I will be having a T1 installed soon and I have a Cisco router with a WIC card to plug into the T1 equipment. I am trying to figure out in advance how to configure the router (serial interface, I think). Is there a common T1 configuration or does the ISP generally give you the settings you need to hook up (like dls providers do)? If not, where can I find some guidance?

Usually when purchasing a T1 you would know who is providing and configuring the equipment. Who did you order this from? Have you talked to them about this question? There is a bunch of info you will need to configure your router. Cisco does have a program called ConfigMaker, I believe its a download from their site. Might just start there for the documentation for your router.

To configure your cisco router, use the console port with hypertrm, once you are in the # prompt, do a sh runn and it will give your the running config. You will see something like serial0. To configure this interface, type config t, then int s0(for serial 0 interface). type ip add x.x.x.x 255.x.x.x where x.x.x.x is your serial interface ip you got from your isp, and 255.x.x.x is the subnet you get from your isp as well. You might have to do a no shut to activate this interface(type no shut). type exit and enter two times and it will take you back to the # prompt(you can do Ctrl Z does the same). type sh int and see if your interface s0 is up up or not. If it is, your t1 on serial 0 interface is up. You might still have to work on the routing and access list stuff. Check with Cisco web site and there are tons of info out there.