Reduce Voip Network Downtime With Improved Core Network Services

When the IT department plans for upgrades, especially a VoIP upgrade

, a lot of attention is paid to servers, applications, switches, routers, and network security. Just about no attention is paid to the core network services that enable users to use all these wonderful systems, and are in all cases essential for VoIP to even function at all.

If users are unable to access the applications that they require over the network, or if customers are unable to get to the Internet-based Web services or applications that they need, all business transactions and many manufacturing process come to an immediate stop. Since application network access is so important, it is at some point important to look at how to make sure everything in the system works reliably.

There are four core network services that have to be working for users to be able to access their applications. These are:

1.DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. This service is what hands the user an IP address on the internal network when they connect. No network communication can take place without having an IP address, as well as the other information that the DHCP service provides, which is a default route and the IP addresses of the DNS servers. What most people don't know, is that usually the DHCP service is provided by a non-redundant Windows server, or by a router that provides little visibility into the operation of the service. DHCP is essential for VoIP systems.

2.DNS stands for domain name service. This service is what translates easy to remember names on the network, like a URL in a browser, to the IP addresses that the applications running on computers require. Without DNS, any network-based applications cannot be used. DNS is usually provided centrally by redundant windows servers, and externally by multiple small linux boxes running BIND. Unfortunately, sometimes the Windows DNS service has stability issues, and it is tedious and error prone to update the BIND applications on the Linux boxes.

3.NTP stands for network time protocol. There are many applications that require the correct time on the servers and workstations, especially SIP-based phones, SIP-based voice applications and network security applications. NTP is in many cases served from dual windows servers.

4.IPAM stands for IP address management. It is important to have an overall IP address management method in order to ensure that DHCP and DNS are working properly. Entire new network subnets are added in a VoIP deployment, as well as a number of devices with static IP addresses, so this is especially important in that case.

As you can see, high availability core network services are essential to the proper operation of everything on the network, and especially VoIP. In your next upgrade planning cycle, it is worthwhile to look at improving the availability of the core network services of DHCP, DNS, NTP, and IPAM.

by: Rolf Versluis

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