Ascend Pipeline Guide

Pipeline Start Here Guide
Ascend Communications, Inc.
Part Number: 7820-0328-001
For software version 6.0
January 26, 1998

Pipeline is a trademark, and Ascend and the Ascend logo are registered
trademarks of Ascend Communications, Inc. Other trademarks and trade names
mentioned in this publication belong to their respective owners.
Copyright © 1998, Ascend Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This document contains information that is the property of Ascend
Communications, Inc. This document may not be copied, reproduced, reduced to
any electronic medium or machine readable form, or otherwise duplicated, and
the information herein may not be used, disseminated or otherwise disclosed,
except with the prior written consent of Ascend Communications, Inc.

Contacting Ascend Customer Service
Pipeline Start Here Guide iii
Contacting Ascend Customer Service
You can request assistance or additional information by telephone, email, fax, or
modem, or over the Internet.
Obtaining Technical Assistance
If you need technical assistance, first gather the information that Ascend
Customer Service will need for diagnosing your problem. Then select the most
convenient method of contacting Ascend Customer Service.
Information you will need
Before contacting Ascend Customer Service, gather the following information:
• Product name and model
• Software and hardware options
• Software version
• Service Profile Identifiers (SPIDs) associated with your product
• Your local telephone company’s switch type and operating mode, such as
AT&T 5ESS Custom or Northern Telecom National ISDN-1
• Whether you are routing or bridging with your Ascend product
• Type of computer you are using
• Description of the problem
How to contact Ascend Customer Service
After you gather the necessary information, contact Ascend in one of the
following ways:
Telephone in the United States 800-ASCEND-4 (800-272-3634)
Telephone outside the United States 510-769-8027 (800-697-4772)
Austria/Germany/Switzerland ([phone]
Benelux ([phone]

Contacting Ascend Customer Service
iv Pipeline Start Here Guide
You can also contact the Ascend main office by dialing 510-769-6001, or you can
write to Ascend at the following address:
Ascend Communications, Inc.,
One Ascend Plaza,
1701 Harbor Bay Parkway,
Alameda, CA 94502
Need information about new features and products?
Ascend is committed to constant product improvement. You can find out about
new features and other improvements as follows:
• For the latest information about the Ascend product line, visit our site on the
World Wide Web:
http://www.ascend.com
• For software upgrades, release notes, and addenda to this manual, visit our
FTP site:
ftp.ascend.com
France ([phone]
Italy ([phone]
Japan ([phone]
Middle East/Africa ([phone]
Scandinavia ([phone]
Spain/Portugal ([phone]
UK ([phone]
Email sup[email protected]
Email (outside US) EMEAsuppor[email protected]
Facsimile (FAX) 510-814-2312
Customer Support BBS by modem 510-814-2302

Important safety instructions
Pipeline Start Here Guide v
Important safety instructions
The following safety instructions apply to the Pipeline:
1Read and follow all warning notices and instructions marked on the product
or included in the manual.
2The maximum recommended ambient temperature for Pipeline models is
104° Fahrenheit (40° Celsius). Take care to allow sufficient air circulation or
space between units when the Pipeline is installed in a closed or multi-unit
rack assembly, because the operating ambient temperature of the rack
environment might be greater than room ambient.
3Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation. To ensure
reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, these
slots and openings must not be blocked or covered.
4Installation of the Pipeline in a rack without sufficient air flow can be unsafe.
5If installed in a rack, the rack should safely support the combined weight of
all equipment it supports. A fully loaded redundant-power Pipeline weighs
56 lbs (25.5 kg). A fully loaded single-power Pipeline weighs 30 lbs (13.6
kg).
6The connections and equipment that supply power to the Pipeline should be
capable of operating safely with the maximum power requirements of the
Pipeline. In the event of a power overload, the supply circuits and supply
wiring should not become hazardous. The input rating of the Pipeline is
printed on its nameplate.
7Models with AC power inputs are intended for use with a three-wire
grounding type plug—a plug which has a grounding pin. This is a safety
feature. Equipment grounding is vital to ensure safe operation. Do not defeat
the purpose of the grounding type plug by modifying the plug or using an
adapter.
8Before installation, use an outlet tester or a voltmeter to check the AC
receptacle for the presence of earth ground. If the receptacle is not properly
grounded, the installation must not continue until a qualified electrician has
corrected the problem. Similarly, in the case of DC input power, check the
DC ground(s).
9If a three-wire grounding type power source is not available, consult a
qualified electrician to determine another method of grounding the
equipment.

