Have to set up VoIP tunnel very quickly...please help

[GeneralDzur]

Ok guys, my captain (I'm in the Army) is sending me up to another camp in northern Iraq to set up a router using a Tachyon VSAT link. We will control both routers (Cisco-based 2600 or greater), and I have been instructed to set up some sort of direct router-to-router VoIP link. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to VoIP, so I need some help from the brains around here.

1) Would setting up a static route work?
2) Or do I need to set up some sort of VPN tunnel for the connection?
3) Will I need to pick a specific protocol suite to use?
4) Will I need an IP enabled PBX or anything like that?

if you guys could assist me that'd be great.

- stephan

 

[GeneralDzur]

So...no one knows anything about VoIP setups?

 

[BuckWeet]

How will the voice interface??

If its IP, then you just need basic routing with some QoS applied..

If its coming in via POTS lines.. I think you're going ot be in a world of trouble due to the latency that will come into effect..

BuckWeet

 

[computerhighguy]

Do you have the VIC cards? What are they going to be. Setting up a point to point VoIP is easy, but we really need more information. What is the latency going to be on this line since it is satellite. What feature set is on the routers?


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)

 

[GeneralDzur]

Ok - here's what info I can give you.

1) Basically, he wants to have two VoIP phones able to talk to each other, so he can communicate with the other base/camp. It will not be going publicly onto the internet, meaning that it will just be an internal VoIP link, basically phone-to-phone.

2) VIC card? I assume that stand for Voice Interface Card or something? The Cisco VoIP phones that we have each have an RJ-45/ethernet jack on the back.

3) Latency/bandwidth - the satellite links are 2Mb down and 500Kb up. I'm not sure on the latency.

4) Feature set on routers - The one here is a Cisco 2620XM router, IOS version 12.0(7)T. I haven't seen the other one yet but I assume it will be the same (the military uses pretty much the same routers everywhere, in my experience).

I just finished a class in VoIP, but it was more of a beginner-level class, and they didn't explain the specifics of setting up QoS, VPN, or static routes for VoIP. therefor I don't know how to set up QoS (hangs head in shame).

- stephan

 

[computerhighguy]

I am going to assume that your VoIP phones are cisco and are a 7900 series phone. If that is true, then you will need to setup on of your 2600xm routers with Call Manager Express. There is a great deal of documentation on Cisco's website about that. You will need to have the latest version of the IOS also to ensure you have all the latest features. Once the phones register with CME, they just need a valid route to each other to call each other. I would make sure that I have the latest firmware for the phones also. Remember that there is a licensing cost associted with doing this.

If you don't have Cisco 7900 series phones, then i would reference the phone's manual for how it should be setup.


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)

 

[GeneralDzur]

Yes, the phones are 7910's. I didn't know that there'd be a licensing cost. I have to pay to do what? Use VoIP on my own network? or get the IOS upgrades?

- stephan

 

[computerhighguy]

You seriously need to do some reading.

How are you planning on using the 7910?

These phones require a call control system to operate. Not this typically is Cisco Call Manager when you use a Cisco phone. The 7910 is not, I repeat, not an "Internet" phone where you can dial up an IP address and make a call. If you want that, you need to look on ebay, there are plenty. The 7910 can be either

1) SCCP - Cisco's version of the H323 protocol AKA Skinny
2) SIP - Session Inititated Protocol

I don't think there is an H323 or MGCP image, but there may be.

Both of the above require a call processing system.

Since you have 2600XM routers, you can use them as the call processing (AKA Cisco Call Manager Express), but that requires a license. If you want to do VoIP between 2 VIC cards, then no you don't have a licensing issue.

Who sold you the 7910s? Did they not go over this with you?


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)

 

[GeneralDzur]

I guess you're not familiar with the way things work in the Army. We took over for a unit that used to be here, and they said "Oh, here's a couple of VoIP phones that we never set up. We have no idea where we got them."

The only experience (until now) that I've had with Cisco routers was in my AIT (advanced individual training), where we were crammed through a CCNA in 1.5 days. Believe me - I'm reading. I literally spend about 4 hours a day reading online and through a Cisco CCNA prep book that we somehow found. I'm really trying to learn as fast as I can, but it's a lot to take in.

So with the VoIP phones, if I just set up the two phones as a direct link across the internet, how would I go about doing that? I don't think getiting a license to use CCME/SCCP/SIP is an option. What other options do I have?

- stephan

 

[nerker]

Did you get the Tachyon unit up. Which model is it.

What are you registering the IP phone to?

Nerker

 

[GeneralDzur]

well, we're leaving for Habur Gate tommorow to set up the Tachyon. I'll post when we get it all hooked up, although I think my Captain is going to abandon the VoIP phones once I told him about the licensing cost.

- stephan

 

[nerker]

Take your phones with you if you have the room, the Army has a license for them.

I am in theatre Camp Victory on NiPR 822-2821. Call before you leave if you can.

I'm setting up a Tachyon tomorrow, and can use your help.

I can help you out with the phones.

Nerker

 

[clickcom]

Dear GeneralDzur, I would like to try to help. If you have 2 IP phones connected to the internet at different locations... first find out what the IP (internal) is of each IP phone, 2. place that IP address into the DMZ of each router, 3. send me the public IP address for each router/internal IP of each phone and I will place the details into my VoIP system and give each IP phone an extension. There will be some setup you will need to do on each phone via the HTTP phone interface (i.e. my STUN and gateway details), but once it is complete, you will have phone 2 phone conversations for free. Let me know what you think. Any further questions, contact me at lance@clickcom.gr

 

[GeneralDzur]

Hey, I talked to my superiors, but they weren't comfortable with using a non-govt. provider at this time. Thank-you for the offer though.

- stephan

 

[computerhighguy]

Use Call Manager express. It is built into the latest router IOS. You can download the configuration webpages from Cisco's site. You could have it up and running in about 30 minutes.


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)

 

[GeneralDzur]

the problem is we can't seem to locate our contract number, thus no IOS downloads.

- stephan

 

[nerker]

GeneralDzur,

I work for the coalition at Camp Victory (Baghdad) and can get what you need. Call on NIPR 822-2821.