Prerequisite Tasks

Prerequisite Tasks

PBX—Private Branch Exchange. Privately-owned central switching office.

PLAR—Private Line Auto Ringdown. This type of service results in a call attempt to some particular remote endpoint when the local extension is taken off-key.

POTS—Plain Old Telephone Service. Basic telephone service supplying standard single line telephones, telephone lines, and access to the public switched telephone network.

POTS dial peer—Dial peer connected via a traditional telephony network. POTS peers point to a particular voice port on a voice network device.

PSTN—Public Switched Telephone Network. PSTN refers to the local telephone company.

PVC—Permanent virtual circuit.

QoS—Quality of Service. QoS refers to the measure of service quality provided to the user.

RSVP—Resource Reservation Protocol. This protocol supports the reservation of resources across an IP network.

Trunk—Service that allows quasi-transparent connections between two PBXs, a PBX and a local extension, or some other combination of telephony interfaces to be permanently conferenced together by the session application and signaling passed transparently through the IP network.

VoIP dial peer—Dial peer connected via a packet network; in the case of Voice over IP, this is an

IP network. VoIP peers point to specific VoIP devices.

Before you can configure your Cisco 3600 series router to use Voice over IP, you must first:

•Establish a working IP network. For more information about configuring IP, refer to the “IP Overview,” “Configuring IP Addressing,” and “Configuring IP Services” chapters in the Network Protocols Configuration Guide, Part 1.

•Install the one-slot or two-slot (NM-1V/NM-2V) voice network module into the appropriate bay of your Cisco router. For more information about the physical characteristics of the voice network module, or how to install it, refer to the installation documentation, Voice Network Module and Voice Interface Card Configuration Note, that came with your voice network module.

•Complete your company’s dial plan.

•Establish a working telephony network based on your company’s dial plan.

•Integrate your dial plan and telephony network into your existing IP network topology. Merging your IP and telephony networks depends on your particular IP and telephony network topology. In general, we recommend the following suggestions:

—Use canonical numbers wherever possible. It is important to avoid situations where numbering systems are significantly different on different routers or access servers in your network.

—Make routing and/or dialing transparent to the user—for example, avoid secondary dial tones from secondary switches, where possible.

—Contact your PBX vendor for instructions about how to reconfigure the appropriate PBX interfaces.

After you have analyzed your dial plan and decided how to integrate it into your existing IP network, you are ready to configure your network devices to support Voice over IP.

Configuring Voice over IP for the Cisco 3600 Series VC-15

3600 specifications

Cisco Systems 3600 is a high-performance modular router series designed for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices. Launched in the late 1990s, it has been widely recognized for its flexibility, scalability, and reliability. The series is part of Cisco's extensive networking portfolio and has played a vital role in delivering various services and applications while enhancing operational efficiency.

One of the main features of the Cisco 3600 series is its modular architecture, allowing organizations to customize the router according to their specific needs. The system supports various interface modules that can accommodate different types of connections, including serial, Ethernet, and DSL, which helps in building versatile network solutions. The modularity not only increases the router’s lifespan by enabling upgrades as technology changes but also supports future expansion as the organization grows.

The Cisco 3600 series routers utilize advanced routing protocols, such as RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and IS-IS, to ensure efficient data transmission and optimal network performance. This capability allows the routers to adapt to varying traffic demands and complexities, thereby optimizing bandwidth utilization and reducing latency in communications. With extensive memory options, including Flash and DRAM, the 3600 series can handle robust data processing and support intricate routing environments.

Security is another critical feature of the Cisco 3600 series. It includes support for VPNs, firewalls, and other security protocols, providing a secure environment for data transfer. The implementation of features like Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) enhances the overall security posture, making it suitable for organizations looking to protect their sensitive information.

In terms of scalability, Cisco 3600 routers can easily accommodate increased workloads and network growth. This is done through the provision of additional modules and cards to increase capacity and performance. The series can also support multiple WAN connections, enabling seamless integration with various telecommunication services.

Additionally, the Cisco 3600 series is designed for ease of management. Utilizing Cisco's IOS software, network administrators can manage and configure the routers efficiently, thanks to a user-friendly interface and extensive command capabilities. This makes troubleshooting simpler and ensures network availability remains high.

In conclusion, Cisco Systems 3600 series routers combine robust performance, security features, and scalability, making them an invaluable asset for businesses looking to maintain a reliable and efficient networking solution.