PART 1: THE BIG PICTURE
The first part of the course is the big-picture view. We'll cover the strategic and business reasons for the all-IP telecommunications network, the IP telecom network architecture and IP telecom services. We'll also get a start on VoIP, identifying the main VoIP components, architectures and applications.
1. The IP Packet-switched telecommunications network (IP-PSTN) and CONVERGENCE
We'll begin building your understanding of the IP telecom network and IP telecommunications with the Why: understanding the reasons for changing to a converged network, what convergence means, who stands to benefit, and how this time is different than the previous attempts at convergence: ISDN and ATM.
A. The Way Humans Communicate Evolves, Again
1. Convergence and Converged Networks
B. The IP Packet-Switched Telecommunications Network (IP-PSTN)
C. Benefits of VoIP and the IP-PSTN
1. Benefits to Cable TV companies
2. Benefits to telephone companies
3. Benefits to large organizations
4. Benefits for everyone
D. Opportunities
E. Challenges
F. A Sea Change in Network Technology
1. Forget ATM and ISDN – Everything in IP
2. the all-ip Network Architecture
Next is the How, from a network planning engineer's point of view. You'll understand how carriers like AT&T, Verizon and Bell Canada view the network as having three parts: core, edge and access; and how the CO links the core to the access using MANs and L2/L3 switches, with optical Ethernet, VDSL or DOCSIS systems for access... replacing "CO switches" and voiceband analog POTS.
A. Core
B. Edge
C. Access
3. IP Network Services
Then comes the What. With a structure for the IP telephone network in place, we'll discuss the services that will be available. You'll sort out types of service providers and types of services. You'll understand the implication of convergence: how we will cease to think of the "telephone network" and "high-speed internet" as being two different things, and how existing services like dedicated T1s, Frame Relay, ISDN, ATM will all disappear, to be replaced by one service: IP VPNs with QoS.
A. Categories of Service Providers
1. Facilities-Based Carriers
2. Resellers
3. Application Service Providers
B. Network Services
1. Broadband IP Dial Tone
2. Service-Level Agreements and Quality of Service
3. Customer-Premise-Based IPsec
4. Network-based IPsec with QoS: "Carrier" VPNs
5. Network-based Virus Detection, Proxying
C. Value-Added Services
1. Integrated Messaging
2. Telephone Service
3. Internet Service
4. Web Hosting
5. Television Service
4. Voice over IP
Telephone service is, of course, one of the main services that will run over the IP telecom network. We'll complete the first, "big picture" part of the course going one step deeper into VoIP, identifying and explaining key components, jargon and buzzwords: soft switches, media servers, gateways and terminals, plus the main standards and protocols used to provide telephone service on an IP network and an unbiased look at different implementation choices.
A. The Big Picture
B. VoIP and IP Telephony Components, Jargon and Buzzwords
1. Terminals
2. Softswitches
3. Media Servers
4. Gateways
C. Key VoIP Standards
D. Internet Telephony
1. Computer-Computer: Skype
2. Phone-Phone: Vonage
E. VoIP from Carriers: Managed IP Telephony (MIPT)
F. Softswitches and VoIP PBXs
G. IP Centrex
PART 2: NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES
Part 2 covers the technologies that are the IP-PSTN, including fiber, Ethernet and all of the different aspects of IP. Encompassing six chapters, this Part includes both IP and LAN fundamentals to fill in gaps, plus selected important advanced topics like VLANs, subnets, routing protocols like OSPF and BGP, multicasting and IPv6. Without bogging down on details, we'll take your knowledge of things IP to the next level… solid career-enhancing knowledge that lasts a lifetime.
5. Framework
To be sure everyone is on the same page, we'll briefly review the OSI Reference Model, paying particular attention to Layers 2 and 3, data links and networks, frames and packets respectively, and how these are related.
A. OSI Layers
B. Protocol Stacks
C. Frames and Data Link Protocols
D. Packets and Networks
6. Fiber, DSL and Cable
With a framework in place, we'll cover Layer 1: the physical layer connections in the IP-PSTN. In the long term, the access network will be fiber, so we will make sure you have a working knowledge of fiber optics, wavelengths, DWDM for transmission systems and Passive Optical Networks (PONs) for access networks. In the short term, residences and small business will continue to use the existing copper wires – so we'll cover DSL, VDSL and data over Cable TV systems.
A. Fiber Optics and Wavelengths
B. Fiber Access Networks (FTTN, FTTP, PON, EPON and GPON)
C. DSL and VDSL
1. Support for IPTV
D. Cable TV Systems
1. DOCSIS
7. LANs, VLANs and optical Ethernet
In this section, we'll concentrate on Layer 2: the data link layer, implemented with Ethernet. We'll fill in gaps in your knowledge of LANs, 802 standards and MAC addresses, and bring you up to speed on VLANs, critical for IP traffic management for security and QoS, plus Optical Ethernet, the technology used for Metro Area Networks (MANs), connecting customers to COs.