Important safety instructions
vi Pipeline Start Here Guide
10 Models with DC power inputs must be connected to an earth ground through
the terminal block Earth/Chassis Ground connectors. This is a safety feature.
Equipment grounding is vital to ensure safe operation.
11 Before installing wires to the Pipeline’s DC power terminal block, verify that
these wires are not connected to any power source. Installing live wires (that
is, wires connected to a power source) is hazardous.
12 Connect the equipment to a 48VDC supply source that is electrically isolated
from the AC source. The 48VDC source should be reliably connected to
earth ground.
13 Install only in restricted-access areas in accordance with Articles 110-16,
110-17, and 110-18 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70.
14 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord, and do not locate the
product where persons will walk on the power cord.
15 Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers
can expose you to dangerous high voltage points or other risks. Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.
16 General purpose cables are provided with this product. Special cables, which
might be required by the regulatory inspection authority for the installation
site, are the responsibility of the customer.
17 When installed in the final configuration, the product must comply with the
applicable Safety Standards and regulatory requirements of the country in
which it is installed. If necessary, consult with the appropriate regulatory
agencies and inspection authorities to ensure compliance.
18 A rare phenomenon can create a voltage potential between the earth grounds
of two or more buildings. If products installed in separate buildings are
interconnected, the voltage potential might cause a hazardous condition.
Consult a qualified electrical consultant to determine whether or not this
phenomenon exists and, if necessary, implement corrective action before
interconnecting the products.
In addition, if the equipment is to be used with telecommunications circuits, take
the following precautions:
• Never install telephone wiring during a lightning storm.
• Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless the jack is specifically
designed for wet locations.

Important safety instructions
Pipeline Start Here Guide vii
• Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the telephone
line has been disconnected at the network interface.
• Use caution when installing or modifying telephone lines.
• Avoid using equipment connected to telephone lines (other than a cordless
telephone) during an electrical storm. There is a remote risk of electric shock
from lightning.
• Do not use a telephone or other equipment connected to telephone lines to
report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.

Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 ix
Contents
Contacting Ascend Customer Service ........................................................... iii
Important safety instructions ........................................................................... v
About This Guide ................................................... xvii
How to use this guide ................................................................................. xvii
What you should know ............................................................................... xvii
Documentation conventions ...................................................................... xviii
Manual set ................................................................................................. xviii
Introduction to the Pipeline ...................................... 1-1
What is a Pipeline? ...................................................................................... 1-1
System requirements ................................................................................... 1-2
Pipeline features .......................................................................................... 1-3
Remote management ............................................................................ 1-3
Multiple networking protocols ............................................................. 1-3
Security ................................................................................................. 1-3
Bandwidth optimization ....................................................................... 1-4
Integrated analog and digital capabilities ............................................. 1-4
Configuration methods ......................................................................... 1-5
QuickStart ...................................................................................... 1-5
Java-Based Pipeline Configurator (JBPC) ..................................... 1-5
On-board software .......................................................................... 1-5
ISDN basics ................................................................................................. 1-6
Basic Rate Interface (BRI) ................................................................... 1-6
Integrated digital and analog services ................................................. 1-7
Connecting to a switch ......................................................................... 1-7
Local and remote networks ......................................................................... 1-8

