technology, networking and IP telephony
Michael McNamara
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Home page: http://blog.michaelfmcnamara.com
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Posts by Michael McNamara
100Mbps or 1000Mbps to the Desktop?
15January 20, 2011
I was recently listening to the Packet Pushers podcast and the topic of 1Gbps Ethernet switching to the desktop came up. I believe the argument was that most organizations or enterprises don’t really need 1Gbps to the desktop and would be fine with 100Mbps to the desktop. I don’t agree with that opinion and thought I’d make my argument here and sample what everyone else thinks on the subject.
Performance
I like to use the following analogy when explaining the difference between 100Mbps and 1000Mbps to executive leadership;
100Mbps – Is equivalent to a 1 lane highway with traffic allowed to move at 10 mph.
1000Mbps – Is equivalent to a 10 lane highway with traffic allowed to move at 100 mph.
Huh?
You don’t like that analogy? Most people immediately recognize the difference in bandwidth/throughput (lanes of the highway) but neglect to consider the difference in latency (speed). It’s that latency and speed that really benefits the desktop environment especially in applications that turnout a lot of packets.
Desktops or VDI or Terminal Services
It’s almost a standard to find 1Gbps NICs on every desktop and laptop being manufactured today. However, if you’re only deploying VDI or Terminal Services (Citrix) you might be tempted to stay with 100Mbps as there would be no real benefit to running 1000Mbps to a thin client or similar device.
Cost
It’s no surprise that cost is the major leading factor in this debate. Let’s admit it, if 1000Mbps was the same price as 100Mbps there would be no argument. Let’s look at some pricing;
- Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 4550T-PWR $2,564 ($53/port)
- Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 4548GT-PWR $4,476 ($93/port)
I’m going to assume that most vendors are in the same general ballpark. So there’s a $40/port premium utilizing 1000Mbps over 100Mbps for an enterprise class switch.
Future Proofing
A major consideration in any enterprise or organization is future proofing your investment.The life cycle of any network infrastructure deployment should be at least 5 years or more in my opinion.
Cabling
Let’s not forget that there are significant cabling requirements with Gigabit Ethernet. All eight wires are required for 1000BASE-T whereas 100BASE-TX and 10BASE-T only required four wires. Additionally the cabling plant must be CAT5 or better.
Conclusions
There are many factors involved in making a decision whether to deploy 100Mbps or 1000Mbps to the desktop. Hopefully I’ve covered the major decision points above. The bandwidth, throughput and latency are obvious pros. The cost per port and cabling requirements can be significant cons.
What do you think? What are you deploying in your network?
Cheers!
References;
Stop Forum Spam Saves the Internet
1January 19, 2011
Well they might not be saving the Internet but they’re definitely helping to save me a lot of time and effort.
If you’ve been following this blog you know that I’ve been fighting back the seedier elements of the Internet trying to stem the flow of SPAM both into this blog and into the discussion forums. In December of 2010 I resorted to blacklisting IP addresses from being able to comment on my blog and that seems to have helped stem the daily tide of ~ 50 a day to about 4-6 a day. After working on the blog I’ve turned my attention to the discussion forums. I found a great many bots were registering as users, passing the reCAPTCHA check and completing the email verification. Those bots then appeared to be performing one of the following; 1) capturing forum member email addresses, names, etc. and 2) re-posting previous posts with hidden or visible links that took users to scam websites.I needed something more than reCAPTCHA and/or email verification and I found Stop Forum Spam setup by Russ with help from pedigree. They are hosting a database where forum administrators and moderators can go to compare notes and check for previously flagged accounts by username, IP address or email address. Thanks to the Simple Machines Forum modification called Stop Spammer by M-DVD and snoopy_virtual I was able to easily integrate the API offered by Stop Forum Spam into the Simple Machines Forum installation that runs the discussion forums.
I’m really excited to see how well this works and I’ll make sure to report back after a few weeks.
I might also consider installing the httpBL mod by snoopy_virtual for additional protection.
Thanks to Russ, pedigree, M-DVD and snoopy_virtual for their contributions to the community.
Cheers!
Avaya 1200 Series IP Phone Configuration Options
15January 18, 2011
While working with the Avaya 1220 IP Phones over this past week I discovered a few tricks that I thought I would share with everyone. It can be very difficult and time consuming to troubleshoot configuration issues and the 5 line LCD display makes scrolling through all the configuration options painful to say the least. While working with the provisioning files I recalled that the 1200 series IP phone supports SSH so I logged into the IP phone via SSH and I found a great little command. prtcfg. This command appears to print the entire configuration of the IP phone. I’ve noticed that the documentation is sometimes lacking so this is a great little resource to not only see how the phone is configured but to see all the available options.
