Introduction to the Cisco DialOut Utility

The Cisco DialOut Utility is a software utility that allows you to send faxes or use communication software from any workstation connected to a network access server (NAS). The Cisco DialOut Utility adds one or more virtual com ports to your Microsoft Windows workstation. These com ports are used to represent com ports on the NAS. Individual workstations do not require modems, offering substantial savings in a large network and increased savings as the network grows.

Cisco DialOut Utility versions are available for Microsoft Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 3.1x.

Features

The Cisco DialOut Utility consists of the network interface program, which is a standard Windows program that connects the driver layer to the network via TCP/IP, and one of the following modules, depending on the version of Windows you are using:

• Windows 95--A module at the driver layer that loads as an additional com port VXD.

• Windows NT--A module at the driver layer that loads as an additional com port driver.

• Windows 3.1x--A module at the driver layer that supersedes the COMM.DRV driver. We say "supersedes" because, although the module is called COMM.DRV, it does not replace the user's original COMM.DRV, but saves it and uses it for local port and printer access. In effect, the Cisco DialOut Utility driver layer becomes an arbitrator, deciding which commands are to go to the network interface and which commands are to go to the original COMM.DRV for local processing.

All modules are in the Windows virtual memory space, and all network layer resources are released when the program is shut down by the user. Because the Cisco DialOut Utility does not terminate and stay resident, no memory below 640K is needed.

System Requirements

The Cisco DialOut Utility requires the hardware and software specified in the following sections.

Hardware Requirements

The Cisco DialOut Utility requires the following hardware:

• 80486 or higher processor

• Approximately 20K of RAM

• Approximately 1.5 MB of hard disk space

See your Windows and application documentation for any additional requirements.

Software Requirements

The Cisco DialOut Utility requires the following software:

• One of the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:

  • Windows 95

  • Windows NT 4.0

  • Windows 3.1x

• The TCP/IP network protocol drivers. Cisco DialOut Utility has been tested with Microsoft's TCP/IP stack and FTP's X-ON Net 2.5.

• If you are using Cisco DialOut Utility for dialup, you need communications software.

• If you are using Cisco DialOut Utility for faxing, your fax software must support Class 2 faxing.

• The access control server must be running a compatible release of Cisco IOS software. See the README.TXT file for information on compatible releases.

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Note There are additional requirements for the NAS through which you will be dialing. See the appendix "Sample NAS Configurations for the Cisco DialOut Utility" and the README.TXT file for more information.

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Overview of Cisco DialOut Utility Operation

The Cisco DialOut Utility software converts com port calls from the fax or Internet communications package into network calls that are sent to the NAS.

For example, when a user presses a key in a communications package such as HyperTerminal, the communications package sends the character to the Cisco DialOut Utility Driver module:

• Windows 95--DOUTDRV.VXD

• Windows NT--DOUTDRV.SYS

• Windows 3.1x--COMM.DRV

The Cisco DialOut Utility Driver module is a special version of the standard serial device driver.

The Cisco DialOut Utility lets you configure and monitor the communication (com) ports. If you are using Windows 95 or Windows NT, the Cisco DialOut Utility runs minimized in the active icon area of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. If you are using Windows 3.1x, the Cisco DialOut Utility runs minimized to reduce screen clutter. To maximize the utility, double-click the icon.

Sample Network Configuration

Figure 1-1 shows an example of a typical network configuration for the Cisco DialOut Utility. In this example, the Cisco DialOut Utility is installed on a workstation attached to a Cisco NAS with Cisco IOS Release 11.2(7) or later.

Figure 1-1: Sample Network Configuration for Cisco DialOut Utility

Compliance

The Cisco DialOut Utility complies to the protocols defined in RFC 2217, Telnet Com Port Control Option. This RFC is available from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Cisco DialOut Utility is Year 2000 (Y2K) compliant.