Network Assessment - Avaya IP Office 3.0 Installation Manual

IP Office IP Phone Installation Manual

Network Assessment

Current technology allows optimum network configurations to deliver VoIP with voice quality close to that
of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). However few networks are optimum and so care
should be taken assessing the VoIP quality achievable across a customer network.
Not every network is able to carry voice transmissions. Some data networks have insufficient residual
capacity for even compressed voice traffic. In addition, the usual approach of developing data networks
by integrating products from many vendors makes it necessary to test all the network components for
compatibility with VoIP traffic.
It is assumed that a network assessment has been performed, with or without the assistance of Avaya,
before attempting to install VoIP. You must do this in order to have a high degree of confidence that the
existing data network has the capacity to carry voice packet traffic and is compatible with the required
technology.
A network assessment would include a determination of the following:
•
A network audit to review existing equipment and evaluate its capabilities, including its ability to
meet planned voice and data needs.
• A determination of network objectives, including the dominant traffic type, choice of technologies,
and setting voice quality objectives.
The assessment should leave you confident that the implemented network will have the capacity for the
foreseen data and voice traffic, and can support H.323, DHCP, TFTP and jitter buffers in H.323
applications.
It is important to distinguish between compliance with the minimal VoIP standards and support for QoS
which is needed to run VoIP on your configuration.
Avaya IP Phone Installation
IP Office 3.0 Issue 10b (26th January 2005)
Page 8