The script isdn is used to load the hardware level driver of your ISDN card and to activate one or more call in or call out configurations.

You start the script from the shellprompt as follows:

isdn start <configuration 1> <configuration 2> ...

And you stop the script with:

isdn stop

If you do not enter configuration names,  the default configurations will be used.

The script belongs to the services.  They are started automatically when Linux is started,  if they are enabled.

You can enable and disable the script by entering one of the following commands at the shellprompt.

With RedHat and Mandrake Linux:

chkconfig --add isdn
chkconfig --del isdn

With Corel and Debian Linux:

update-rc.d isdn defaults 99
update-rc.d -f isdn remove

To be able to use the script isdn and conf-isdn-account you have to be logged in with the username root.  If your machine is used as workstation,  that will usually not be the case.  By using the command su you can obtain the privileges of the root.

Starting and disconnecting a link can be made completely automatic (dial on demand).  You can do this by making the configuration of your ISP a default configuration and set the dialmode in the configuration on auto.

Then a connection will be made automatically if you are trying to access the Internet,  no matter the name you used to log into your own system.  The link will also be disconnected automatically,  if during some timespan there has been no networktraffic.

A disadvantage of this method is that other processes on your computer,  that are accessing the Internet unnecessarily,  can keep your telephoneline open for too long.

This problem happens more frequently,  if you are using your computer as router in a network of Windows PC's.