s1 Command> set debug 0x51 Command> dial london

2. Monitor the dial-and-connect sequence between the two locations.

3. If everything connects as expected, reset the port on the Office Router in the Paris office, turn off debugging, and change the location type to on-demand:

   Command> reset s1 Command> set debug off Command> set location london on_demand

4. If you notice a problem, do the following:

a. Reset the port on the Office Router in the Paris office.

b. Change the settings you think are causing the problem.

c. Dial the London office again.

d. Repeat this procedure until the connection is made correctly.

1. Repeat Steps 1 through 4, dialing from the London office to the Paris office.

Setting the Console Port for Multiline Load Balancing

In this example the console port is being configured for use as another serial port. Once you set this configuration, the port is no longer available for the system console. Figure 15-2 shows the multiline load balancing configuration.

  Multiline Load Balancing To enable multiline load balancing, you must configure the S0 port using the same settings shown for the PCMCIA port in Table 15-3. In addition, when you configure the location paris on the Office Router in the London office, use the values shown in Table 15-10 for the maximum number of ports and the high-water mark. See "Dial-Out Location Settings for London" on page 15-7 for the other values.  

Location Settings for Load Balancing

Setting	Command
Maximum ports	set location paris maxports 2
High-water mark	set location paris high_water 100

The value of the high-water mark depends on the type of traffic and how many bytes of traffic you want queued before the second line is used.

Using ISDN for On-Demand Connections

• Configure the ISDN switch type as a global setting.

• Set the SPID on the port.

• Do not set the port speed, flow control, or modem control.

• Set the telephone number with the set location telephone command.

• Set the user name with the set location username command.

• Set the password with the set location password command.

  For more information about ISDN connections, see Chapter 12, "Using ISDN BRI." For information about locations, see Chapter 8, "Configuring Dial-Out Connections."