Prevent VoIP Application Downtime With Better DNS And DHCP Services

By Rolf Versluis

When the IT staff plan for upgrades, exceptionally a VoIP deployment, some attention is focalized on servers, apps, switches, routers, and network security. Almost no attention is compensated to the essence network services that grant users to access all these fantastic strategies, and are as a matter of fact necessary for VoIP to even work at all.

If users aren’t capable to access the apps that they require over the network, or whether or not clients are unable to utilize the Internet-based Web services or apps that they need, all business dealings come to a prompt stop . Since application access is so vital , it’s suitable to consider by what means to make certain everything in the strategy works well .

There are three core network services, and one management routine, that have to be working for users to be capable to access their apps. These are:

1. DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. This service is what hands the user an IP address on the internal network when they connect. No network communicating may happen without even having an IP address, in addition as the other data that the DHCP service provides, which is a default route and the IP addresses of the DNS servers. What most persons don't recognise, is that commonly the DHCP service is furnished by a non-redundant Windows server, or by a router that provides small visibility into the routine of the service. DHCP is necessary for VoIP systems.

2. DNS stands for domain-name service. This service is what translates easy to do not forget names on the network, like a URL in a browser, to the IP addresses that the apps running on computers require. Without DNS, any network-based apps can’t be utilized. DNS is commonly provided centrally by redundant windows servers, and externally by multiple little linux boxes running BIND. Unfortunately, at times the Windows DNS service has stability issues, and it’s tedious and error prone to update the BIND apps on the Linux boxes.

3. NTP stands for network time protocol. There are galore apps that require the right time on the servers and workstations, exceptionally SIP-based phones, SIP-based voice apps and network security apps. NTP is in galore cases served from dual windows servers.

4. IPAM stands for IP address management. It is indispensable to have an overall IP address organizing application in order to see to it that DHCP and DNS are working in the right way . Entire new subnets are added in a VoIP deployment, so this is exceptionally indispensable then.

As you may see, high accessibility core network services are necessary to the correct operation of everything on the network, and exceptionally VoIP. In your next upgrade planning cycle, it’s suitable to consider bettering the accessibility of the essence network services of DHCP, DNS, NTP, and IPAM.

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