Contents
xPreliminary January 30, 1998 Pipeline Start Here Guide
How the Pipeline establishes connections ................................................... 1-8
Using Dial-up Networking versus using a Pipeline ............................. 1-9
Using dynamically assigned IP addresses .......................................... 1-10
Setting up private network addresses ........................................... 1-10
Using Network Address Translation (NAT) ................................ 1-11
Possible changes to your application settings ........................................... 1-12
Setup guidelines ......................................................................................... 1-12
Installing the Pipeline .............................................. 2-1
Identifying the different units ...................................................................... 2-2
Pipeline 50 and 75 ................................................................................ 2-2
Pipeline 85 ............................................................................................ 2-3
Pipeline components .................................................................................... 2-5
Hardware and interfaces you need to supply ............................................... 2-6
An ISDN line ........................................................................................ 2-6
Telephone equipment and cables ......................................................... 2-6
An external network terminator (S-interface only) .............................. 2-7
A computer with a serial port ............................................................... 2-7
A modem cable ..................................................................................... 2-8
An Ethernet interface ........................................................................... 2-8
Software you need to supply ....................................................................... 2-8
Networking software ............................................................................ 2-8
TFTP server software ........................................................................... 2-9
Communications software .................................................................... 2-9
Installation steps ........................................................................................ 2-10
Connecting to an ISDN line ............................................................... 2-10
Connecting a U-interface Pipeline ............................................... 2-10
Connecting an S-interface Pipeline .............................................. 2-11
Connecting the Ethernet ..................................................................... 2-12
Connecting to a network .................................................................... 2-13
Connecting to a 10Base-T network with a hub ............................ 2-13
Connecting to a Thinnet network ................................................. 2-14
Connecting to the Terminal port ........................................................ 2-17
Connecting a UNIX workstation .................................................. 2-17
Optional serial connection to an IBM-compatible computer ....... 2-18
Optional serial connection to a Macintosh computer ................... 2-19
Connecting telephone equipment ....................................................... 2-21
Starting up the Pipeline ...................................................................... 2-24
Reading the Pipeline LEDs ................................................................ 2-26

Contents
Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 xi
Mounting the Pipeline on a wall ........................................................ 2-27
Basic Configuration Settings ................................... 3-1
Overview ..................................................................................................... 3-1
TCP/IP information ..................................................................................... 3-2
ISDN or Frame Relay information .............................................................. 3-3
Routing information .................................................................................... 3-4
IP routing information .......................................................................... 3-4
IPX routing information ....................................................................... 3-5
AppleTalk routing ................................................................................ 3-5
Bridged connections ............................................................................. 3-5
Entering your settings .................................................................................. 3-6
Quick Start .............................................................. 4-1
Installing the JBPC ...................................................................................... 4-1
Opening the JBPC ....................................................................................... 4-2
Running the QuickStart utility ..................................................................... 4-3
Connecting to the Pipeline ........................................................................... 4-4
Using the configuration panels ............................................................. 4-4
Updating the Pipeline configuration .................................................... 4-5
Saving the configuration to a file ......................................................... 4-5
Opening the Monitor ............................................................................ 4-6
Accessing the JBPC online help and Networking Basics .................... 4-7
Opening a configuration file from disk ....................................................... 4-8
Using the On-board Software .................................. 5-1
Establishing a serial connection to the Pipeline .......................................... 5-1
Establishing a Telnet connection ................................................................. 5-2
Menus and status windows .......................................................................... 5-3
Finding information in the menus ........................................................ 5-4
Opening a menu ............................................................................. 5-5
Changing parameters with text entries ........................................... 5-6
Setting parameters with predefined values .................................... 5-6
Saving or discarding your changes ................................................ 5-6
Status windows ..................................................................................... 5-6
Entering a basic configuration ..................................................................... 5-7
Filling in the Configure menu .............................................................. 5-7

