Deploying Voice over Wireless LANs

The definitive guide to planning, architecting, deploying, supporting, and creating Voice over Wireless LAN solutions

Recent advances make it possible to deliver high-quality voice and video communications over a wireless LAN (WLAN), replacing costly wired telephone and video surveillance systems and dramatically reducing support costs. However, today’s new voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) technologies require fundamentally different skills and techniques from those used in traditional voice and video systems. Now, there’s a complete guide to every facet of VoWLAN deployment: planning, design, installation, security, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Authored by wireless industry expert and leader Jim Geier, Deploying Voice over Wireless LANs draws on Geier’s extensive experience with real-world VoWLAN deployments. Geier brings together state-of-the-art insights into VoWLAN technologies, standards, products, services, implementation strategies, and much more.

Geier begins by introducing key components of today’s VoWLAN systems, including phones, client software, and voice encoders/decoders, as well as VoWLAN signaling essentials such as analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion and compression. Using examples drawn from actual enterprise settings, you’ll learn exactly how VoWLAN products integrate with existing IP infrastructure.

Next, he introduces crucial emerging 802.11 standards for effective VoWLAN deployment, including 802.11e quality of service (QoS) standards, 802.11r to minimize packet loss between access points, and 802.11k network discovery. He carefully reviews the security implications of VoWLAN voice, systematically covering both risks and countermeasures. Finally, Geier walks through implementation from start to finish, thoroughly covering analysis, design, installation, configuration, testing, and support.

Whatever your role in planning, delivering, managing, or creating wireless voice and video solutions, Deploying Voice over Wireless LANs is your most comprehensive, authoritative resource.

Jim Geier founded Wireless-Nets, Ltd., and serves as its principal consultant. His 25 years of experience includes the analysis, design, software development, installation, and support of numerous wireless networking systems. He has been active within the Wi-Fi Alliance and the IEEE 802.11 Working Group and helped develop international standards for WLANs. His books include Wireless Networks First Step (Cisco Press), Wireless LANs (Sams), Wireless Networking Handbook (MTP), and Network Reengineering.

• Understand VoWLAN components, applications, and benefits

• See VoWLAN at work in actual enterprise environments

• Master VoWLAN signaling, including voice signal characteristics, A/D conversion, and compression

• Discover the latest 802.11 VoWLAN standards, including 802.11e, 802.11r, and 802.11k

• Secure IP-based VoWLAN systems against intrusion and compromise

• Analyze your organization’s requirements and design an optimal VoWLAN solution

• Plan for capacity, roaming, and integration with cellular systems

• Install, configure, test, verify, and validate your VoWLAN system

• Plan for operational support and implement appropriate administration tools and methods

• Includes a complete VoWLAN glossary

Part I Fundamental Elements

Chapter 1 VoWLAN Applications and Benefits

Chapter 2 VoWLAN System Components

Chapter 3 VoWLAN Signaling Fundamentals

Part II Critical Technologies

Chapter 4 Wireless LAN Technologies

Chapter 5 VoWLAN Security Solutions

Part III Implementation Steps

Chapter 6 Analyzing VoWLAN Requirements

Chapter 7 Designing a VoWLAN Solution

Chapter 8 Installing, Configuring, and Testing a VoWLAN System

Chapter 9 Supporting a VoWLAN System

Appendix A Answers to Chapter Review Questions

Glossary

This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press®, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

Category: Cisco Press–Networking

Covers: Voice over Wireless LAN Solutions

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 3 Ratings

Should be called fundamentals or something else... - 2007-04-05
Reviewer Rating:
I have read Jim Geier's whitepapers and articles for some time. However, I found this book to be a "Cliffs Notes" of everything wireless, and hardly anything VoIP related. This book rarely discusses 802.11g as a technology, but a HEFTY amount of 802.11b It has a one page overview on controller based architecture. Newer Cisco wireless phones are out now. It almost seems like a draft of this book sat on Cisco Press' shelf for two years, and they just now decided they should print it.

The cover says "The definitive guide to planning, architecting, deploying, supporting, and creating..." NOT EVEN CLOSE. No real information on Cisco best practices or deployment guidelines. Save your hard earned money, and download the best practice whitepapers at Cisco's website; you'll be far better off.

This should be called "Popular Wireless Networking"! - 2008-09-16
Reviewer Rating:
I stopped reading this book after few pages. Full of typos and technical mistakes:
- In some pages the author said that the maximum power for 802.11 network in USA is 1 Watt and in others, 100 MWatts.
- The half-duplex nature of 802.11 protocols is not even mentioned, even when this is one of the main drawbacks for sending voice over wireless.
- The LWAPP protocol is not even explain... and the Cisco transition from independents AP to lightweight is never mentioned or explained, a very crude and misleading comparison between LWAPP and independent AP solution...
This could follow on and on..

A Good Solid Introduction - 2007-04-02
Reviewer Rating:
Voice over Wireless LAN (VoWLAN) is an emerging technology that extends Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) another step. The recent emergence of handheld phones that communicate using over standard computer Wireless LANs has enabled the use of VOIP in wireless situations. The functionality is basically the same as using a wired VOIP, but the user can walk around the plant while using the phone. Furthermore, a VoWLAN phone can operate from Wi-Fi hotspots, enabling a person to make use of the same mobile phone while away from the office. Some phones enable the user to make calls over the cellular network if a WLAN is not available.

This book is about setting up a VoWLAN system. It of course features Cisco equipment as it is published by Cisco press. However the underlying technology is the same regardless of the brand of equipment.

This book is less a heavy duty technical tome like many from Cisco Press than a general introduction talking about things like return on investment, security, support requirements, etc.

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