Backbone & VOIP

[Cache]

Hi all

 

We have quite an aging cabling infrastructure that I need to try and work out what to do.

 

We're currently looking at changing our Phone System and the initial conversations we've had are suggesting going for voip headsets rather than the existing cabling that's there.

 

At present, we still have a 1gb backbone which I think is on OM1 (was installed around 2001, 62.5 core if that helps narrow it down) with still 100mb to the desktop. This still works well and while I've been here after replacing the switches and upgrading the backbone to run at 1gb instead of 100mb it's been absolutely fine. In terms of going forward, I'm nervous about adding in 60 odd voip headsets due to bandwidth. We have added about 6 voip headsets to the existing system, 3 are in a building on a 1gb backbone with only a dozen devices at most and the other 3 are dotted across several other links so I've not noticed any issues with them but another 60+ is obviously a different matter.

 

Am I right to be concerned, should I be looking getting up to a 10gb backbone to be able to support this and if so will the existing fiber be able to run 10gb or are we going to have to look at new fiber runs as well as new switches?

 

 

Any advice much appreciated!

[PotNoodleTech]

TBH the VOIP is compressed and doesnt really use much bandwidth. You can usually set compression rates in the software.

 

You certainly don't need to move from 1GB to 10GB just for phones.

[mdrabble]

Majority of my backbone is still OM1 and works fine.

 

I've installed OM3 and 10GB to 3 IT Suites and Art and that was only because of the large file sizes with photoshop etc.

 

Upgraded switches so all 10GB capable (should i decide I need to a full 10GB backbone) but majority of switches connect at 1GB and then 1GB to desktop.

 

If you are having VOIP i would VLAN the network to separate traffic and as @AButter says VOIP traffic is small so you should be fine.

 

We have 53 phones and all works perfectly fine.

[FN-GM]

Do you have SNMP setup to monitor to usage on your uplinks? The first time I set it up I was shocked to find we don’t use anywhere near what I thought. Worth doing I think.

[Cache]

Cheers all, will look at monitoring the uplinks and see what it looks like but you've put my mind at ease.

[mavhc]

Only issue I've had with voip quality was when someone was DDoS'ing Exa, never even bothered setting up QoS