Dave Schulz is subbing for Wendell this week in the blog. Dave has been involved in networking and security for over 24 years. Working for a reseller in the Midwest, his experienced has varied from installation/support, consulting and management to contracting for an enterprise data center. Currently, Dave teaches voice technology for Skyline Advanced Technology Services. Dave has certifications in CCNP, CCDP and CCVP.
Greetings! Dave Schulz here, subbing for Wendell this week. I wanted to take a couple posts to help everyone out there get started in building your own voice lab. We all realize that good study habits are helpful and necessary to achieve certifications. However, having access to a lab will help immensely in your understanding and solidify your confidence in the voice technologies. There are a lot of options (and good deals) available on auction sites (like eBay, for example). So, let’s get started!
First, it is important to sit down and get a plan of how you are going to build your lab. Most of us (me, included) cannot afford to layout a couple thousand buck at one time. But don’t fret, you can develop a plan and slowly build up your lab to where it can accent your learning from the beginning, without breaking the bank.
I started my lab by simply acquiring a CallManager server and nothing else. This is a good place to start, since having the server provides you with the tools to be able learn the installation, administration and serviceability tools of CallManager. Learn to navigate the server and use the help pages. Become comfortable with the product. You should plan on spending anywhere from $400 to $800 for a server with software. Make sure that whatever deal you pursue, that the media is included.
Soon after this, you will want to get yourself a PoE-capable switch and a couple of phones. At this point, you will be able to register phones and learn the different services and features. My suggestion is that you get a couple different models to learn the various capabilities between models. Depending on the model type, these could range from $50 to $200. The switch may cost you around $200 – $300. However, make sure that you get a PoE-capable switch to power the phones.
Finally, you will want to get your hands on some gateways to practice configuring the various gateway protocols and configuring dial-peers. The gateways should be capable of running MGCP and H.323. Make sure that you get one already equipped with voice cards (FXS or FXO) to practice setting up an analog connection. Keep in mind, there are many gateways sold out there that can appear to be a good deal, but don’t include the voice cards. Remember, these cards can cost up to a couple hundred dollars apiece if you decide to buy them separately. Add even more to the cost if you decide to acquire a PRI or T1 card.
The gateway is the portion of the lab that you can “grow” once you have the basics of your system (CM, switch, phones). This may be something you will want to do when you are ready to pursue the Gateway/Gatekeeper (GWGK) or the CVoice exams. Two or three gateways capable of MGCP and H.323 should be sufficient, and, one possibly one capable of running the gatekeeper software.
However, if you have the money upfront, or, are willing to save up to get your lab “all at once”, there are a number of deals out there for a complete “certification lab kit”. With this as your goal, you can get all you need and possibly save money in the long run, since you are buying everything together.
In the next installment of this blog, I’ll discuss the CallManager, gateways and specific software versions you may want to look at before you make your decision to move forward on your lab purchases.