[root@centos ~]# ssh -l admin 192.168.100.99 admin@192.168.100.99's password: Welcome to Avaya problem determination tool. You are connected to IP Phone 1220. HW version: 1800247F9984E9662A FW version 04.00.04.00 MAC Address = 00247F99FFFF IP = 192.168.100.99 Type "bye" to exit current shell. PDT> prtcfg *********************SYSTEM CONFIG************************ *** SIPdomain1 asterisk.home *** defUser user1 *** S1 IP: 192.168.1.6 *** S1 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S1 Proto: 2 *** S2 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S2 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S2 Proto: 2 *** CONFERENCE_URI: conference@avaya.com *** ADHOC_ENABLED: 0 *** MAX_ADHOC_PORTS: 0 *** SIPdomain2 *** defUser user2 *** S1 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S1 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S1 Proto: 2 *** S2 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S2 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S2 Proto: 2 *** CONFERENCE_URI: conference@avaya.com *** ADHOC_ENABLED: 0 *** MAX_ADHOC_PORTS: 0 *** SIPdomain3 *** defUser user3 *** S1 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S1 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S1 Proto: 2 *** S2 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S2 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S2 Proto: 2 *** CONFERENCE_URI: conference@avaya.com *** ADHOC_ENABLED: 0 *** MAX_ADHOC_PORTS: 0 *** SIPdomain4 *** defUser user4 *** S1 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S1 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S1 Proto: 2 *** S2 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S2 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S2 Proto: 2 *** CONFERENCE_URI: conference@avaya.com *** ADHOC_ENABLED: 0 *** MAX_ADHOC_PORTS: 0 *** SIPdomain5 *** defUser user5 *** S1 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S1 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S1 Proto: 2 *** S2 IP: 0.0.0.0 *** S2 Ports: (UDP:5060, TCP:0, TLS:0) *** S2 Proto: 2 *** CONFERENCE_URI: conference@avaya.com *** ADHOC_ENABLED: 0 *** MAX_ADHOC_PORTS: 0 *** DNSdomain asterisk.home *** Config version 000005 *** User Config version 000001 *** Language version 000001 *** Image version 000001 *** Tone version 000001 *** Licensing file version 000001 *** User keys version 000001 *** CTL file version 000001 *** Boot version 000001 *** Security Policy version 000001 *** CRL file version 000001 *** Nortel Key version 000001 *** Misc version 000001 *** Service Pack version 000001 *** SIP_PING 1 *** VMAIL 5000 *** VMAIL_DELAY 300 *** BANNER Avaya SIP Client *** FORCE_BANNER 0 *** DST_ENABLED 1 *** TIMEZONE_OFFSET 0 *** MAX_INBOX_ENTRIES 100 *** MAX_OUTBOX_ENTRIES 100 *** MAX_REJECTREASONS 20 *** MAX_CALLSUBJECT 20 *** MAX_PRESENCENOTE 20 *** DEF_LANG English *** DSCP_CONTROL 0 *** 802.1P_CONTROL -1 *** DSCP_MEDIA 0 *** 802.1P_MEDIA -1 *** DSCP_DATA -1 *** 802.1P_DATA -1 *** LOG_LEVEL 255 *** RECOVERY_LEVEL 2 *** AUTO_UPDATE 0 *** AUTO_UPDATE_TIME 0 *** AUTO_UPDATE_TIME_RANGE 1 *** DOS_PACKET_RATE 5 *** DOS_MAX_LIMIT 100 *** DOS_LOCK_TIME 20 *** DEF_AUDIO_QUALITY High *** DEF_DISPLAY_IM NO *** MAX_IM_ENTRIES 999 *** MAX_ADDR_BOOK_ENTRIES 100 *** ADDR_BOOK_MODE NETWORK *** IM_MODE DISABLED *** ADMIN_PASSWORD 26567*738 *** ADMIN_PASSWORD Expiry Time 0 *** ENABLE_LOCAL_ADMIN_UI 1 *** HASHED_ADMIN_PASSWORD 0 *** HASH_ALGORITHM SHA1 *** HOLD_TYPE rfc3261 *** AUTH_METHOD AUTH *** ENABLE_3WAY_CALL 1 *** DISABLE_PRIVACY_UI 0 *** DIALTONE *** RINGINGTONE *** BUSYTONE *** FASTBUSYTONE *** CONGESTIONTONE *** DISTINCTIVE_RINGING 1 *** CALL_WAITING SPEAKER *** PCPORT_ENABLE 1 *** LLDP_ENABLE 0 *** BLUE TOOTH Disable *** NAT_SIGNALLING NONE *** NAT_MEDIA NONE *** NAT_TYPE NONE *** NAT_TTL 120 *** STUN_SERVER_IP1 0.0.0.0 *** STUN_SERVER_IP2 0.0.0.0 *** STUN_SERVER_PORT1 3478 *** STUN_SERVER_PORT2 3478 *** USE_RPORT 0 *** VQMON PUBLISH ADDRESS: 0.0.0.0 *** PUBLISH ENABLE: 0 *** LISTENING R ENABLE [0:= No, 1:=Yes]: 0 *** LISTENING R WARNING: 0 [0:= 80] *** LISTENING R EXECSSIVE: 0 [0:= 70] *** PACKET LOSS ENABLE [0:= No, 1:=Yes]: 0 *** PACKET LOSS WARNING : 0 [0:= 1] *** PACKET LOSS EXECSSIVE: 0 [0:= 5] *** DELAY ENABLE [0:= No, 1:=Yes]: 0 *** DELAY WARNING: 0 [0:= 300] *** DELAY EXECSSIVE: 0 [0:= 500] *** JITTER ENABLE [0:= No, 1:=Yes]: 0 *** JITTER WARNING: 0 [0:= 150] *** JITTER EXECSSIVE: 0 [0:= 500] *** SESSION_RPT_EN: 0 *** SESSION_RPT_INT: 60 *** VQMON CONFIG BLOCK *** END *** *** *** TRANSFER_TYPE: rfc3261 *** ENABLE_PRACK: 0 *** ENABLE_UPDATE: 1 *** PROXY_CHECKING: 1 *** REDIRECT_TYPE: MCS *** MADN_PRIVACY: *** MADN_TIMER: 1800 *** MADN_DIALOG: 0 *** IM_NOTIFY: 1 *** DISABLE_OCT_ENDDIAL: 0 *** FORCE_OCT_ENDDIAL: 0 *** DISPLAY_CALL_SNDR_IM_KEY: 1 *** FORCE_CFWD_NOTIFY: 0 *** DEFAULT_CFWD_NOTIFY: 0 *** FORCE_TIME_ZONE: 0 *** SNTP_SERVER: *** SNTP_ENABLE: 0 *** RTP_MIN_PORT: 50000 *** RTP_MAX_PORT: 50100 *** TOVM_SOFTKEY_ENABLE: 0 *** TOVM_VOICEMAIL_ALIAS: transfertovm *** TOVM_VOICEMAIL_PARAM: mbid *** AUTOLOGIN_ENABLE: 1 *** SCA_BROADWORKS: 0 *** SCA_LINE_SEIZE_EXPIRES: 15 *** SCA_HOLD_BEHAVIOR: PUBLIC *** SCA_APPEARANCES: 12 *** MAX_RING_TIME: 0 *** EXP_MODULE_ENABLE: 0 *** PROMPT_ON_LOCATION_OTHER: 0 *** ENABLE_ANSWER_MODE: 0 *** ANSWER_MODE_MAXALLOWADDR: 100 *** ANSWER_MODE_MICMUTE: 0 *** AUDIO_CODEC1: *** AUDIO_CODEC2: *** AUDIO_CODEC3: *** AUDIO_CODEC4: *** AUDIO_CODEC5: *** AUDIO_CODEC6: *** AUDIO_CODEC7: *** AUDIO_CODEC8: *** AUDIO_CODEC9: *** AUDIO_CODEC10: *** AUDIO_CODEC11: *** AUDIO_CODEC12: *** AUDIO_CODEC13: *** AUDIO_CODEC14: *** AUDIO_CODEC15: *** G729_ENABLE_ANNEXB: 0 *** G723_ENABLE_ANNEXA: 0 *** LOGOUT_WITHOUT_PASSWORD: 0 *** ENABLE_SERVICE_PACKAGE: 0 *** SECURE_INCALL_DIGITS: 0 *** AVAYA_AUTOMATIC_QOS: 0 *** REMOTE_CHECK_FOR_UPDATE: 0 *** INTERCOM_PAGING: 0 *** ALPHA_ORDER_LOC_LIST: 1 *** MAX_LOGINS: 1 *** AUTOCLEAR_NEWCALL_MSG: 0 *** E911_USERNAME: anonymous *** E911_PROXY : *** E911_PASSWORD: 