Hooking up second serial port to existing T1 DSU/CSU

[UNIX72]

Currently we are using a 2611 router with a T1 CSU/DSU card. This is a remote router which connects to our main location through frame-relay. (pipe 512Kbps) Recently i been given the task installing a second serial port for our RF units. Correct me if im wrong but don't I need a adtran mux to break out the T1 channels. We are utilizing 12 channels and upgrading to 16 channels to accomadate the second serial port. I want the second serial port to use the existing T1 line. Would i have to replace the T1 DSU/CSU with a 1T-WIC? As for the frame relay dlci will it be the same for the second serial port, both serial ports will use the same pipe. Please can anybody give me some advice, thanks. I just need things clear up before i represent them to my director.

 

[spidey07]

well, there is the hard way and the easy way.

Hardway - get external CSU with two DTE ports and connect to two serial ports on the router

easyway - just buy the WIC-T1dsu. that way you can create the channel groups on the router and create "virtual" serial ports. the card is less than 1 grand I believe. Plus gives you the ability to reconfigure the CSU remotely (BIG help there). You DO have a modem and phone line for the remote router right?

 

[UNIX72]

Spidey07 are you saying buy a second T1 CSU/DSU card? Im a little confuse. I physically need a WIC-1T card for the RF unit controller which will attach to the router or external csu device. So I need to replace the already installed T1 card with a WIC-1T, does this sound right to you? I might as well get a WIC-2T. Please advice? Thanks

 

[UNIX72]

Can anybody else give me a better understanding? So if I have the physical T1 line plugging into the T1 CSU/DSU card on the router and later want to add a DB60 serial port to share the same T1 line I will need a MUX to break out the channels. I thought once that if you have a T1 CSU/DSU card on the router and add a DB60 serial port it will know to use the T1 card im guessing wrong, right? Thanks though spidey for the info.

 

[spidey07]

Im a little confused

T1--->T1-WIC--->router

This would allow you to run many different channel-groups on the same T1 via the router. Lets say channel-group 1 is channels 1-16 and channel-group 2 is channels 17-24. You would then use channel-group 1 as your Frame-relay interface.

Can you elaborate a little more on the interface to these RF units? If they are not communicating via some kind of network then yes, an external CSU with multiple serial ports would be needed.

 

[me19562]

Like spidey said or u can use a MUX to divide the channels

 

[UNIX72]

Our current setup 3Com Netbuilder router and external Adtran CSU unit with 3 serial ports for router, isdn, and RF controller. The RF controller haves a RS232 port which connects to the adtran with a V.35 cable. The replacement a 2600 or 3600 cisco router. My director hopefully wants to get rid of the adtran. Desire setup for router: 1 T1 DSU/CSU card, NT1 isdn card, and 1T-WIC serial card. My question really pertains to the 1T-WIC serial card. Both the T1 card and WIC card will be using the same channels and frame connection. The RF controller will connect to the WIC serial card. Does this sound right? Can anybody give me a better config? Does the WIC serial card know how to use the T1 CSU/DSU because it's directly connected to the router or will I need a external CSU? Im confuse guys please help! Thanks so far for the info.

 

[UNIX72]

Bump Does anybody have more info for me ,thanks.

 

[spidey07]

I'd call cisco or speak with your account reps and SEs. Since the RF controllers communicate serially I can't see anyway to do it without some kind of multi-port CSU.

In a perfect world everything would communicate IP. Can you get some kind of network interface for these RF controllers? Seems a waste to have different networks and WAN connections.