Bridge Ethernets Over T1?

Posted by Cliff on Tuesday September 19, 2000 @05:24PM from the time-saving-networking-hacks dept.

michael_cain asks: "I have to take a series of demos 'on the road' occasionally and have to have a data connection back to the home lab. In many cases this takes the form of a T1. In order to terminate that at both ends, I currently have to have a CSU/DSU and baby router at each end. I would like to simplify this arrangement; does anyone know of a pair of small boxes that would let me use a T1 as a simple Ethernet bridge (well, a learning bridge would be nice)? Just plug the T1 into one side of each, a 10BaseT or 100BaseT into the other side of each, and relay Ethernet frames back and forth?"

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Eliminate/Integrate the CSU. by gillham · 2000-09-19 23:04 · Score: 3

A baby router with an integrated CSU/DSU is probably what you want. Then you have the option of routing IP or bridging traffic. (depending on the router you buy) It could also act as a DHCP server, NAT box, etc which might be useful.
A cisco 1720 with integrated CSU/DSU is about $2200 list price.
Or, buy a synchronous PCI card with integrated CSU/DSU (~$600) and install it in your demo server.
If you're just using a laptop, perhaps one of the docking stations with a PCI slot would be workable. Dell has these.
This would require drivers under your OS, etc so it would probably be more of a hassle than just integrating the CSU/DSU into the router. Also with the router you can hook anything to it, and you don't have to worry about having drivers, etc for your OS.