Talkswitch CT.TS005.002606 User Manual

ANSWERS WITH INTELLIGENCE

®

TALKSWITCH DOCUMENTATION

VOIP NETWORK
CONFIGURATION GUIDE

RELEASE 6.10

CT.TS005.002606

INTRODUCTION

About this guide

This guide will help you plan and configure a TalkSwitch system to use VoIP
(Voice over IP) in order to:

• Use IP phones as external IP extensions.

• Set up a multi-location TalkSwitch VoIP network.

• Subscribe to a VoIP service provider.

Where to go for further information

You can find additional documentation:

• Within the TalkSwitch management software by clicking the Help icons.

• By choosing Start > Programs > TalkSwitch 6.10 > Documentation.

• On the TalkSwitch management software CD.

Documentation

In addition to this guide, the following documentation is available:

• Adding IP Phones to TalkSwitch describes configuring IP extensions.

• IP phone guides show how to use IP extensions.

• Guides containing VoIP service provider configurations are available at

www.talkswitch.com/support (United States and Canada) or
http://global.talkswitch.com.

•The TalkSwitch Start Guide shows how to install and set up a TalkSwitch system.

•The TalkSwitch User Guide provides complete information about the
TalkSwitch system.

• Help built into the TalkSwitch management software describes each window.

Contacting Technical Support

If you encounter difficulties with the installation or management of your
TalkSwitch system, consult the documentation. If you still have questions:

• Contact your authorized TalkSwitch reseller.

• If you purchased directly from TalkSwitch, e-mail [e-mail],
providing your company name and TalkSwitch product information.

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ABOUT VOIP

VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch units route VoIP calls over the Internet or private IP
network, and other calls over the traditional telephone network.

VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch units use the industry-standard Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP) for VoIP calls. In this guide the term SIP is often used in place
of VoIP.

About SIP servers

A VoIP network requires a SIP server to manage calls across the network. The SIP
server contains registration information for all SIP devices in the network. When
making a VoIP call, a device will contact the SIP server to get contact information
for the destination. The device will then establish a connection with the
destination. The SIP server is also involved with call termination.

All VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch units have built-in SIP servers to manage a
TalkSwitch VoIP network, but you must designate only one TalkSwitch unit as the
SIP server. TalkSwitch systems at other locations are configured as SIP clients.

Note: For VoIP calls made through a VoIP service provider, the service provider is
the SIP server.

Selecting a location for the SIP server

Any VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch unit on the network can be designated as the
SIP server.

To simplify network operation and reliability, we recommend that you choose a
location that has a static, rather than a dynamic, public IP address. A static
public IP address does not change, providing a consistent connection address for
each location to communicate with the SIP server. See Setting the public IP
address on page 6.

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CONNECTING TO A NETWORK

Each location requires a high-speed connection to the Internet or private IP
network that is sufficient for VoIP calls. This is required for a location using an
external IP extension, TalkSwitch VoIP network, or service provider VoIP network.

Connecting to local and IP networks

Set up a LAN (local area network) with an Ethernet switch, router, and modem or
gateway. The Ethernet switch can be integrated into the router. Connect a
computer to the LAN for configuring the TalkSwitch unit and other equipment.
Optional IP phones can be connected as well. Use the provided RJ-45 Ethernet
cable to connect the TalkSwitch unit to the LAN. To ensure reliability, all
equipment should be connected to a UPS (uninterrupted power supply).

Figure 1: Local and IP network setup

Connecting a VoIP gateway

In order to connect to a TalkSwitch VoIP network, a location can use a SIP­compatible VoIP gateway instead of a VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch unit. For example,
the Mediatrix® 2102 is a TalkSwitch-certified third-party VoIP gateway that is
suitable for small branch offices or teleworkers.

Confirming network capacity

Ensure the LAN in each location has a reliable high-speed broadband connection
to the Internet or private IP network. The quality of VoIP calls, especially on
mixed voice and data networks, depends on high data-transfer rates across the
network. The limiting factor is the upstream bandwidth to the ISP (Internet
Service Provider). ‘Lite’ broadband connections (128 Kbps or less) are not suitable
for simultaneous voice and data traffic.

To test the VoIP call capacity based on your Internet connection speed, perform
the test available on our website at: www.talkswitch.com/voip/voip_test.asp.

EVERY CALL COUNTS 3

CONFIGURING IP ADDRESSES

Starting the TalkSwitch management software

1. Double-click the TalkSwitch Configuration 6.10 icon on your desktop. You
can also select Start > Programs > TalkSwitch 6.10 > TalkSwitch
Configuration 6.10. The TalkSwitch Management Software window
appears, and the software attempts to detect your TalkSwitch unit.

2. Select your language. You can select English, Français or Español.

3. Once the software detects your TalkSwitch unit, click Configure Auto-
Detected TalkSwitch System. The About page appears.

If the software was unable to detect your TalkSwitch unit, follow the
procedures in Step 3 — Open the TalkSwitch Management Software in the
TalkSwitch Start Guide.

Setting the system IP settings

Each TalkSwitch unit must be configured with a local IP address. These addresses
are used to direct VoIP calls to the appropriate location.

