Communications Tools Management

Windows 98 includes the following tools for expanding communications capabilities:

• HyperTerminal lets you connect two computers through a modem and TAPI for transferring files.
• Phone Dialer lets you use a computer to dial telephone numbers for voice telephone calls. It includes a telephone dial pad, user-programmable speed dials, and a call log.
• Microsoft NetMeeting is a set of application and network components that enable real-time audio and data communication over the Internet. For more information about NetMeeting, see Chapter 20, "Internet Access and Tools."
• Microsoft Outlook Express is an Internet standards-based e-mail and news reader. For more information about Outlook Express, see Chapter 22, "Electronic Mail with Outlook Express."

With Windows 98, you can do the following:

• Configure HyperTerminal to predefine computers to which your computer can connect.
• Configure Phone Dialer for voice telephone calls.
• Define the location you are calling from for all applications and tools.
• Dial a telephone call or display a terminal window before or after dialing.
• Connect to a remote computer.

Using a Modem

A modem is a communications tool that enables a computer to transmit information over a standard telephone line. With Windows 98, you can install a modem in one of four ways:

• Using the Modems option in Control Panel.
• Running a communications application that causes Windows 98 to prompt you to install a modem.
• Adding a modem through the Add New Hardware option in Control Panel.
• Plugging in your Plug and Play modem and letting Windows 98 connect to it.

In these cases, the Install New Modem Wizard appears and asks if you want Windows 98 to automatically detect the modem, or if you want to manually select a modem from the list of known manufacturers and modem models. If you choose the detection option, the wizard detects and then queries the modem to configure it. If it cannot detect the modem, it prompts you to select one.

Once the modem has been selected, you can adjust its properties (if necessary), such as the volume for the modem speaker, the time to wait for the remote computer to answer the call, and the maximum speed.

Depending on the type of modem you have, installing and configuring it might vary slightly as follows:

• If you install an internal legacy (non–Plug and Play) modem adapter, its built-in COM port must be configured by using the Add New Hardware Wizard, before it is installed by using the Modems option in Control Panel. In most cases, the Install New Modem Wizard does this automatically for you.
• If you are using Windows 98 PC Card drivers, Windows 98 will detect and configure PC Card modem cards automatically when they are first inserted. Otherwise, you might need to run the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel to configure the card’s built-in COM port. Then install the modem card by using the Modems option in Control Panel. For more information, see Chapter 24, "Device Management."

Note

Before you install a modem, check the Modems section in the Windows 98 Readme.txt for possible information.

To install a modem by using the Modems option in Control Panel

1. In Control Panel, double-click Modems.
2. If no modem is currently installed on your computer, the Install New Modem Wizard starts automatically to lead you through the steps for installing a modem. Follow the online instructions.

   – Or –

   If you are installing a second modem, click Add to start the Install New Modem Wizard.

In most cases, it is best to let the Install New Modem Wizard detect the modem for you. If it cannot detect the exact manufacturer and model, the wizard picks a standard configuration that is usually compatible. Your modem will still function at its maximum speed and according to factory default settings. A few advanced features, such as enabling and disabling compression, error control, and flow control, might be disabled.

Note

This procedure is for both internal and external modems. PC Card modems automatically install when inserted; they require protected-mode PC Card drivers.

For information about installing a modem if your modem is not detected or listed, or about finding a better match than any of the Standard Modem Types, see "Correcting Problems with Modem Installation" later in this chapter.

Windows 98 automatically assigns COM names to communications ports, internal modem adapters, and PC Card modem cards according to their base I/O port addresses, as described in Chapter 24, "Device Management."

Defining Your Location

A location contains information that Dialing Properties uses to analyze telephone numbers in international format and to determine the correct sequence of numbers to be dialed. It need not correspond to a particular geographic location, but it usually does. The first time you set up a modem, the Install New Modem Wizard prompts you for information about the location you will usually be calling from (the default location), including your area code and country code. This information is stored in Dialing Properties, a communications utility that is accessible from all communications applications created for Windows 98, and in the Modems option in Control Panel.

