JANET Voice Advisory Service

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Technology Papers

JANET(UK) has commissioned a number of reports in areas that have been identified via the requirements gathering exercise. These reports will be completed and published later this year.

The initial set of topics that have been identified are:          

• Glossary of VoIP related terms
• VoIP: What is it and Why?
• Voice and VoIP Regulatory Issues
• Interconnecting Traditional Telephony Systems and VoIP
• Interconnecting IP Telephony Systems
• VoIP on Network Operating Systems

VoIP Deployments within the Campus

• Deploying IP Telephony on Greenfield Sites
  IP telephony is what is generally meant when traditional telephony is replaced with IP technologies – such as Voice over IP (VoIP) – within an enterprise or campus network. This briefing document provides an insight into the decisions behind and outcomes of deploying a VoIP system on a new campus site.

Interconnecting Telephone Systems

• Linking Telephone Networks Using IP - presentation given to Networkshop 33 by Ian Campbell, Network and Telecoms Manager, University of Exeter IT Services. Describes first hand experiences of linking sites with legacy PBX systems and Cisco CallManager.

IP Telephony Reference Manuals

• The IP Telephony Cookbook Project - presentation given to Networkshop 32 by Steve Williams, University of Wales. Relates the background to, IP Telephony technology overview and introduction to the content of the TERENA IP Telephony Cookbook publication.

• TERENA IP Telephony Cookbook 2004 - reference manual for setting up IP Telephony solutions at university campuses and NRENs. The Cookbook provides an overview of available and future IP Telephony technologies, scenarios for IP Telephony deployment and infrastructures, guidelines on protocols, service set-ups and connection to a global 'dialling plan'. Furthermore, the Cookbook reports on the interoperability of equipment, existing IP Telephony projects and regulatory aspects.

Addressing, Numbering and Directories

• ENUM and e164.ja.net - what is it?
  This document defines the ENUM standard was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force as a means of mapping regular telephone numbers to methods of contacting the user of that number over the Internet. It then covers its implementation and use, issues arising, configuration of equipment, its status within the UK and European developments.

Skype

• Report - Skype and JANET

The popularity of Skype has led JANET(UK)’s VAG (Voice Advisory Group) to investigate Skype's engineering and any implications for JANET. Two features of Skype – its use of bandwidth and encrypted tunnels – raise particular concerns.

• Skype Technical FAQ (external link)

• Skype and Firewalls (external link)

• Configuring Personal Firewalls for Skype (external link)

External Links:

VoIP Pros and Cons

• Taking the VoIP Plunge (external link)

There are many benefits to using voice over IP instead of a landline, but it can be hard to decide whether to cut the telco cord completely. Here are a few pros and cons to help.

Any problems, comments or suggestions regarding this page, please e-mail the VAS service manager vas@ja.net