123456 *** E911_TXLOC : INVITE *** FM_PROFILES_ENABLE: 1 *** FM_LANGS_ENABLE: 1 *** FM_SOUNDS_ENABLE: 1 *** FM_IMAGES_ ENABLE: 1 *** FM_CERTS_ENABLE: 0 *** FM_CONFIG_ ENABLE: 0 *** FM_LOGS_ENABLE: 1 *** PORT_MIRROR_ENABLE: 0 *** LOGSIP_ENABLE: 0 *** MEMCHECK_PERIOD: 86400 secs *** SIP_UDP_PORT: 5060 *** SIP_TCP_PORT: 5060 *** SIP_TLS_PORT: 0 *** KEEP_ALIVE_TYPE: OS *** CONN_KEEP_ALIVE: 120 *** REGISTER_RETRY_TIME: 30 *** REGISTER_RETRY_MAXTIME: 1800 *** SECURE_UI_ENABLE: 0 *** LOGIN_NOTIFY: OFF *** LOGIN_NOTIFY_TIME: 0 *** ENABLE_USB_PORT: Yes *** USB_MOUSE: UNLOCK *** USB_KEYBOARD: UNLOCK *** USB_HEADSET: LOCK *** USB_MEMORY_STICK: UNLOCK *** USB_LOCK_OVERRIDE: No *** ATA_REGION: NA *** IPV6_ENABLE: 0 *** PREFER_IPV6: 0 *** IPV6_STATELESS: 1 *** SECONDARY_LOGOUT_ENABLE: 0 *** SRTP_ENABLED 0 *** SRTP_MODE BE-2MLines *** SRTP_CIPHER_1 AES_CM_128_HMAC_SHA1_80 *** SRTP_CIPHER_2 AES_CM_128_HMAC_SHA1_32 *** SSH 1 *** SFTP 0 *** SSHID admin *** SSHPWD **** EAPConfigRead - migrating EAP Configuration data from TFFS Failed to open file /flash0/EAPDATA.DAT *** EAP DISABLED *** EAPID1 *** EAPID2 *** EAPPWD **** *** CA *** CA_DOMAIN *** HOST_NAME *** SFTP_READ_PATTERNS .cfg,.dat *** SFTP_WRITE_PATTERNS .cfg,.dat *** DSCP_OAM: 18 *** DSCP_MEDIA_FLASHOVERRIDE: 41 *** DSCP_MEDIA_FLASH: 42 *** DSCP_MEDIA_IMMEDIATE: 44 *** DSCP_MEDIA_PRIORITY: 45 *** SESSION_TIMER_ENABLE: 1 *** SESSION_TIMER_DEFAULT_SE: 1800 *** SESSION_TIMER_MIN_SE: 1800 *** SET_REQ_REFRESHER: 0 *** SET_RESP_REFRESHER: 2 *** HOTLINE_ENABLE: 0 *** HOTLINE_URL: hotline *** DoD_ENABLE: 0 *** MLPP_NETWORK_DOMAIN: DSN *** MLPP_PRECEDENCE_DOMAIN: 000000 *** CALL_WAITING_TONE: 0 *** MAX_APEARANCE: 10 *** DISABLE_SPKRPHN: 0 *** CALL_ORIGIN_BUSY: 0 *** SLOW_START_200OK: 0 *** SPEEDLIST_KEY_INDEX: 0 *** SPEEDLIST_LABEL: SDL *** SCRNSVR_ENABLE: 1 *** SCRNSVR_UNPRTCTD_ENABLE: 0 *** SCRNSVR_UPASS_ENABLE: 0 *** SCRNSVR_MODE: 0 *** SCRNSVR_DELAY: 10 *** SCRNSVR_TEXT: Screensaver active *** SCRNSVR_IMAGE: *** MENU_AUTO_BACKOUT: 30 *** LOGIN_BANNER_ENABLE: 0 *** BLF_ENABLE: 0 *** BLF_RESOURCE_LIST_URI: *** BG_IMAGE_ENABLE: 1 *** BG_IMG_SELECT_ENABLE: 1 *** USE_BG_IMAGE: *** USER_FILE_ENABLE: 0 *** USER_FILE_PATH: / *** DEFAULT_ADDRESSBOOK_FILE: *** DEFAULT_SPEEDDIALLIST_FILE: *** DEFAULT_CUSTOMKEYS_FILE: *** TECH_SUPPORT_LABEL: *** TECH_SUPPORT_ADDRESS: *** SERVICE_PACKAGE_PROTOCOL: HTTP *** SELECT_LAST_INCOMING 0 *** MKI_ENABLE: 0 *** ALLOW_EMERGENCY_PRIORITY_HEADER: 0 *** CALLINFO_IMAGE_ENABLE 0 *** maskSectionDwnloaded 0x0 *** SURV_SIP_SVR_ENABLE: 0 *** REG_REFRESH_TIMER: 86400 *** OUTLINEFONT_ENABLE: 1 *** FONTSMOOTH_ENABLE: 0 *** FIPS_MODE: 0 *** LOGINALPHA_ENABLE: 0 *** PROMPT_AUTHNAME_ENABLE: 0 *** KEEPALIVE_RETRIES 3 *** IP_OFFICE_ENABLE 0 *** USE_PUBLISH_FOR_PRESENCE 0 *** FAIL_BACK_TO_PRIMARY 0 *** CONTACT_HDR_PORT_CS1K 0 *********************************************************
I should point out that this command is available for the 1100 and 1200 series IP phones.
Cheers!
