> Once upon a time Gil Romano shaped the electrons to say...
> >What does the "Multilink" in Multilink-PPP and Multilink V.120 do for me vs.
> >the non-multilink versions of these protocols?
>
> Quite simple 'multilink' PPP allows you to combine 2 or more B channels into
> one data pipe, 'normal' PPP is limited to *one* B channel. MLPPP is a
> standard, RFC 1717, so we can share this with other products.
>
> Multilink V.120 Rate Adaptation allows 2 B channels to be combined under
> V.120.
V.120 doesn't have a standards-based "multilink" capability like MP,
so it's unlikely that you could combine traffic when using V.120.
If the device dials into us in V.120 mode on 1 B channel, then we'll do
PPP (just as if it was a PC with a modem dialling into a modem on an async
port). If that device could then dial into us again using it's other
B channel and also set for V.120, then we would actually try doing
'multi-line load balancing' using PPP (a somewhat proprietary, bandwidth
on-demand Livingston feature) through one interface across both
B-channels; however, it's highly unlikely that non-livingston gear could
do the 'multi-line' V.120 thing (which means that yes, livingston gear
can do this).
Not to confuse you even more, our PL128 product will do yet another
variation on V.120, in order to combine the traffic on both B-channels,
but that's another story for another day.
>
> >When should one use PPP and when V.120?
>
> Use PPP whenver possible. Some older ISDN devices only to async connections,
> that is what V.110 and V.120 were/are used for.
I would also like to add, that you can do PPP in two fashions with ISDN -
either set your ISDN gear for async-to-sync PPP (and if possible MP to
get 2 B channels), or V.120 and do what you always did with your now
defunct analog modems, which in both cases will get you up to a 64K
ISDN sync connection to us (and don't forget that we auto-detect either
style of connection, so there is nothing that you need to do to make
it work on our end).
>
> >Also, does the 5BRI card support AdTran's "Bonding Mode 1" protocol for
> >fixed bandwidth 2B conversations?
>
> No - that protocol is old and outdated. We have no plans of supporting it.
> It was used mainly for videoconferencing and the like - data communication
> should use PPP or V.120. AdTran said they will get around to doing MLPPP.
As of a couple of months ago, they had tried their first pass at MP. It
almost worked - the first channel started doing MP (a good thing), but the
second channel was still doing PPP (not MP, so a bad thing)..I would expect
that they have it figured out by now though.
>
> -MZ
> --
> Although I work for Livingston Enterprises Technical Support, I alone am
> responsible for everything contained herein. So don't waste my managers'
> time bitching to them if you don't like something I've said. Flame me.
> Phone: 800-458-9966 support@livingston.com <http://www.livingston.com/>
> FAX: 510-426-8951 6920 Koll Center Parkway #220, Pleasanton, CA 94566
>
E. Todd Taylor Livingston Enterprises Inc. Phone: (800) 458-9966
Support Engineer 6920-220 Koll Centre Pkwy. Fax: (510) 426-8951
todd@livingston.com Pleasanton, CA 94566 http://www.livingston.com