sundance-communications.com/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking MPLS Network? - and analog phones?

1) What equipment is necessary to hook Comdial Executech's (analog) to an MPLS WAN? I was told by the salesrep that a Cisco IAD (Integrated Access Device) is needed. I would appreciate having this verified by straight forward, knowledgeable people who might know of options.
2) The choices for my WAN are either point to point T-1's or MPLS. Cost not being the only factor for a moment, anyone have any insight? My knowledge is that MPLS scales nicely but adds the complexity of the carrier providing QOS. Point to point T-1's don't scale as nicely, but end up being less complex. (We have 6 retail locations in Washington DC metro area. Currently we have T-1's into channel banks. I want to add VOIP soon).
Thank you

I wouldn't even begin to invest anything concerning those Executech KSU's. Eighteen years ago they were a nice system, but not in todays world of advanced technology you are up against the great Wall of China. Upgrade to a system capable of doing point to multi-point networking via either the clear channel T-1's or IP networking. Vertical (formerly Comdial) has excellent solutions for your desired results. Investigate before investing.

MPLS is basically a VPN that is managed by the carrier. It is rapidly replacing the use of Frame-Relay. MPLS will scale better because the carrier is maintaining all the interconnections. Qos is the carriers problem and that "usually" makes it less complex (depending on who the carrier is). With point-to-point circuits you need that main site to be a hub, with each site being a spoke (as I assume you are doing now). If you are doing Analog Voice & Data and want to do it on a single circuit then MPLS will be much easier (and cheaper) to deploy. Just watch your bandwidth allocations.


If you are not using VoIP then you will need an IAD which is basically a CSU, DSU, IP router, and channel bank all in one device. In my experience the Telco Carrier usually supplies these devices as the channelization needs to be maintained by them.

Dave

Any Cisco router with MPLS functional cards, and a FXO or an E&M card should do the trick for getting your analogue Voice packetised. After this you will need to setup our PVN end to end..

I would say MPLS would be better desrcibed as closer to Frame than VPN. MPLS is Multiprotocol Label switching, it is a tunneling protocol per say and your IP traffic is encapsulated inside it. QoS policies are injected at your WAN links and the ISP will act on these end to end using a diffSer methology if I am not mistake.

Another option is to use dual VWICs inside a Cisco router and use a regular T1. You could steal some DS0s for voice. An Adtran TSU120e will accomplish the same thing.

Which Executech is this? Most of the systems (N0308-N1024 or K2232) did not support T1. Are you using a DXP? If not as previously stated the E&M/FXO is your path. MY advice, get rid of those old dinosaurs and use G.729 codecs. Deploy Asterisk or CME.

Greg