IP phones problem 1

[DigitelD]

I have a customer that has 2 BCM50's Rls 1 and 1 BCM400 4.0 that are networked with an MPLS network. They can dial between the systems just fine and everything has been great UNTIL! They decided that at site C that they want remote IP phones. They put a wireless network in from one building to another. The issue is that the wireless network keeps going down and they must find another way to get this site connected to the corporate office. They have been able to setup a VPN from this remote site to the corporate office. The issue is now that the IP phones need to be connected to the local BCM not the corporate BCM. My suggestion was to setup a VPN from the remote location to the local office to connect the IP phones. However, the IT tech has informed me that if they setup a VPN to the local office then the IP phones will not be able to dial the other sites, A and B through the MPLS network. I don't understand that. Can anyone suggest anything?

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[DigitelD]

Problem was solved by their IT guys.

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[MagnaRGP]

I'm Making a few assumptions here so correct me if I'm wrong:
Site A = BCM 400 (corp office)
Site B and C = remote offices connected to corp via MPLS network (LAN extension)
All sites currently able to dial site to site via IP trunks

Intent: remote IP sets registered to Site C

Question: how to accomplish this?

My recommendation (based on the above)would be to setup a branch tunnel VPN from the IP set locations to the Corp Office allowing tunnel to tunnel traffic. The corp office router would need to route IP set traffic over the MPLS network back to site C (easy enough), to sites A and B (also easily accomplished) and down the other VPN tunnels to allow IP set to IP set traffic (again easily done). Once the VPN is built properly taking into account the above, point the IP sets to site C and you will be golden.

This presumes that your IT Tech is not in over their heads...

 

[DigitelD]

What you have suggested is what they have done. My question to you is this. Would it not have been simpler to setup a site to site VPN from the remote site to site C because the BCM that the IP phones work off of is at site C. Then the router at site C would then send IP traffic through the MPLS to the other sites.

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[MagnaRGP]

No. Much easier to configure everything in a hub and spoke config rather than a hub and spoke-with-another-spoke configuration.

If you did it the other way, you'd need access rules at Site C PLUS access rules at Site A. Since you already had a central site with LAN extension links, it's far easier to enter there.

Remember, just because you need to work on the third floor, doesn't mean you should scale the building and enter a third floor window. Front door is far easier.

 

[DigitelD]

Thanks, you have enlightened my "one day to understand IT" mind.

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