To set dialing location information

• Run the Install New Modem Wizard, and then type the area code and country code information in My Locations.

  – Or –

  In Control Panel, double-click Telephony, and type the country code and the area code in My Locations.

After you install the modem, more specific location information, such as calling card numbers or the number you must dial to access an outside line, can be entered into the My Locations tab in the Dialing Properties dialog box. For more information, see "Using Dialing Properties" later in this chapter.

Setting Modem Properties

In the Modems option in Control Panel, you can change default modem settings.

To view General properties for a modem

1. In Control Panel, double-click Modems, click a modem, and then click the Properties button.
2. View the default settings for the modem that will be used by all applications created for Windows 98. Table 21.1 explains these settings.

Table 21.1 Default modem settings

Tip

If you have a slower computer and an external modem, you can install a 16550A universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART)–based COM port adapter to increase speeds. Some internal modems have an integrated 16550A UART adapter.

To change or view the Connection properties

• In General Properties for your modem, click the Connection tab to display its connection options, which are explained in Table 21.2.

Table 21.2 Modem connection options

To view or change Advanced Connection properties

• Click Advanced in the Connection properties to display the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box. In this box you can set error control, flow control, and modulation, and audit the modem operations, as explained in Table 21.3.

Table 21.3 Modem advanced connection options

You can also click Port Settings in the Connection properties to set Receive Buffer and Transmit Buffer.

Dialing Manually

Windows 98 lets you dial your modem manually if you are having difficulty making an international call or other connection. To do so, you need a separate telephone headset and keypad. You can request manual dialing, using slightly different procedures from within any Windows 98 – based communications applications, such as HyperTerminal or Dial-Up Networking. The following procedure describes how to dial your modem manually by using Dial-Up Networking.

To control modem dialing manually

1. In My Computer, double-click Dial-Up Networking.
2. Right-click the connection icon you want to change, and then click Properties.
3. Click Configure, and then click the Options tab.
4. Select the Operator assisted or manual dial check box, and then click OK.
5. Connect to the shared resource that uses this connection, or click the icon for this connection in Dial-Up Networking.
6. Click Connect.
7. When instructed, pick up the telephone and dial the number.
8. When you hear the other computer answer, click Connect and hang up the telephone.

Displaying the Terminal Window

Before or after dialing, you can display a terminal window to type AT modem commands if a connection requires them. A terminal window can be used to log on for security purposes, for establishing connections with servers that require a specific logon procedure, and for other reasons. The following procedure describes this process for Dial-Up Networking.

To display a terminal window before or after dialing

1. In Dial-Up Networking, right-click a connection icon, and then click Properties.
2. Click Configure, and then click the Options tab.
3. Select the Bring up terminal window before dialing check box or Bring up terminal window after dialing check box, and then click OK.

Using Hardware Compression

Hardware compression at higher connection speeds is available on most newer modems. For example, V.42bis is an industry standard that allows modems to compress all data sent through them. Compressing the data decreases communication time.

To choose hardware compression

1. In Control Panel, double-click Modems, click Properties, and then click the Connection tab.
2. Click Advanced, select Use error control, and then click Compress Data.

Using HyperTerminal

HyperTerminal lets you connect two computers with a modem so you can send and receive files, or connect to computer bulletin boards and other information programs. For example, you can use HyperTerminal to connect to an online service and to download files from a bulletin board on that service. You can also use HyperTerminal to connect a computer directly to another computer, such as a debugging terminal.

You can install HyperTerminal with Custom setup during Windows 98 installation. Select HyperTerminal when selecting components to install. See Chapter 3, "Custom Installations" for more information about custom installations.

To install HyperTerminal after Windows 98 Setup

1. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click the Windows Setup tab.
2. In the Components list, click Communications, and then click Details.
3. In the Communications dialog box, click HyperTerminal, and then click OK.

To start HyperTerminal

1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, and then Communications.
2. Click HyperTerminal, and then click Hypertrm.exe.

