Home CCVP lab

Hello all

I am currently studying for my CCNP and have set-up a home lab with some 2600's, a couple of 2900 switches and a couple of 800's for isdn. Since the CCNP track is changing to include VOIP and wireless I thought it would be a good idea to get some voice stuff for the lab and then do CCVP along with the CCNP.

Can anyone recommend what would be needed for a home voice lab. My budget wont stretch to expensive kit such as 3550's I would rather spend my money wisely so any help would be appreciated.

I have had a look at what Cisco recommends but I would rather find out what is needed from people who have actually been there.

Any help most appreciated

Regards
Ellen

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mikej412

The equipment I used is in the Doubt about CCVP equipments thread.

The link to the CCIE Voice Equipment is also in that thread -- that's sort of the "Dream Lab" for the CCVP, but parts of it would be overkill.

Renting a CCIE Voice Rack is an option for CCVP study.

et834

Thanks mike

I had read this posting already but was not sure if anyone else had anything more to add on this

My 2600's will easily take a couple of V1/V2 modules with the FXS/FXO (at risk of sounding stupid what is the difference between these?). I think my switches should be fine as well, so I just need to track down the phones and the call manager/gateway stuff

On the subject of phones I have noticed quite a few different types on ebay, is there anything that I should keep away from?

Thanks again
Ellen

mikej412

I plugged the FXO into my outside line or the POTs Simulator/Ascend Max 6000. I used the FXS for regular analog phones and FAX machines (my fax/scanner/printers and laptop with fax modem).

Check out the Analog Signaling (E & M, DID, FXS, FXO) web page for a quick 2 paragraph blurb -- and a bunch of links you will learn to love or hate. Highlights follow:

A Foreign Exchange Station (FXS) interface connects directly to a standard telephone, fax machine, or similar device and supplies ring, voltage, and dial tone.

The Cisco Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) interface is an RJ-11 connector that allows an analog connection to be directed at the public switched telephone network's (PSTN's) central office or to a station interface on a private branch exchange (PBX).

I didn't didn't get one of these.... but I did learn the configurations.
An Ear and Mouth (E&M) interface supports tie-line facilities or signals between telephone switches. You can use the E&M voice interface card (VIC) to integrate VoIP with the legacy voice solution. The E&M VIC connects the Cisco router to a PBX.

If you get 7940s and 7960s you're probably fine. I also got some of the older (cheaper) 7910s and 7912s just to have more phones for testing. If you don't have a switch that supports inline power, then you'll need to get the power cubes.

I did consider getting a non-Cisco phone that supposedly would work with Cisco stuff -- but decided not to worry about it for the CCVP.

The VG200 gateway I have is really just a 2600 chassis with the NM-V2 and VIC cards (and the VG200 gateway IOS). You'll need an IOS for the 2600 that supports the voice stuff.

et834

Thanks Mike

The information is perfect, I was going to get some 7940 phones but I was not sure if they would be ok

I am sure my ios supports voice but I will check with the chap I got the routers from, I'm sure he will find me one if the one I have is'nt suitable

If you dont mind I have one more question, I've had a look on the cisco website at the cisco call manager stuff, it is very expensive, is there anotherway of trying out an "evaluation version" of the software?? I hope you dont mind me asking, I'm not sure what other CCVP candidates do for this part of the course??

Thanks again for your help

Bye
Ellen