Setting up Network Address Translation (NAT) ............................... 5-11
Additional IPX settings ...................................................................... 5-11
Additional Frame Relay settings ........................................................ 5-12
Performing a self-test ................................................................................ 5-13
Manually dialing the remote network ........................................................ 5-14
Securing the Pipeline ................................................................................. 5-15
TCP/IP Example Settings ....................................... A-1
Setting up a TCP/IP network ...................................................................... A-1
Basic TCP/IP settings ................................................................................. A-2
Setting up TCP/IP in Windows 95 ............................................................. A-3
Setting up TCP/IP on a Macintosh ............................................................. A-7
IP Routing Configuration Example .......................... B-1
Sample Pipeline configuration data ............................................................. B-1
Sample ISDN information .................................................................... B-2
Sample remote network information .................................................... B-2
Setting up IP routing using QuickStart ........................................................ B-3
Setting up IP routing in the Configure menu ............................................... B-5
Establishing a serial connection in Windows 95 .................................. B-5
Entering configuration information ...................................................... B-7
Telneting into the Pipeline ................................................................... B-8
Setting up Network Address Translation (NAT) ................................. B-8
Securing the Pipeline ............................................................................ B-9
Warranties and FCC regulations ............................. C-1
Index ................................................................ Index-1

Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 xiii
Figures
Figure 2-1 Old (top) and new (bottom) Pipeline 75 back panels................. 2-2
Figure 2-2 Old (top) and new (bottom) Pipeline 50 back panels................. 2-2
Figure 2-3 Pipeline 85 back panel................................................................ 2-3
Figure 2-4 Hardware and accessories contained in the Pipeline package.... 2-5
Figure 2-5 Connecting a U-interface Pipeline to the ISDN line ................ 2-11
Figure 2-6 Connecting an S-interface Pipeline to the ISDN line............... 2-12
Figure 2-7 Connecting the Pipeline to the computer’s Ethernet’s interface 2-13
Figure 2-8 Inserting the 10Base-T cable into the hub................................ 2-14
Figure 2-9 Connecting the Thicknet to Thinnet transceiver....................... 2-15
Figure 2-10 Connecting the T connector and terminator to the transceiver 2-15
Figure 2-11 Connecting a second T connector and terminator .................. 2-16
Figure 2-12 Connecting the Thinnet cable to the T connector................... 2-16
Figure 2-13 Connecting the modem cable to the Pipeline Terminal port .. 2-17
Figure 2-14 Connecting the modem cable to the Pipeline Terminal port .. 2-19
Figure 2-15 Connecting an adapter to a Macintosh modem cable............. 2-20
Figure 2-16 Connecting a Macintosh to the Pipeline Terminal port.......... 2-20
Figure 2-17 Connecting the telephone cable to a telephone....................... 2-22
Figure 2-18 Connecting the telephone cable to the Pipeline Phone 1 port 2-22
Figure 2-19 Connecting the telephone cable to a fax machine .................. 2-23
Figure 2-20 Connecting the telephone cable to the Pipeline Phone 2 port 2-23
Figure 2-21 Connecting the power cord to the Pipeline............................. 2-24
Figure 2-22 Pipeline front-panel display lights.......................................... 2-26
Figure 2-23 Placement of screws for mounting the Pipeline on a wall...... 2-27
Figure 4-1 The QuickStart button................................................................. 4-3
Figure 4-2 The Connect button..................................................................... 4-4
Figure 4-3 The JBPC tabbed configuration interface................................... 4-5
Figure 4-4 The Pipeline Monitor.................................................................. 4-6
Figure 4-5 Networking Basics HTML screen .............................................. 4-7
Figure 4-6 Open a Configuration File button............................................... 4-8

Figure 4-7 Updating the Pipeline from a previously saved file.................... 4-8
Figure 5-1 Pipeline configuration menus..................................................... 5-3
Figure A-1 Network configuration dialog in Windows 95 ......................... A-4
Figure A-2 TCP/IP Gateway properties...................................................... A-5
Figure A-3 TCP/IP IP Address properties................................................... A-5
Figure A-4 TCP/IP host, domain, and DNS settings................................... A-6
Figure A-5 Macintosh TCP/IP settings....................................................... A-7

Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 xv
Tables
Table 3-1 TCP/IP settings checklist............................................................. 3-2
Table 3-2 ISDN line settings checklist......................................................... 3-3
Table 3-3 Frame Relay connection settings checklist.................................. 3-3
Table 3-4 Basic routing settings checklist.................................................... 3-4
Table 3-5 Remote IP network settings checklist.......................................... 3-4
Table 3-6 Remote IPX network settings checklist....................................... 3-5
Table 5-1 The Main Edit Menu structure..................................................... 5-4
Table 5-2 Configure menu parameters described......................................... 5-8
Table A-1 A numbered list of sample TCP/IP values................................. A-2
Table B-1 Entering sample values in QuickStart......................................... B-4

Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 xvii
About This Guide
How to use this guide
This manual is part of a set that describes all the standard features of a Pipeline
running software version 6.0. Some features might not be available with older
versions of the software, or with specialty software loads, such as IP-, IPX-, or
AppleTalk-only versions of the software.
Use this manual to find out what the Pipeline is used for, how to install it, and
how to configure a basic connection. This manual supplies all of the information
you need when using the Pipeline to connect to a single location.
What you should know
This guide is for anyone installing the Pipeline and setting up a primary
configuration. To install and configure the Pipeline at this level, you only need
basic knowledge about using your computer’s operating system, and how to
connect cables to your computer hardware.
To administer the unit or troubleshoot router connections, a basic understanding
of the TCP/IP protocol is helpful. Additionally, it is helpful to know how to use
Telnet, Ping, and VT100 terminal emulation software.

About This Guide
Documentation conventions
xviii Preliminary January 30, 1998 Pipeline Start Here Guide
Documentation conventions
This section explains all the special characters and typographical conventions in
this manual.
Manual set
This manual is part of a set which includes the following publications:
• Pipeline Start Here
The Start Here manual explains how to install the Pipeline and describes
how to set up a basic configuration.
• Pipeline User’s Guide
The User’s Guide explains how to configure the Pipeline as a router or
bridge, and how to manage the inbound and outbound traffic over the unit.
• Pipeline Reference Guide
The Reference Guide contains an alphabetical listing of all the parameters,
fields in the status menus, and how to use the DO commands.
Convention Meaning
Monospace text Represents text that appears on your computer’s screen, or that could
appear on your computer’s screen.
> Points to the next level in the path to a parameter. The parameter that
follows the angle bracket is one of the options that appears when you
select the parameter that precedes the angle bracket.
Press Enter Means press the Enter or Return key, or its equivalent, on your computer.
Note: Introduces important additional information.
!
Caution:
Warns that a failure to follow the recommended procedure could result in
loss of data or damage to equipment.
Warning:
Warns that a failure to take appropriate safety precautions could result in
physical injury.

Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 1-1
1
Introduction to the Pipeline
This chapter contains the following topics:
What is a Pipeline?
A Pipeline is a network device that connects to an Ethernet network and routes or
bridges data between your local network and remote networks over an ISDN line
or Frame Relay connection. By connecting a Pipeline to a personal computer,
you create a local area network and that can access remote networks, such as a
corporate site or the Internet, at line rates up to 128 Kbps. You can connect any
type of computer to the Pipeline via an Ethernet cable.
What is a Pipeline?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Pipeline features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
ISDN basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Local and remote networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
How the Pipeline establishes connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Using dynamically assigned IP addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Possible changes to your application settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Setup guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12