For more information, see the online Help in HyperTerminal.

File Transfer Protocols

HyperTerminal supports the File Transfer Protocols (FTPs) described in Table 21.4.

Table 21.4 HyperTerminal File Transfer Protocols

Note

You can choose a File Transfer Protocol to use when you send or receive a file by using the Send or Receive File options in the Transfer menu, as described in Help.

Terminal Emulation Types

HyperTerminal supports the following terminal emulation types:

• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• Minitel (for France)
• Auto Detect
• TTY/TDD
• Viewdata (for the United Kingdom)
• DEC VT 100
• VT 52

To choose a terminal emulation type

1. Right-click a connection icon, and then click Properties.
2. In the connection’s properties, click the Settings tab, and then select the emulation type.

   Note

   Some modems might not be able to connect to French Minitel in HyperTerminal using the Windows 98 default settings. To correct this, you need to add an extra command in the Extra settings field in the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box in the modem’s properties. Check the modem manual for the command that enables the modem to connect in V.23 modulation to Minitel, and then add this to the Extra settings field.

Using Phone Dialer

The Phone Dialer application in Windows 98 allows you to use your computer and a modem to dial telephone calls using the calling card and location information defined in Dialing Properties. It also stores frequently dialed numbers, dials stored phone numbers, and logs telephone calls.

You can install Phone Dialer by choosing Custom Setup during Windows 98 installation or by using the following procedure. See Chapter 3, "Custom Installations" for more information about custom installations.

You can also install it after installing Windows 98 by choosing the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel.

To install Phone Dialer after Window 98 installation

1. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click the Windows Setup tab.
2. In the Components list, click Communications, and then click Details.
3. In the Communications dialog box, click Phone Dialer, and then click OK.

To start Phone Dialer and make a call

1. Click Start, point to Programs, Accessories, Communications, and then click Phone Dialer.
2. In the Phone Dialer dialog box type a telephone number using either your keyboard or the Phone Dialer numeric keypad.
3. Click Dial.

When you dial a number with Phone Dialer, the number is automatically stored in a list of your most recently used telephone numbers. All local, domestic long distance, and international telephone numbers are stored when you type all the digits needed to dial in the Number to dial box. You can also store phone numbers as speed-dial numbers.

Important

The Number to dial box can hold up to 40 digits. Therefore, you can type a local, domestic long distance, or international long distance telephone number in this text box. The same is true when you create speed-dial numbers.

If you type the area code and local telephone number, Phone Dialer automatically precedes the dialed number with a "1" if you have typed this information in the Area Code Rules properties of the Dialing Properties dialog box. Dialing Properties is a separate communications tool described in "Using Dialing Properties" later in this chapter.

If you type nonnumeric characters (such as a hyphen or a parenthesis) in a telephone number, Phone Dialer ignores them except when you type a plus sign (+) at the beginning of your number, which is international format. If you type a number in international format, you must put parentheses around the area code, for example, +1 (425) 882-8080. For more information, see the online Help in Phone Dialer.

Using Windows 98 Telephony

Computer telephony lets desktop computers interact with telephone hardware. The Microsoft Windows Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) is an interface that provides a method for applications to support telephone communication easily. Windows 95 shipped with TAPI version 1.4, which provided support for the direct connection to a telephone network, automatic phone dialing, and interfaces for conference calling, voice mail, and caller ID.

Windows 98 supports TAPI version 2.1. In addition to being compatible with previously released versions of TAPI (including TAPI 2.0 in Windows NT version 4.0), TAPI 2.1 gives developers additional extensions for the creation of client/server telephony applications. TAPI helps make Windows 98 a powerful and flexible platform for developing and using computer-telephony integration (CTI) applications. It provides services that allow applications to share a line so that more than one application can wait for an incoming call while another dials out.

