Voice over IP Gateways
VoIP Gateway or Voice over IP Gateway is a network device, which is used to convert voice and fax calls between the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and an IP network in real-time. Most of the VoIP gateway features at least one telephone port and one Ethernet port. The main function of Voice over IP gateway includes fax and voice decompression/compression, call signaling, packetization and call routing.
VoIP gateways are also packed with additional features like Softswitches, Gatekeepers, billing systems and network management systems.
Benefits of VoIP Gateways
VoIP gateways plays a key role in enhancing VoIP services and also supports the simplicity of the telephone calls for easy access and less cost.
The advantages of VoIP gateway are –
• It can provide connection with existing fax machines and telephone through the PBXs and traditional telephone networks.
• Voice over IP gateway can end a call from the telephone.
• It provides user admission control using Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
• It provides accounting records for the call.
Technical Overview of Routers
A router is a networking device that interconnects two or more computer networks and interchanges data packets between them. Router’s task is to route and forward the data packets to its current destination. Routers seamlessly connect LANs (local area networks) to WANs (wide area networks), which makes it realistic to build large-scale Internetworks. Routers assure reliability and security of data packets. Routers operates in two sub-systems –
1. Control plane – It is a part of router architecture, which is used for building the information in the routing table that defines what to do with incoming packets. The routing table contains a list of destination addresses and the outgoing interfaces connected with them.
2. Forwarding plane or Data plane – It is a part of router architecture, where the routers actually forwards packets from incoming (ingress) interfaces to an outgoing (egress) interface. It uses rules defined by the control plane in a routing table.
If you are using the ADSL broadband connection in a company network or at home, then you need to have the ADSL router, which connects devices to the Internet or WAN. Wireless router is required for the wireless Internet connection.
Router Configuration
The following step explains how to configure the router for home networks. The names of configuration settings on a network router vary depending on the router model.
1. Connect Ethernet or USB cable of the Internet modem to the router jack named Internet or uplink or WAN. After connecting the cable, be sure to power cycle (turn off and turn back on) the modem.
2. Connect the first computer to the router via a network cable.
3. Open the web browser from the computer, which is connected to the Internet. In the address bar enter the router’s address like http:// 192.168.0.1 (refer the router’s documentation for the exact address) for network administration.
4. Log in with the username and password provided in the router’s documentation to the router’s homepage. 5. To connect with the Internet, enter the correct Internet information into that section of the router’s configuration. For e.g. for DSL connection, user must enter the PPPoE username and password.
6. If you were using an older network router or a primary computer to connect to the Internet, then you have to update the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the router with the MAC address of the old device.
7. After connection, verify whether the network connection is working between the router and the computer and the computer can connect to the Internet.
8. Connect other computers to the router if needed.
Router or ATA (Analog Telephone Adapters)
ATA converts the analog voice signals into the digital data signals and then fragmentation of this data into packets to be transmitted over the Internet. It does not provide access to the Internet. In case of the receiver, ATA reassembles the packets and convert them back to the analog voice signals. ATA is a good choice for those who does not need the Internet access.
A Router, on the other hand, route the packets to their destination. It mainly provides access to the internet. If you want Internet connectivity with your VoIP services, then a router is required.