Introduction to the Pipeline
System requirements
1-2 Preliminary January 30, 1998 Pipeline Start Here Guide
The Pipeline manages traffic coming into and going out of your local network.
Any application on your local network that needs to exchange data with a remote
network uses the Pipeline as its gateway to the wide area network. Connections
are established and removed automatically. You do not need to use Dial-up
Networking or manually dial calls. You can have up to two simultaneous
connections—data or voice, or both. (Voice calls require that you have enabled
phone ports on your Pipeline, and have voice support on your ISDN service.)
The Pipeline has an on-board micro processor, memory, and on-board software.
You control who can call into your network, or what data can leave your network
by specifying connection information in the Pipeline. When configuring your
Pipeline, the settings are stored on the unit in non-volatile random access
memory (NVRAM), where they are saved even if the unit is powered off.
Pipeline units have two phone ports on the back panel (which are enabled on all
units except the Pipeline 50). Additionally, the Pipeline 85 includes a four-port
Ethernet hub. The table below lists the hardware configurations of Pipeline
models covered in this manual.
Note: You can convert a Pipeline 50 to a Pipeline 75 via a software upgrade. For
more information, contact the Ascend Technical Assistance Center.
System requirements
To use the Pipeline, you must have at least one personal computer with an
Ethernet adapter, and you must have ISDN service or a Frame Relay connection
installed. To connect to a remote site, such as a corporate office or the Internet,
the remote end must be able to connect to the type of service you have, that is,
ISDN or Frame Relay. TCP/IP software must be installed on your computer.
Model Phone ports enabled 4-port Hub
Pipeline 50 No No
Pipeline 75 Yes No
Pipeline 85 Yes Yes

Introduction to the Pipeline
Pipeline features
Pipeline Start Here Guide Preliminary January 30, 1998 1-3
Pipeline features
The following sections list the features of the Pipeline.
Remote management
Your corporate administrator can manage your Pipeline, troubleshoot
connections, and update the on-board software from the central site. Remote
management is implemented in the following ways:
• Simple Network Management protocol (SNMP)
•Telnet
• Ascend remote management protocol
• Syslog (system event logs)
• On-board flash memory (enabling downloadable software upgrades)
Multiple networking protocols
You can configure the Pipeline to route or bridge traffic. The following protocols
are supported:
• IP, IPX, and Appletalk routing
• Standard multiprotocol bridging
• Point-to-Point protocol (PPP), Multilink PPP, Multilink Protocol Plus (MP+)
Security
The built-in authentication protocols for securing your network are:
• Password Authentication protocol (PAP), Challenge Handshake protocol
(CHAP), and Microsoft CHAP (MS-CHAP).
• Calling Line ID and Callback authentication.
• Token-based security with support for hand-held personal security cards,
such as those provided by Enigma Logic, Security Dynamics, and Axent
SecureNet.
• Transmit and receive packet filtering.

Introduction to the Pipeline
Pipeline features
1-4 Preliminary January 30, 1998 Pipeline Start Here Guide
• Optional inclusion of the Ascend Secure Access Firewall software.
• Telnet password protection.
• Settable SNMP Read-only and Read/Write community strings.
Bandwidth optimization
Bandwidth optimization features which help you to minimize connection time
and costs include the following:
• Multiple compression options
• Ascend Bandwidth on Demand transport protocol
• Ascend Inverse Multiplexing
Integrated analog and digital capabilities
A Pipeline unit with enabled phone ports gives you the flexibility of using digital
(data) services and analog (voice) services on the same line at the same time.
This means you can establish voice and data calls to different locations at the
same time. By consolidating digital and analog services over one ISDN line, you
do not need separate phone and data lines.
The integrated voice features included on the Pipeline are:
• Automatic call preemption. Incoming or outgoing analog calls preempt one
B-channel while maintaining one B-channel for data connections.
• Two analog ports. These can be used for phones, modems, fax machines, or
any device requiring an analog connection, such as a Caller ID device.
• Simultaneous, dual analog connections. If both B channels are free, both
analog ports can be used simultaneously to different destinations.
• State of the art calling features. Hold, Drop, Transfer, and Conference calling
are supported.
• Call routing. Incoming calls can be directed to a specific analog port.