Windows 98 includes two TAPI Service Providers, Unimodem V and network driver interface specification wide area network (NDISWAN):

Unimodem V

Unimodem V is the TAPI Service Provider available for Windows 95. Support for the following has been added in Windows 98:

• Sierra modems
• Sparacom modem pooling
• Denmark support
• Intel H.324 support
• Controller-less modems

NDISWAN

NDISWAN interfaces with ISDN cards and the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). It acts as a translation layer between TAPI and ISDN. For more information about NDISWAN, see Chapter 29, "Windows 98 Network Architecture."

Using Telephony Dialing Properties

Windows 98 includes a Telephony option in Control Panel from which users can adjust dialing properties and view installed telephony drivers.

The My Locations tab contains the information that was previously found in the Modems option in Windows 95, and the tab is still available from that option. It contains information regarding dialing location. The Telephony Drivers tab lets you identify, install, configure, and remove TAPI Service Providers.

Windows 98 includes the Dialing Properties utility, which enables you to do the following:

• Establish different locations (dialing rules ) depending on where you are dialing from.
• Define calling card rules that you can use with one or more of your locations.

The Dialing Properties utility enables you to define different locations from which you dial. For each location, you enter your country code, area code, and other information about the place you are dialing from. You can then dial a number using Dial-Up Networking, and Windows 98 automatically adjusts your dialing string (telephone number) based on the location you are calling from. For example, suppose you commonly dial from three different places:

• Home
• Office
• Hotel

You can create three different locations, and enter area code and other information for each location. Then, whenever you make a dialing location, Dialing Properties automatically adjusts the telephone number based on the place you are calling from.

In Windows 98, you can access Dialing Properties from the following sources:

• From the Tools menu in Phone Dialer.
• From the Telephony icon in Control Panel.
• By clicking Dialing Properties when you make a new connection in HyperTerminal.

See "Using Dialing Properties" later in this chapter for details about setting up dialing properties.

To define a new dialing location

1. In Control Panel, double-click Telephony.
2. In the My Locations tab, enter the name of your new dialing location, the area code you are dialing from, and other information about your location. Optionally, enter information about your calling card. This information will then be available to any Dial-Up Networking connection that you create.

To use the dialing location

1. When you define a Dial-Up Networking Connection, make sure that Use area code and dialing properties is selected.
2. When you dial the connection (described in "Making a Dial-Up Networking Connection" later in this chapter), make sure that you have selected the correct dialing location.

For more information about Dial-Up Networking, see Chapter 19, "Remote Networking and Mobile Computing."

Making a Dial-Up Networking Connection

After you have defined a remote connection by using the Make New Connection Wizard, you can make a connection.

Note

If you selected Use area code and Dialing Properties in the General properties for your connection, Dial-Up Networking automatically adjusts the dialing string (telephone number) according to your dialing location.

To make a Dial-Up Networking Connection

1. In My Computer, double-click Dial-Up Networking.
2. Double-click My Connection.
3. Optionally, enter a user name and password.
4. Optionally, if you selected Use area code and Dialing Properties in the General properties for your connection, in the Dialing from: box, ensure that you have selected the correct dialing location. If necessary, select another dialing location or select Dial Properties to define a new dialing location.

Installing a Dial-Up Networking Connection

You need an installed and correctly configured modem. If the Dial-Up Networking option is not installed, add it by opening Control Panel and then double-clicking Add/Remove Programs. Click the Windows Setup tab, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

Open the Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer, and start the Connection Wizard.

Dial-Up Networking uses the Windows 98 communications architecture to communicate through a modem to a network. It initializes the modem, determines device status, and dials the telephone number by using TAPI and the Unimodem driver. For more information about the communications architecture and the Dial-Up Networking architecture, see Chapter 29, "Windows 98 Network Architecture."

A Windows 98 Dial-Up Networking configuration can include the following components:

• The dial-up client.
• Connection protocols.
• Local area network (LAN) protocols.
• The dial-up server.
• Security options for the dial-up client and server.
• Hardware and software compression.

The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) protocol is a connection protocol installed by default because it has become the standard for remote access because of its flexibility, password encryption security, and compatibility with future client and server hardware and software. If a dial-up client is running PPP, it can connect to a network running the IPX, TCP/IP, or NetBEUI protocol. Windows 98 dial-up clients can use PPP to connect to any remote access server running PPP, including Windows NT Server version 3.5 or later. PPP is the default protocol for the Microsoft Dial-Up Adapter.