Y

X

Z

4 VOIP NETWORK CONFIGURATION GUIDE

1. Select the IP Configuration page. By default, Obtain IP and DNS information

automatically is selected and the area shows IP addresses from the router.

2. Change Obtain IP and DNS information automatically to Use configured IP and
DNS information in order to lock in the IP addresses.

3. In some cases, the System IP Settings area may be blank because your router
has not delivered the IP addresses. If so, enter the following IP addresses from
your LAN administrator:

a) Enter a static IP address for each TalkSwitch unit in the Unit IP

address boxes.

b) Enter the Subnet mask for the LAN. This address determines the subnet

that the unit IP addresses belong to.

c) Enter the IP address of the Default gateway on your network. A gateway is

a hardware device that connects the office network to the Internet. The
router may act as default gateway.

d) Enter the IP address of the Preferred DNS server. DNS is a service that is

used to resolve a domain name to an IP address. The router may act as
DNS server.

e) If applicable, enter the IP address of the Alternate DNS server.

EVERY CALL COUNTS 5

Setting the public IP address

If you are setting up an external IP extension, or the SIP server of a TalkSwitch
VoIP network, you must configure a public IP address for the TalkSwitch system.
Some service provider VoIP networks also require the TalkSwitch system to have a
public IP address.

X

Z

Y

1. Set the Type of public address. Choices are:

• Dynamic public IP address — This is the default setting. Your ISP
(Internet Service Provider) will assign different public IP addresses to
your location. The TalkSwitch system will check its public IP address every
few minutes. When the public IP address changes, the TalkSwitch system
will automatically use the new one, in order to manage VoIP
calls properly.

If Dynamic public IP address is selected, the window completes the Current
public IP address, and sets Public IP address-checker server name to
checkip.talkswitch.com. This server runs an IP checker application that
provides public IP addresses to TalkSwitch systems.

• Static public IP address — A static IP address is fixed. Your Internet
Service Provider assigns the static IP address. If this location will have the
SIP server for a TalkSwitch VoIP network, we recommend using a static
IP address.

If Static public IP address is selected, the window allows you to enter the

Current public IP address, and disables the Public IP address-checker server
name box.

6 VOIP NETWORK CONFIGURATION GUIDE

2. If you selected Dynamic public IP address, enter the Fully qualified domain
name (FQDN). Get the FQDN from your ISP.

A DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service) provider such as www.dyndns.com
matches your dynamic IP addresses to your FQDN, so your TalkSwitch VoIP
network or external IP phones will continue to work when the IP
address changes.

If your router supports DDNS, ensure it supports your DDNS provider, and
configure it to update the DNS servers.

If your router does not support DDNS, download one of the applications
specified on www.dyndns.com. To update the DNS servers, the application
needs to run on a PC connected to the same LAN as the TalkSwitch system.

3. If you selected Static public IP address, enter the Current public IP address
from your Internet Service Provider. Leave the Fully qualified domain name
box blank.

If the TalkSwitch unit is not behind a router, or if a private virtual network is
used, the public IP address is the local IP address of the TalkSwitch unit
acting as local proxy.

Note that it will take up to one minute for the new static public IP address to
take effect.

4. Record the Current public IP address or the Fully qualified domain name.

If you are setting up an external IP extension, you will need the public IP
address or FQDN of the TalkSwitch system.

If you are setting up a TalkSwitch VoIP network, the TalkSwitch profiles of the
SIP clients must be configured with the public IP address or FQDN of the
SIP server.

CONFIGURING THE ROUTER

The Router Port Forwarding area of the IP Configuration page displays the type of
gateway device (i.e. the type of router), the IP address of the gateway (i.e.
router), and whether router configuration is required.

A router is a gateway between the local area network and the Internet. Most
routers have a firewall to block unwanted data from the Internet. For voice data
to reach the TalkSwitch system through the firewall, port forwarding is required.
Port forwarding allows the router to map ports to the IP addresses of the
TalkSwitch units. Valid Internet data will use the ports to go through the firewall
to the TalkSwitch units.

EVERY CALL COUNTS 7

If you are setting up external IP extensions, a TalkSwitch VoIP network, or a VoIP
service that doesn’t handle port forwarding, port forwarding is required.

If port forwarding is required, and your router supports uPNP (Universal Plug and
Play), ensure uPNP is enabled. The TalkSwitch system will use uPNP to
automatically set up port forwarding, and the Automatic (uPNP Enabled) link
will appear. No router configuration is required.

If port forwarding is required but your router doesn’t support uPNP, or automatic
port forwarding doesn’t work, the Manual Port Mapping Required link will
appear. You will need to configure the router as described below.

1. Select the IP Configuration page.

2. If required, click the Manual Port Mapping Required link. The Manual Port
Mapping window appears. It lists the packet type, port number, IP address
and protocol of each required port.

3. To access the router configuration:

a) Click the link containing the IP address of the gateway. The default

browser starts, and prompts you for the router’s user name and password.

b) Enter the router’s user name and password. The browser shows a

setup screen.

c) Navigate to the screen used to set up port forwarding. See your

router documentation.

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