<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Good Day
Everybody,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">I am in the process of planning a
phone system for a small business (15 extensions - 4 PSTN lines [to be connected
by ATAs]). The plan is to install an IP Phone everywhere there is an existing
computer workstation - using the same LAN for phones and
computers.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">The layout involves workstations
connected to two switches (the unmanaged 'dumb' type) and the switches linked to
each other by a buried cable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
link between the switches is a bottleneck - large file transfers through the
link are common enough that a disruption to VoIP traffic is pretty much
guaranteed.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">I'm convinced that a QoS-based
approach is the way to ensure file transfers do not interrupt VoIP traffic.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(not to mention the fact that I
don't want to have to dig a ditch in the ground to run another cable parallel to
the existing link).<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">What are your opinions and
experiences with:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>3COM 4500,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Linksys SRW224G4?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(The 3COM is already pushing the
budget limit. I'm sure you get what you pay for with Linksys but - that being
said - would it work? Decently well?)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Any thoughts on cheaper
approaches such as: D-Link DI-102 (Little Packet Priortizer with 2 RJ45
ports),<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>or lower-end routers with
QoS abilities like a WRT54GS?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(I'm
guessing these are more likely to cause a lot more packet loss than using
managed switches)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">We are planning on using either
Polycom 501, or SNOM 320/360s.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Does
the switch built into the phone handle QoS for the attached
computer?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Thank you for your input.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Dana
Harding</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>