A. Ethernet LANs: Broadcast Domains
B. IEEE 802 Standards
1. 802 Frames, LLC and MAC Addresses
2. 802.3 CSMA/CD Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications
3. Gigabit Ethernet
C. Layer 2 Switches and Broadcast Domains
D. VLANs and 802.1Q
E. L2 Switch Hierarchy and Trunking
F. Optical Ethernet
8. IP addressing
Here, you'll fill in the gaps in IP fundamentals including address classes, static vs. dynamic address, public vs. private, network address translators, and without spending a lot of time on it, ensure that you have a good working knowledge of IPv6.
A. IPv4 Packets
B. IPv4 Address Classes and Dotted-Decimal
C. Dynamic Addresses and DHCP
D. Private Addresses
E. Network Address Translation
F. Next-Generation IP: IPv6
G. IPv6 Packets and Extension Headers
H. IPv6 Addressing Hierarchy
I. Next-Generation MAC Addresses: EUI-64
J. Transitioning to IPv6
9. IP Routing
In this chapter, you'll come to really understand how routing works – maybe worth attending the course all in itself!
A. Networks with Gateways: 1980s IP Thinking
B. Subnets and CIDR
C. Prefix and Subnet Mask
D. Assigning VLANs to Subnets: DHCP and L2/L3 Switches
E. Elements of Routing
F. Autonomous Systems
G. Route Discovery Protocols
1. RIP: Routing Information Protocol
2. OSPF: Open Shortest Path First
3. BGP: Border Gateway Protocol
H. Routing Tables
I. Calculating the Next Hop
J. ARP
10. IP Supporting Protocols
To finish Network Technologies, we'll cover ancillary topics like TCP and UDP and the concept of IP multicasting.
A. TCP
B. Port Number and Sockets
C. UDP
D. Multicasting and Unicasting
E. ICMP, IGMP, TFTP and Other Things That Go Bump In The Night
PART 3: IP TELEPHONY
Part 3 is devoted to one of the main applications that will run over the network of Part 2: telephone service. This part covers the nuts and bolts of VoIP: packetized voice, SIP and call flow, and connecting to carriers.
11. PACKETIZED VOICE, VOICE CODING AND Voice Quality
Here, we'll get down to brass tacks: understanding what exactly packetized voice is, how it happens and the standards and protocols used. You'll learn about codecs and compression, and understand the factors affecting sound quality. We'll listen to sound clips of impairments, and provide you with a practical list of tips and recommendations.
A. Voice Packetization and RTP
B. Protocol Stack: RTP, UDP, IP, MAC
C. Measuring Voice Quality
D. Factors Affecting Voice Quality
E. Codecs: G.711, G.722, G.729
F. Delay and Jitter
G. Packet Loss
H. In-Class Demo: Impairments and Effects on Sound Quality
I. Tips for Maximizing Voice Quality
12. SIP and call flow in the ip world
After understanding how voice is packetized and transported, the next question is how to find and connect to someone else to make a phone call? The answer: SIP, the Session Initiation Protocol. We'll get you fully up to speed on SIP ideas, architecture, terminology, operation, jargon and buzzwords, and trace the establishment of a phone call step-by-step from "dialing" to ringing and answer. At the end of this, you'll understand how softswitches use SIP for call flow in IP telephone systems – another knowledge set perhaps worth attending the course for all by itself!
The chapter is completed with an extensive glossary of SIP terms.
A. History: H.323
B. SIP Overview
C. The SIP Trapezoid
D. SIP Addresses: URIs instead of URLs
E. SIP Messages
F. SDP: Session Description Protocol
G. Server Types: Proxy, User Agent, Redirect Server, Registrar
H. Tracing Call Flow Step-by-Step
I. Peer-To-Peer SIP
J. SIP Glossary
13. Carrier Interconnect
Interconnecting IP networks – and controlling connections – is a critical piece of the Voice over IP story. In this chapter, we'll first examine the question of carrier interconnect at the IP level and Session Border Controllers to manage connections then Megaco/H.248 to control DS0 and ATM - IP interconnect. We'll cover off a number of other topics including how NPA-NXX phone numbers will work on the IP-PSTN.
A. Net to Phone VSPs (IP Interconnect to LEC)
B. Session Border Controllers
C. Megaco (H.248/RFC2885)
D. DS0 Interconnect
E. Co-Existence with a Legacy PBX
F. SIP Trunking for IP Interconnection
G. Integrating Integrated Messaging
H. ENUM Directory Structure
PART 4: IP SECURITY AND QUALITY OF SERVICE
Continuing to build a complete, solid base of knowledge of the IP telecom network for you, this Part covers how Quality of Service and Security are implemented on a carrier's IP network, touching on essential technologies such as MPLS, IPsec, VPNs and VoIP security.
