Co-Locate IP Office 500

[priker]

We are going to move our data servers to a data center for power and network redundancy. I'm entertaining the idea of moving the IP Office as well. Some questions I have are:

1. How to get dial tone into the datacenter. The datacenter should be able to provide me with this information.
2. Best practice for my end points to connect. Do I setup a site to site VPN? Do I use the same site to site vpn as the data? Do I let the end points connect over a public ip and authenticate?

Thoughts? What would you do?

Thanks

 

[intrigrant]

Not, too complicated. What if your system breaks down? Do you have immediate access? What about analog stations ( fax,modem )?

 

[gknight1]

you only want to do this if you have a MPLS type connection. a VPN over the open internet will result in failure.

the other thing to consider like intigrant said is analog stations. a fix for a fax situation could be a fax server at the data center.

 

[tlpeter]

It is possible but like mentioned you need to think of some things.

Fax -> you will need an ATA and a 3rd party IP endpoint
Trunk -> must be SIP and require licenses and a good dedicated connection to the provider.
Connection -> you will need a dedicated connection from the datacenter to the office with QOS for voice too and it's own VLAN.
IP phones only except for analog with the ATA (Fax only)


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[stivtaber]

Agree with tlpeter, most datacenters in our region are able to provide a PRI from the CO that can be used as your PSTN connection

Stiv Taber
Certified in Convergent Network Technologies
APSS - SME Communications
PA - Implement IPO Professional Edition

 

[priker]

Thanks everyone for your input! To reiterate:

1. Fax isn't an issue as we have dedicated analog lines that don't go through the IP Office.
2. Sounds like I should be able to get a PRI (what I have now) into the datacenter. So no real change there.
3. I should also have 2 connections in the datacenter, one for data and one for voice. Should the voice be a point to point connection to my office or just an alternative data connection over the internet? If I recall you can't do QOS over the internet. Why can't I go over the internet? Don't most provides like Vonage just go over the internet?

Let me know if I missed anything.

 

[tlpeter]

Yes you can do QOS over the internet and you must do that otherwise you will have big problems with your calls!!!
If you can't then don't even thing of trying it.


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[gknight1]

you CANNOT do QoS over the open internet with a VPN, it must be with a point to point service or withing the same carrier that can provide that type of service. Once a call hits the open internet even within a VPN, there is no telling what providers or how many hops it will take to get to its final destination.

 

[tlpeter]

it must be with a point to point service or withing the same carrier that can provide that type of service

This is what i mean by over the internet.
Not just a connection, it must be dedicated.

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[jamie77]

This is all doable as said above, but honestly, why bother?? if you are a single site it will gain you nothing at all. Just a thought!!!

Jamie Green

[bold]A[/bold]vaya [bold]R[/bold]egistered [bold]S[/bold]pecialist [bold]E[/bold]ngineer

 

[priker]

Jamie,

Power and network redundancy and physical security (DR). Other than that it's fine here, I just need my backup plan if I have any of the previous issues.

 

[jamie77]

I did talk to one customer who was looking at this. He planned to have a whole other building with phones on desks that he could fire up in minutes and connect to the datacentre IPO. Then just tell the staff to go to plan B!

Great idea but required far too much investment and he put to the board who could not stop laughing at the costs!!

power: just taking the IP500 out of the cabinet wouldn't be noticed on my home electric bill never mind an office bill!! Everything else would still be needed in the cab.

network redundancy: I suppose if you put your hands on a load of other phones to sun somewhere else in the event you building is inaccessible, then I can see this. Otherwise?

Physical security: not sure how introducing the outside world makes yours telecoms more secure.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all up for proper DR plans but I just can't understand this one. (I can feel a debate coming!!!)

Jamie Green

[bold]A[/bold]vaya [bold]R[/bold]egistered [bold]S[/bold]pecialist [bold]E[/bold]ngineer