Using Dialing Properties

Dialing Properties is a utility integrated with Telephony, Phone Dialer, HyperTerminal, the Internet Connection Wizard, Dial-Up Networking, and other communications applications created for Windows 98. The options you set with Dialing Properties are stored in the registry.

With Dialing Properties, you can do the following:

• Define locations, specifying area code, country code, and in-house dialing rules.
• Define calling card rules.
• Define area code rules with 10-digit dialing.

In Windows 98, you can access Dialing Properties from the following sources:

• From Telephony in Control Panel.
• From the Tools menu in Phone Dialer.
• By clicking Dialing Properties from one of several applications, such as HyperTerminal, MSN, or the Internet Connection Wizard.

For purposes of discussion, procedures in this section describe accessing Dialing Properties from the Telephony Control Panel applet. The procedures are the same, however, no matter how you access Dialing Properties.

Defining Locations

You can name locations anything you choose to help you remember and select them later. Dialing Properties allows you to add new locations, edit existing locations, and remove locations. For more information, see "Defining Your Location" earlier in this chapter.

To define a location in Dialing Properties

1. In Control Panel, click Telephony.
2. In the My Locations tab, type information about where you are calling from, including the following:
   • Name of your location (for example, home or office).
   • Name of your country.
   • Area code.
   • Access number required to make a local or long distance call.
   • Whether your telephone has call waiting and whether it should be disabled.
   • Whether your telephone uses pulse or tone dialing.
   • Whether you use a calling card to make calls.
3. If you live in an area that requires 10-digit dialing, click Area Code Rules and specify which area codes do not have to be dialed as long distance. Click OK.
4. If you want to change calling card information, click Calling Card. For more information about calling cards, see "Defining Calling Card Rules" later in this chapter.

Defining Calling Card Rules

The calling card contains information that Dialing Properties uses to create the sequence of numbers to be dialed on a particular call. The calling card can include a calling card number that can be dialed at a specified time during call placement. You can choose any name for the calling cards to help you remember them.

Dialing Properties include predefined settings for several popular calling cards, including AT&T, Sprint, MCI, British Telecom, France Telecom Mercury, Telecom New Zealand, and others. You can modify and use these directly. Dialing Properties allows you to add new calling cards, edit existing calling cards, and remove calling cards.

The information stored in a calling card includes the name, the card number, and the dialing rules for local, long distance, and international calls.

To specify that you are using a calling card in Dialing Properties

1. Run Phone Dialer, click the Tools menu, and then click Dialing Properties.
2. In the My Locations tab, click Calling Card.
3. In the Calling Card dialog box, click your calling card type in the list (for example, AT&T), or click New and type the calling card name.
4. Type your calling card personal ID number, and then click OK.

If you are making a calling card telephone call from outside the United States and do not want Windows telephony applications to automatically add a "0" prefix to the number you are calling, precede the telephone number with a different numeric code.

To redefine numbers that automatically precede the phone number

1. In the Calling Card dialog box, click New.
2. Type the name of the calling card. A dialog box tells you that you must enter dialing "rules" for this calling card. Click OK.
3. Type the personal ID number. Settings for the card also include the access numbers for long distance calls and international calls, and the calling card sequences.

Using Integrated Services Digital Network

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is the digital telephone service that works over existing copper telephone wiring. To use ISDN, you need either an ISDN modem or an ISDN adapter. You might also need an NT-1 (the equivalent of the phone jack into which you plug your device) and an ISDN line from your telephone company.

ISDN modems hook up to your computer through a serial port, just as regular modems do. This means that, because a serial port can go no faster than 115 Kbps (which is lower than the total effective bandwidth of the ISDN line), some throughput will be lost if you are using the maximum ISDN bandwidth. An ISDN adapter, which operates at bus speed, provides the higher rate that ISDN needs. With most ISDN modems and adapters, you also need an NT-1. Some ISDN equipment comes with the NT-1 built in.

