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A client (roughly 30 people) wants to replace their existing analog phone system with VoIP. However:

  • they have dual Ethernet drops to some desks, but not all
  • their (recently purchased) router does not support 802.1Q VLANs
  • their (recently purchased) core switch is layer 2 only

Is there any viable, reasonable solution that would allow them to:

  • avoid replacing router or switch
  • avoid running new Ethernet drops

Thanks!

2 Answers 2

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Decent VOIP phones?

Starts with that:

  • A decent VOIP phone has a passtrhough switch. Come in on the phone, go out to the computer. The phone also gets powered by Ethernet - which is the point throwing the stupid switches they bought out and tell the uy that bought them he should take a job at McDonalds serving burgers.

  • Alternatively buy cheap small desktop switch is always an option.

  • 802.1Q VLANs is not really needed at all, you know, unless it is needed for other reasons, but nothing DEMANDS voip traffic to be on a VLAN.

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  • Power over ethernet surely? Or if you where to get electricity via IPv4 can you point to me a server? ;)
    – symcbean
    Jul 6, 2012 at 13:45
  • Ethernet, yes ;) Ipv4 - sure. I heary your computer can pull a lot from 127.0.0.1 ;) Just make sure that server is on first ;)
    – TomTom
    Jul 6, 2012 at 13:47
  • Most of those phones also allow you to buy power bricks as well so you don't have to use PoE Jul 6, 2012 at 14:03
  • +1 for 802.1q, best 'fix' it up now, rather then messing with it in the future if demands increases with QOS.
    – Cold T
    Jul 6, 2012 at 14:13
  • Actually you can do QOS without VLAN. VLAN is more a security issue - but that is really not needed in most companies. If you now your way around windows (and the phones) you can set DCP priorities easily wihtout ever using a VLAN. Plus 1gbit is a lot - I would say for a smaller install, the overhead in administration even for QOS is most likely not needed. People doing phone calls a lot normally are not the people copying gigabytes to their machine ;) From a practical point.
    – TomTom
    Jul 6, 2012 at 14:40
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two unusual options:

  • softphones - they actually work
  • dect phones with voip-aware base station like solutions from ascom or gigaset.
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  • devt? I assume you mean dect: digital cordless Aug 27, 2012 at 12:54
  • indeed - i meant dect. typo fixed.
    – pQd
    Aug 27, 2012 at 13:51

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