kisdn (general information)
kisdn
is the actual dialer (the client) of kISDN. Using kisdn
the user can choose one of the predefined accounts and use it to connect
to the ISP. Depending on the configuration, kisdn can also monitor
incoming calls, play sounds on certain events or enable access via Dial-on-Demand;
this feature allows kisdn to establish a network link whenever
a network package can not be resolved locally.
10. What
does kisdn not do?
kisdn can not be used
to create new accounts or to modify existing ones (a common beginner's
problem). These tasks are exclusively available through kcmkisdn.
11.
Dialing up a provider
We will now look at the most
thrilling moment of using kISDN: the establishment of the first
connection. The Spartians among KDE enthusiasts may do so using the popup
menu of the docked kISDN (users of KDE 1.1 may even use a key combination).
Right-click on the icon in the panel and point to 'Connect to...'. You
should now see a submenu with all available accounts; please left-click
on the one of your choice.
Those who enjoy kisdn in its whole beauty must first choose an
account from the list and may then press the Connect button.
An upwards pointing arrow indicates
that a button-press will dial out. As soon as kISDN dials out,
this arrow turns upside down to indicate that another click will disconnect
you.
No matter if you used the monitor, a key combination or the connect
button, the yellow LED should now light up, (upper left, see chapter
kISDN's display ); this means that
kISDN is dialing out. If the green LED lights up shortly after
(establishing connection), this tells us that the phone connection to
the ISP was successful (if not this usually indicates that the line
is busy. In that case the yellow LED will blank and nothing else will
happen).
From now on two outcomes are possible: either the green LED blanks (leaving
the whole display dark) or both red LEDs flicker shortly and the green
LED stays lit. The first case is - you might have guessed - a failure;
the second one is a success - you are connected to your ISP and may
run a couple of tests with your browser - Congratulations !
In case of a failure either the account or the HiSax driver are not
configured correctly. Since the hardware and account configuration is
done by kcmkisdn it is up to the system administrator to rerun
it and look for the problem(s); the most common ones are listed here.
To disconnect, simply repress the button you used to dial out (its arrow
now points downward). kISDN will disconnect by itself when the
link has been idle for a certain period of time. The length of the timespan
can be modified with kcmkisdn.
This long awaited feature finally
found its way into kISDN. Before using it, the ISDN novice might
ask:
What does 'Dial on demand' do?
'Dial on demand' does exactly what its
name implies - it establishes a connection whenever one is needed. Simply
picture kISDN waiting for data to be transmitted; now if you
are trying to open a URL with your browser or check your mail without
previously dialing out with kISDN, it will make a connection
to your ISP automatically!
Usage of this feature is as easy as
it can get, simply press the button 'Dial on demand', the blue LED should
light up. Consider this LED as a warning light, it is to remind you
that any network request might cause kISDN to dial out automatically
(costing you money) ! That is the reason why many people dislike 'Dial
on Demand'; many others don't want to miss this service!
Note that the 'Dial on Demand' button was programmed intelligently,
its state will be remembered even if the ISP is changed.
Starting with version 0.6 kISDN
can do channel bundling, that is you can add the B channel on sufficiently
fast connections and thus increase the maximum throughput to 128 kbit/s.
To be able to make use of this feature, channel bundling must be enabled
with kcmkisdn and the kernel must support MPPP (see Appendix
D ). The second channel can then be added - by clicking the 'bundle'
- button
as soon as the first connection is active
- in reality a second connection to the ISP is made. That also is the
drawback of channel bundling: from the point of view of your telecommunications
company, this is not one (data) connection, but two costing
twice the money you would pay for one.
For ISDN connections that are not made over the public network this
feature really makes sense, since bandwith is often very low.
Back to the overview
T. Westheider, Ch. Demmer, Ch. Zander
/ January 8 1999 - kISDN Release 0.8.0