Topic: Learning VOIP

[stevena]

All,

A customer has approached me to install a VOIP system. SIP based softswitch, and about 200 give or take Polycom IP phones and one or two gateways for PSTN access. I have basic proficiencies of setting up IP networks, and I can do basic to moderate tasks on NT based servers (such as Active Directory.) However when it comes to complicated things such as getting into a console on router or a switch, that's where things become tricky for me to understand. Also provisioning may be a tricky task to do as well, such as T/FTP (I use a slash since some use FTP or TFTP to make it easier.) And even when I have heard that SIP is easy, I've did try to provision a Polycom with SIP and it got pretty complicated (granted it was an IP 500, a model thats over a decade old now.)

There aren't that many resources on the Web to learn basics about IP or VOIP and may of them seem to be written as if English (or American English) was their second language (no insensitivities intended.) On the flip side, I did began learning some of it through watching some videos on YouTube which helped. I learn quickly and if there was resources to basically demystify the "alphabet soup" of IP networking and VOIP, that would help me a lot.

If anyone has places where I can brush up thanks an advance!

Steven

[Marc Haycook]

To be honest, that's like asking how do I install a PBX. What system are you talking about? Some are easy, some are a real pain.

[telemarv]

If the customer has an IT person, take him/her out for a beer and make him/her your best friend.

As Marc said, It really depends on the system and how well it integrates to the SIP phone of choice.

[hitechcomm]

I would suggest you make sure the sip phone has been tested by the sip privider.

[stevena]

I appreciate some of your comments (in Marc Haycook's case, blunt in my opinion)

I should say where's the best resources to learn TCP/IP for the purposes specific to telephony? I withheld many of the alphabet soup lot of is confusing (QOS, encapsulated packets, DMZ, UDP, TCP, etc.) IP networking (at least for me) a bit tricky to understand and that is the roadblock. Its nothing to do with setting up the voice system just the IP networking part.

Like I had asked before, if there are resources out there to learn TCP/IP?

Hope I am making sense.

[MacGyver]

Like I had asked before, if there are resources out there to learn TCP/IP?

This is where I learned:  http://www.globalknowledge.com/

The classes aren't cheap, but there and they are good.  

[telemarv]

If you want to know networking from the ground up, get your CCNA

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

[stevena]

All,

I appreciate all your responses

Thanks

[Marc Haycook]

Hi Stevena,

Sorry if my comment was blunt, but your question was hard to answer without the additional information your provided in your later post. I would suggest getting a small system to learn how it works. If you run into a specific problems, there are plenty of knowledgeable people here to help.

I am a Windows guy and I am currently moving a couple of servers to Linux. To learn Linux, I installed Linux on an older server and started testing. I found answers to most of my questions doing Google searches. In fact, this board is now running off of my test server until my new Dell server is production.

You might be different, but I've found the best way to learn something new is by doing it and seeing what happens.

[iDCSRoss]

I was in a similar situation years ago, being a phone guy thrust into VOIP.  I knew alot of ends and outs of networking and VOIP but didnt understand how it all went together in the grand scheme of things.  I started with a book "TCP/IP Jumpstart", which is a little dated but will give you the basics of TCP/IP.  From there Network+ books and then CCNA and CCNA Voice.  That is what helped me the most. 

-Ross

[stevena]

Thanks Ross,

I haven't been able to catch up here for a while. Yes, there's lot to learn about IP and how its lot different from old telecom because its not "physical" network. I'm sure I can be able to some training and self teaching without getting into the Ci$co's CCNA certs.

Thanks again!