In addition to the configuration the telephone company must do at their end of your ISDN line, you must do some configuration at your end. You need to know three pieces of information supplied by the telephone company to make your ISDN service work with your Windows 98:

• Switch type
• Telephone numbers
• Service Profile Identifiers (SPIDs)

Switch type

Most ISDN hardware adapters need to know what type of switch they are connected to. The switch type simply refers to the brand of equipment and software revision level that the telephone company uses to provide you with ISDN service. There are only a few types of switches in the world and usually just one in countries other than the United States.

Telephone number

The second type of information is your telephone number or numbers. In some cases, each B channel on an ISDN line has its own number, while in other cases both B channels share a single telephone number. (See "Technical Notes on Communications Tools" later in this chapter.) Your telephone company will tell you how many numbers your ISDN line will have. Separate numbers may be useful if you plan to take incoming calls on your ISDN line.

Service Profile Identifier

The last type of information is the Service Profile Identifier (SPID), which is used only in the United States and Canada. The SPID usually consists of the telephone number with some additional digits added at the beginning and end. The SPID helps the switch understand what kind of equipment is attached to the line. If multiple devices are attached, it helps route calls to the appropriate device on the line.

ISDN Versus POTS

ISDN is typically supplied by the same company that supplies analog service, also referred to as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). However, ISDN differs from analog telephone service in several ways, including:

• Data transfer rate
• Available channels per call
• Availability of service
• Cost of service
• Quality of connection

Data transfer rate

ISDN can provide data transfer rates of up to 128 Kbps. These speeds are slower than those of local area networks (LANs) supported by high-speed data communications technology, but faster than those of analog telephone lines. In addition to the difference in data transfer rates, ISDN calls can be set up much faster than analog phone calls. While an analog modem can take up to a minute to set up a connection, you usually can start transmitting data in about two seconds with ISDN. Because ISDN is fully digital, the lengthy handshaking process of analog modems is not required.

Channels

POTS provides a single channel, which can carry voice or digital communications, but not both at the same time. ISDN service is available in several configurations of multiple channels that provide simultaneous voice and digital communications. In addition to increasing data throughput, multiple channels eliminate the need for separate voice and data telephone lines.

Availability

POTS is generally available throughout the United States. Although increasing in availability, ISDN is not as widely available as POTS.

Cost

The cost of ISDN hardware and service is generally higher than for POTS modems and service.

Connection quality

ISDN transmits data digitally and, as a result, is less susceptible to static and noise than are analog transmissions. Analog modem connections must dedicate some bandwidth to error correction and retransmission. This overhead reduces the actual throughput. In contrast, an ISDN line can dedicate all its bandwidth to data transmission.

Configuring Windows 98 for ISDN

Windows 98 provides built-in support for ISDN. To connect to the Internet by using ISDN, you need to install and configure the Dial-Up Networking feature in Windows 98.

Before configuring ISDN on a computer running Windows 98, you need the following:

Installed internal or external ISDN adapter.

• ISDN telephone line service at the location where you will use Dial-Up networking to connect to the Internet.
• ISDN telephone line service at the remote location to which you want to connect, usually either your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or a Remote Access Service (RAS) server.

In general, it is recommended that you also use PPP with ISDN for connections to the Internet. This protocol is the one typically used to access the Internet over dial-up connections. To use PPP, you must have a PPP account with your ISP. If you currently have a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) account, you should ask your ISP to change the account to PPP.

After you have installed your ISDN adapter and received notice from your telephone company that your ISDN service has been installed, you can configure Windows 98 for your ISDN service.

For more information about ISDN services, see "Technical Notes on Communications Tools" later in this chapter.

To install your ISDN device

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network.
2. Click Add, and then click Adapter.
3. Select the appropriate manufacturer and model, and then click OK.

   Note

   If your ISDN adapter is Plug and Play–compatible, Windows 98 will automatically install the required support.

