Ubuntu Wiki

This page describes how to connect to the internet or send a fax using ISDN.

ISDN and Linux

What is isdn4linux?

isdn4linux is a set of kernel modules. It consists of the main module "isdn" and a set of hardware drivers that control specific ISDN cards. In addition, the package "isdn4k-utils" contains utilities to make use of ISDN-specific features.

What is mISDN?

mISDN is the successor of isdn4linux following the adoption of the CAPI interface with Linux kernel 2.6. Like isdn4linux, it consists of kernel modules (it has been rewritten from scratch).

The following diagram offers an overview of the differences between the older kernel module architecture based on the HiSax driver and Terminal-emulation (ochre), and the newer mISDN architecture (blue) based on mISDN and the CAPI interface.

• http://www.heise.de/ct/04/03/182/bild.gif

BR

• Sources: Gernot Hillier, Karsten Keil, [http://www.heise.de/ct/04/03/182/ Heimserver im Eigenbau], c't 3/2004; [http://www.isdn4linux.de/faq/i4lfaq-1.html ISDN4Linux FAQ]

Connect to the Internet using ISDN

attachment:IconsPage/info.png This tutorial has been successfully tested with the ISDN cards specified with the Hardware header in each section of the tutorial. It may work with other cards (or it may not). Please help to expand this page if you have tested this tutorial with a different card or if you can supply more information.

BR

Ubuntu 5.04 (Hoary Hedghog) and Ubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger)

To connect to the internet with an ISDN card in Ubuntu 5.04 or 5.10, you will need to install the restricted kernel modules package (it contains the binary drivers for AVM ISDN cards), the AVM firmware driver package, and the pppdcapiplugin package.

attachment:IconsPage/apt.png Install the linux-restricted-modules package that corresponds to your kernel version and system architecture (for example: linux-restricted-modules-2.6.12-10-386 is the right package to use for the 2.6.12-10 kernel on the i386 architecture), the avm-fritz-firmware package that corresponds to your kernel version (avm-fritz-firmware-2.6.12-10 for example) and the pppdcapiplugin package. (Note: The restricted-modules package comes pre-installed on Breezy during OS installation.)

attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png Enable the "capi" kernel module to the kernel modules configuration file. To do that, open

• /etc/modules

  in your favourite editor and add a line saying

  capi

BR attachment:IconsPage/eyes.png The following steps depend on the specific hardware you are using. Follow the instructions for your card.

attachment:IconsPage/IconNIC.png Hardware: AVM Fritz!Card A1 (2.0)

attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png Create or open the file

• /etc/hotplug/backlist.d/isdn

and add the following two lines:

• hisax
  hisax_fcpcipnp

• Reboot. Confirm that the avm and capi kernel modules are properly loaded by typing

  lsmod

  at the command line.
• Create the connection with "Desktop/Adminstration/Networking"
• pon ppp0; poff should work now

attachment:IconsPage/IconNIC.png Hardware: Fritz!Card PCMCIA2.0

attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png The PCMCIA configuration file needs a few changes. Open

• /etc/pcmcia/config

  in your editor and remove the line that says

  avma1_cs

• Add the following lines:

   device "fcpcmcia_cs"
     class "avma1" module "fcpcmcia_cs"
  
   card "AVM S0/PC ISDN"
     version "AVM", "ISDN A"
     bind "fcpcmcia_cs"

attachment:IconsPage/IconNIC.png Hardware: Fritz!Card DSL USB

attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png The capi configuration file needs changing. Open

• /etc/isdn/capi.conf

  and add the following line:

  fcdslusb        fdsubase.frm    DSS1    -       -       -       -

ToDo

Things not yet working in hoary:

• network-admin can't activate the connection directly yet
• modem-applet can connect too
• what about non-AVM hardware? Where does configuration differ?

To be added:

• ISDN Fax support

For More Information

Linux and ISDN

• The [http://www.isdn4linux.de/ ISDN4Linux page] is home to isdn4linux and its successor, mISDN. A very comprehensive [http://www.isdn4linux.de/faq/i4lfaq.html FAQ] on the site offers answers to the most commonly asked questions.

• [http://www.heise.de/ct/04/03/182/ This excellent article] (in German only) charts the history of ISDN support for Linux, explains the fundamental technical issues and details a range of possible applications. Highly recommended.

• Dan Kegel's [http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~dank/isdn/ ISDN page], with lots of information on ISDN

ISDN card manufacturers

• [http://www.avm.de/en/index.php3 AVM] offers binary drivers for the ISDN cards it manufactures. Their [http://www.avm.de/de/Service/Service-Portale/Service-Portal/index.php?portal=Linux&suchestartenneu.x=36&suchestartenneu.y=12&suchestartenneu=ok Linux portal] offers news and a support knowledgebase around ISDN on Linux.

• [http://www.eicon.de/worldwide/default.htm Eicon]

• [http://www.creatix.de/ Creatix]

• [http://sitecom.com/ Sitecom]

Standards Bodies, Working Groups

• Homepage of the [http://www.capi.org/pages/home.php CAPI Association]

Other Tutorials

• [http://www.topf-sicret.de/help/capi20.html AVM CAPI 2.0 and Debian GNU/Linux] (up-to-date) (German)

• [http://www.linux-france.org/prj/inetdoc/ Networking on Linux] (French)

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