Preferred Gatekeeper for IP Phones

[CChambleeJr]

Ongoing debate within our organization, appreciate some outside opinions.

With a CM6.0.1 Duplex Server configuration with PROCR enabled, multiple network regions, multiple G650 port networks and CLAN packs in every port network, should we configure our VoIP phones to register to a CLAN or to PROCR? Pros and Cons for each?

 

[montyzummer]

Well A clan board is hardware so there fore potentialy a failure point , they cant handle as many registrations as procr but this may be a good thing if you want to load balance, across clan boards.

Personally i think it is down to deployment enviroment and individual situation.

APSS (SME)
ACSS (SME)
ACIS (UC)

 

[CChambleeJr]

If an IP phone is registered to PROCR (via DHCP scope option 242's "MCIPADDR=<IP address for PROCR>"), and it loses its registration, will it still cycle through the list of all of the CLANs as alternate gatekeepers, or will it only look for the PROCR address to reregister?

===
Chuck Chamblee
ACIS | CTP | A+

 

[CChambleeJr]

I need a deeper understanding of gatekeeper and phone registration functionality. Let's say that you have a main server at 192.168.1.1, an ESS server at 192.168.2.1, and a third ESS server at 192.168.3.1. Assume we have 3 port networks with one CLAN each, using 192.168.1.10, 192.168.2.10 and 192.168.3.10. Assume that everything is assigned to network region 1. Assume that the IP phones' DHCP scope gives them MCIPADDR=192.168.1.1. Now assume that we lose the network connection to the main server. Do the IP phones that were previously registered to PROCR at 192.168.1.1 have any knowledge of the ESS servers? If so, how? Are the ESS servers IP addresses part of the gatekeeper list downloaded at the time of initial registration by the IP phones? What is the IDEAL configuration of MCIPADDR in the option 242 for my scenario above?

===
Chuck Chamblee
ACIS | CTP | A+

 

[CChambleeJr]

Also, is it possible to VIEW, or INSPECT an IP phone's gatekeeper list in phone memory?

===
Chuck Chamblee
ACIS | CTP | A+

 

[redphone]

An SNMP Walk or a protocol trace on the line itself are the best ways to see the full GK list of the phone.

This document Here should help explain the phone registration functionality in regards to alternate GKs.

ESS servers are usually assigned as BACKUP SERVERS on pg 3 of the ip-network-region form. Or on the station form, Survivable GK Node Name.

 

[CChambleeJr]

So, what are the clear PROS and CONS to registering all of our VoIP phones to PROCR instead of CLANs?

===
Chuck Chamblee
ACIS | CTP | A+

 

[phoneguy55]

In the future CLAN's will not exist. Port Networks are a dieing breed.

 

[montyzummer]

you can , separate the mcid addresses so the phones will look at the order you have specified in the scope.

APSS (SME)
ACSS (SME)
ACIS (UC)