Practical Voice and Video over IP Training Course

Objectives:

• Explain how circuit-switched networks operate.
• Contrast the fundamental differences between circuit-switched and packet-switched networks.
• Detail the fields and flags within the IP header, including the DSCP field.
• Explain and quantify the necessity of voice compression and latency management in IP networks.
• Identify codecs used in voice and video compression, such as G.711, G.729, and H.261/3/4.
• Identify and explain the fields of the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP), including the transmission of DTMF tones.
• Calculate bandwidth requirements for various voice compression algorithms.
• Explain and demonstrate the importance of security and encryption in VoIP systems.
• Describe and explain the H.323 protocol stack.
• Describe and explain call setup and signaling (H.225).
• Describe and explain H.245, fast start, and H.245 tunneling.
• Describe and explain SIP call setup procedures.
• Describe and explain SIP servers.
• Describe and explain SDP.
• Describe and explain Soft Switching, including MGCP and H.248.
• Describe and explain the role of SCTP in backhauling signaling messages.
• Describe and explain the criticality of network latency and the requirement for QoS.
• Describe and explain the distinctions between reservation-based and prioritization-based QoS in IP networks.
• Describe the application of IntServ and RSVP in QoS implementations.
• Describe the application of TOS and DiffServ in QoS.
• Describe and explain the necessity of multiple queues and intelligent packet scheduling at router and switch interfaces.
• Describe the use of MPLS for delivering QoS in WAN environments.
• Describe the use of VLANs for delivering QoS in LAN environments.

Practical Exercises:

• Lab Exercise 1: Implementing VoIP in the LAN.
• Lab Exercise 2: Construct an IP network, place calls, and analyze RTP packets using Wireshark.
• Lab Exercise 3: Place calls and analyze SIP packets using Wireshark.
• Lab Exercise 4: Place calls and analyze H.323 packets using Wireshark.
• Lab Exercise 5: Establish calls between PSTN and IP networks.
• Lab Exercise 6: Configure QoS and place calls to observe its effects.
• Lab Exercise 7: Implement Security and VoIP measures.

Equipment used in Practical Sessions:

• Cisco 2600 and 2800 series voice-capable routers, and four Cisco ASA 5505 units. IP telephones, softphones, and analog telephones as needed. SIP client and server software as required.