4. The ISDN Configuration Wizard starts automatically. Follow the directions on the screen. The following information needed by the Wizard must be provided by your telephone carrier and ISDN provider.

After you have configured ISDN on your computer, you can enable PPP Multilink protocol by using the procedure described in the following section.

Enabling Multilink

ISDN increases speed from a single 64 Kbps channel by providing dual-channel support for up to 128 Kbps performance on standard ISDN lines. This dual-channel support is commonly referred to as multilinking. The protocol for multilinking is called PPP Multilink Protocol.

Multilink is available when you have more than one dial-up device (such as two B channels of an ISDN connection). If you have only one dial-up device configured, you will not be able to use Multilink. Multilink depends upon the capabilities of the service or corporate network that you are dialing into in order to function properly. To use Multilink, the answering ISP, online service, or corporate LAN must provide Multilink support.

Dial-Up Networking Multilink combines multiple physical links into a logical "bundle." This aggregate link increases your bandwidth. The most common use is bundling ISDN channels, but you can also bundle two or more modems or a modem and an ISDN line.

Before using Multilink, consider the following issues:

• The server or ISP you connect to must also support PPP Multilink. Otherwise, Multilink will not function correctly.
• You can use the Multilink protocol feature only when your computer is configured with multiple devices that can be combined to form the logical PPP pipe over the communication link.
• For best performance, the devices you use should function at the same speed.
• When you combine both B channels under ISDN, you cannot use your second channel for other applications, such as fax or voice calls.
• If you are dialing a server that is configured to call you back for security purposes, that server will call only one telephone line. If you are using ISDN, you can solve this problem by configuring both ISDN lines with the same telephone number.

Example

You can provide up to 128 Kbps wire speeds on a single ISDN-BRI line by combining the two B channels. Each B channel provides a 64 Kbps line, and the two combined achieve speeds of up to 128 Kbps. You can also combine an analog line with an ISDN line to increase bandwidth.

To configure Multilink

1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Double-click Dial-Up Networking.
3. Double-click Make New Connection if this is a first-time connection. Define the connection to the dial-up service you want to use. Double-click the icon that represents your new connection in the Dial-up Networking folder. For more information about creating a new Dial-up Connection, see Chapter 19, "Remote Networking and Mobile Computing."

   – Or –

   Right-click the existing connection that you want to configure for Multilink.

4. Click Properties, and then click the Multilink tab.
5. Click Use Additional Devices.
6. Click Add, and then specify the devices to bundle to form the multilink connection.

   Use the Add, Remove, and Edit buttons to change the list of additional devices. You can enter a different telephone number for each device, and both numbers will be stored. If you subsequently change the telephone number for the connection icon, the numbers associated with additional devices on this page will not change.

Using Multilink

After configuring your additional devices, you are ready to dial your Multilink connection. When you dial the connection, Dial-Up Networking dials the primary number of the primary device specified for the connection. Once the first connection has been established, Dial-Up Networking dials the other devices specified in the Additional Devices list.

Once the connections are established, you can view status information about the link by double-clicking the communicating computers icon displayed in the taskbar, or you can disconnect.

Note

Using Multilink with two modems requires that both modems be connected to separate telephone lines. Communication will be at the highest common connect speed. For example, if you have modems with baud rates of 14.4 and 28.8, the highest speed you can use is 14.4.

The status information includes the number of bytes sent and received, the network protocols negotiated for use on the connection, and additional devices. When you select an additional device, a Suspend or Resume button is displayed. If a Suspend button is displayed, the device is in use and bundled into the multilink connection. Clicking Suspend disconnects that line and removes it from the bundled connections.

If the Resume button is displayed, click it to dial that connection and add that line to the bundle. You can suspend and resume individual links without dropping the connection.

To use Multilink

• After you have configured Multilink, click the connection icon and click Connect. Dial-Up Networking will connect using the primary device and then the secondary device.

To view information about your link

1. Click the Dial-Up Networking icon displayed on the taskbar.
2. In the dialog box, click Details.