14. Quality of Service in the IP World: NET NON-NEUTRALITY
IP, in itself, provides no guarantee that a packet will be delivered, when that might happen, nor how often that might happen. Nothing. If we are to use an IP network for real-time, delay- and loss-sensitive applications like phone calls and watching television, implementing Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms to guarantee transmission characteristics in the IP network is essential: net NON-neutrality. Without bogging down on details, you'll understand the real story behind newspaper articles on "net neutrality" and gain a clear understanding of the tools and techniques for controlling traffic and implementing service levels in the IP world and importantly, how MPLS provides a mechanism to implement Differentiated Services to meet Service Level Agreements or specified transmission characteristics. Understanding this may be worth attending the course for all by itself. We'll also include an overview of tools and techniques for measuring quality.
A. Virtual Circuit Technologies
B. MPLS
C. Diff-Serv and QoS
D. Implementing Differentiated Services with MPLS
E. Service Level Agreements and Traffic Profiles
F. Traffic Policing and Shaping
G. 802.1P
H. Queues and How Prioritization is Implemented
I. Testing and Troubleshooting Voice Quality
15. IP Security
Here, you'll get a comprehensive overview of security in the IP world, and an understanding of the tools and techniques used to implement security. We'll begin with a discussion of risk areas, vulnerabilities and measures. Then, we'll cover the critical concept of network segmentation, and how this is implemented by assigning IP subnets to VLANs and requiring traffic to pass through an L2/L3 switch as a point of control between subnet/VLANs. Understanding this concept is yet another reason to attend this course all by itself. Then we'll look at how this "control" is implemented, with firewall technologies; the important topics of encryption, IPsec and VPNs, and malicious software such as Trojans.
A. Risks, Measures and Policy
B. Network Security: Segmentation and Perimeters
C. Mapping VLANs onto IP subnets with L2/L3 Routing Switches
D. Firewalls: Packet Filtering, Proxies and Stateful Packet Inspection
E. IPsec and IP VPNs
F. Public Key Encryption, Authentication
G. Digital Certificates
H. Malicious Software: Viruses, Trojans
16. VoIP Security – Special Threats
In this chapter, we’ll enumerate special threats against a VoIP telephone system, from VoIP spam to eavesdropping, impersonation, Denial of Service attacks, and finish by understanding the critical need to segment voice and data on IP networks.
A. SPIT: VoIP Spam
B. Conversation Reconstruction
C. Voice Injection and Impersonation
D. Rogue Phones
E. Gateway Attacks
F. Network Flooding/QoS Impact
G. IP Phone Attacks
H. The Importance of Voice/Data Segmentation
PART 5: THE PRACTICAL
The last part of the course adds value with a series of practical discussions related to VoIP implementation, identifying issues that must be understood and addressed, mainstream solutions, vendor profiles.
17. VOIP READINESS ASSESSMENT
Step-by-step, we'll walk through issues that must be considered, resolved and checked off when planning a migration to VoIP, and finish with a practical Readiness Assessment Checklist you can put to immediate use. This will allow you to plan for change, rather than having hidden issues become a series of career-limiting surprises.
A. The Organizational Structure
B. LAN Cabling and Powering
C. LAN Architecture
D. WAN Capacity / Scalability Assessment
E. Calculating VoIP Bandwidth Requirements
F. Comparing Transmission Choices: T1, Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS, Internet
G. Redundancy and Disaster Recovery
H. IPv6
I. End-user Equipment
J. Readiness Assessment Checklist
18. deployment options / CASE STUDIES: VOIP IN-BUILDING
Continuing with the practical, to cement your knowledge, we'll present mainstream solutions for deploying VoIP in a series of interactive, class-participation case studies. The first case studies are VoIP inside the building:
A. Case Study: Network-based VoIP Service (IP Centrex)
B. Case Study: PBX-based VoIP
C. Case Study: Softswitch-based VoIP
19. deployment options / CASE STUDIES: voip ORGANIZATION-WIDE
The second set of case studies are VoIP for long-distance communications. Again, this is an ideal opportunity for you to compare and contrast different strategies, share practical implementation experience, and understand which approach may be best for your situation.
A. Case Study: Private Network
B. Case Study: Over Data Networks (Frame/ATM)
C. Case Study: VoIP over the Internet
D. Case Study: Internet VPNs (CPE-based IPsec)
E. Case Study: Carrier VPN Service, MPLS, IPsec
20. VOIP VENDOR PROFILES
Touching base with the marketplace, we'll take a quick survey of vendors: "hardware" vendors, softswitch vendors and service providers, chosen to be representative of all of the vendors in their category. You'll learn about the different philosophies of major players, their key products, latest trends and developments.
A. "Hardware" Vendors
B. Soft-switch Vendors
C. Service Providers
D. Gateway Options in the Marketplace
E. Router Options in the Marketplace
21. WRAPPING UP
We'll wrap things up with a high-level view towards the future, what we consider to be the truly "neat" applications and where we are headed with converged IP-based communications: web-enabled multimedia call centers, unified messaging, intelligent call handling and location independence.
A. VoIP in the Call Center: Click to Talk
B. Click to Make Your Phone Ring
C. Convergence
D. TV Over IP
E. Intelligent Call Handling with SIP and Presence