Through the Test Track - testing procedures used to evaluate HP Kayak, Lucent's Definity Prologix PBX, U.S. Robotics 33.6kbps modem, and Dell Optiplex

In order to put these three remote access servers through the paces, we built a test network. We used a Definity Prologix PBX unit with T1 expansion modules from Lucent Technologies Inc. to emulate a T1 connection. This telephony array served as our dial-in point and T1 emulator. Lucent even has a remote access option for the Definity system, but it did not fit our test criteria and was therefore not used.

Each of the remote access devices in our test is also a lightly configured Windows NT Server (64 MB of memory, 1 to 4 GB of hard drive space), and required network configuration and setup in order to join the test domain and accept dial-in logons. Coincidentally, all three systems shipped with Virtual Motion's Remote Access Manager software for control and administration of remote-connecting ports and users.

The test chain in its final form consisted of a Hewlett-Packard Co. Kayak workstation and U.S. Robotics 33.6-Kbps external modem for our dial-up client, dialing into the Lucent Technologies Definity Prologix PBX and then connecting through to the T1 interface of the remote access device under test. The test device was also linked via Ethernet to the Dell Optiplex server that functioned as our domain controller, and also provided Microsoft Exchange services for e-mail and file transfer applications.

Each machine was substituted into our test network, and the available management software on each was used in as many capacities as possible to monitor, control and troubleshoot the dial-in client sessions.

With all three servers, we needed to provide the T1 adapter with the proper settings to communicate with our T1 emulator, as well as the TCP/IP settings for our private network. In each case, some additional tweaking was needed for the T1 interface as well, but once everything was set properly, it was as straightforward as a modem connection.

And, like a properly set-up modem connection, the T1 leg of our test chain ceased to be a noticeable part of the process once it was operating. At that point, the hardware became appropriately transparent, and our dial-in client was able to reliably establish a dial-up networking connection.