Service Providers? 1

[neutec]

I am new to VoIP and am assuming you need to have a service provider to makes calls outside your network to a standard phone. Is this correct and if so, what are some good service providers to try if I wanted to use my own Cisco phones?
Thanks

 

[computerhighguy]

Actually all you need is a voice gateway to convert your VoIP calls to something the PSTN can understand (i.e. analog, t1, pri). Almost any cisco router can do this.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

I was planning on setting this IP phone system at my home and I was going to use a cable modem to connect to the internet. Would that still work out?

 

[computerhighguy]

If you have a call manager to connect to it should. I personally have a 7960 on my desk at home. I use a PIX 501 to VPN into my corporate network and the phone connects to my call manager server there.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

Ok, So if I understand this correctly, callmanager will allow me to make a phone from a ip phone to a normal phone line. Seems like Im missing something. Is Call amanger something you run on a server or is it ran from a Cisco router? Are there any good step by step inscructions on setting up a Voip available on the internet? I basically want to setup a simply one line ip phone system to replace my analog phone to save money onb calls. I need to know what I need to buy to make this work.
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[AdmanOK]

If that's what you're looking for check out

http://www.vonage.com

- they even use Cisco devices (ATA186 analog adapters) sometimes. Cisco's IP phone products aren't really designed for a single user to buy them and use them in the way that you are wanting to.

 

[neutec]

Vonage no longer works with Cisco phones. And yes I would like to setup a small VoIP system. I would like all the features of larger VoIP systmes(voice mail, call forwarding, music on hold) things like that. So back to my questions. If I had a Cisco 7960 would all I need to make this would be a Cisco 1751-V router running Call manager? How does that seitch an ip call to a analog call?

 

[computerhighguy]

You can use a 1751-V if you use callmanager express. It is very feature rich, but doesn't have everything that callamanger does (and yes, callmanager runs on a Cisco approved windows 2000 server). You can also purchase unity express which is a pretty nice voice mail package that can run on a router. I have the AIM module on my demo callmanager express system. It is a 2610XM. Connecting to the PSTN (thats Public Switched Telephone Network) is really, really easy. You can purchase an FXO card and plug in a regular analog phone line in it. Setup a dial peer and a few other commands and you are done. If you have a channelized T-1 or PRI, you would need DSP resorces and a Multiflex T-1 port. I would say that if you go that way, you would probably get a higher end router. If you ever need to add more analog or digital lines to your system, you don't have to upgrade the router that callmanager express runs on, you can purchase something like the MC3810 as a secondary voice gateway. They are very cheap and can handle either 6 analog lines or up to 2 T-1s. You can't run callmanager on them, but they make great gateways.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

If I choose to run Callmanager, what router would work? would it still be the 1751-V? I found the Callmanager Software fairly cheap on Ebay. Is Callmanager software only or is there a card as well that I would need to install in a server? How important is it to use a Cisco approved PC? Do you think the software would run on other machines that are not approve by Cisco? Thanks alot for your help.

 

[computerhighguy]

Will the software run on another PC? Yes
Should you run it on a non-approved PC? No
Can you pick up an HP DL320 for less than $600? Yes
Can you purchase callmanager off of ebay and be legal? Yes, but you must purchase an unopened box. If it is opened, then the license stays with the person who opened it.
If you purchase a legal copy of callmanager, I highly suggest bringing under maintenance. You can get the upgrades for free and also download the the operating system updates.

You can use just about any router and a few switches. If you are looking for something cheap to play around with, get an MC3810 with 6 analog ports (read up on this first, becuase it is different than the way we do things on most other platforms). 3600 and 2600 series routers are nice also. It all depends on how you want to connect to the PSTN.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

I think I have a handle on it now. I have decided to look into a PRI line. If I was to use a FXO card with my old PSTN line I would'nt really save on calling. Thanks for you help again

 

[neutec]

Wcomputerhighguy,
Would it be wise to install CallManager 3.3.1 on the same server as Unity is running on? Also what do you know about TFTP servers. I have a Cisco Phine and its giving me an error about not being able to find the TFTP server.

 

[computerhighguy]

I would not install them together. IN fact, I don't think they will intall on the same server. You can get a DL320 for something like 500 bucks on ebay to run either of the systems.

TFTP - Trivial File Transfer Protocol

When the phones boot up, the get and IP addresses via DHCP (usually) and check for the option 150 parameter in the DHCP information. If option 150 is specifid (the callmanager tftp server), it then tries to connect to the TFTP server, specied in option 150, to download firmware, if needed, and its configuration file.

Callmanager has its own TFTP server built in. You cannot use a Cisco phone out of the box without some sort of call processing software (i.e. SIP server, Callmanager, Cisco router running CCM Express, etc).


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

You must be talking about using something other the a Microsoft DHCP Server. Do you use the router for your DHCP server? Oh and is there much difference from Callmanager 3.3 from Call Manager 4.0? Is it worth paying the extra cost? There seems to be a big jump im cost.

 

[computerhighguy]

Yes you can use Microsoft's DHCP server. I have used both Win2k and Win2k3 for this. Currently I am using a Cisco switch as the DHCP server for my Voice network.

Call Manager 3.3 vs 4.0
I like to go with the latest. It took Cisco a long time to get a stable product and 3.3 is very stable. 4.01 so far is very stable for me. I like the newer features of 4.0 personally, but 3.3 has some features that haven't made it t 4.0 yet. Here is a tip to save you some money. You are going to buy a software support contract with your call manager system (if you know what is good for you). Buy the 3.3 and your software support entitles you to a free 4.0 upgrade. Keep this in mind though. I think that 4.0 is still on new product freeze and getting the upgrade can be a bit difficult. You will want to be on 4.0 very soon. If you are starting from scratch, I would start with 4.01. Upgrading is a bit time consuming and you should do some serious testing.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[neutec]

Where is the DHCP options can you setup the TFTP setting. I am assuming the phone get IP information and TFTP from the DHCP server, right?