Cisco IP Telephony (642-444 CIPT) (CCVP,IP Telephony Authorized Self-Study Guide), 2nd Edition View Larger Image | Jeremy Cioara, ILSG Cisco
Cisco Press, Hardcover, 2nd edition, Published October 2006, 912 pages, ISBN 158705261X | List Price: $70.00
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Customer Reviews: 1 Average Customer Rating:  Write a Review and tell the world about this title! People who purchase this book frequently purchase: - Cisco Voice Gateways and Gatekeepers (CCVP 642-452 GWGK); David Mallory, et al, $54.50, 22% Off!
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- Cisco Voice over IP (CCVP 642-432 Cvoice), 2nd Edition (Authorized Self-Study Guide); Kevin Wallace, $50.50, 22% Off!
- Troubleshooting Cisco IP Telephony; Paul Giralt, et al, $58.50, 22% Off!
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Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT), Second Edition,
is a Cisco-authorized, self-paced learning tool for CCVP IP telephony
foundation learning. This book provides you with the knowledge needed to
install, configure, and maintain a Cisco IP telephony solution. By reading
this book, you will gain a thorough understanding of Cisco Unified CallManager
version 4.1, the call routing and signaling component for the Cisco IP telephony
solution.
Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) expands your knowledge
of voice over IP (VoIP) and public switched telephone network (PSTN) components
and technologies. This book teaches you how to describe, install, configure,
and support Cisco Unified CallManager 4.1 in a Cisco network including such
features as security and video; how to configure gateways, gatekeepers,
and switches; and how to build route plans to place intra- and intercluster
Cisco IP phone calls. Chapter review questions, detailed configuration examples,
network diagrams, and thorough explanations help reinforce learning.
Whether you are preparing for CCVP certification or
simply want to gain a better understanding of IP telephony and Cisco Unified
CallManager, you will benefit from the foundation information presented
in this book.
Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT), Second Edition,
is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco Systems that includes
simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners
and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led
training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco
Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.
Jeremy D. Cioara, CCIE No. 11,727, is the owner
of AdTEC Networks and works as a network consultant, instructor, and author.
He has been working in network technologies for more than a decade and has
deployed networks worldwide. His current consulting work focuses on network
and VoIP implementations.
- Examine design strategies behind a Cisco Unified CallManager cluster,
cluster replication, and Cisco Unified CallManager deployment models
- Perform Cisco Unified CallManager server installations and upgrades
- Learn the features of all Cisco IP Phones, the IP phone startup process,
and audio codec communication
- Add IP phone users and apply bulk moves, adds, and changes
- Configure Cisco gateways and trunks
- Design and configure Cisco Unified CallManager route plans
- Implement telephony call restrictions and control
- Effectively coordinate multisite deploymentsConfigure user features,
Cisco Unified CallManager Attendant, and Cisco IP Manager Assistant
- Secure the Windows operating system and Cisco Unified CallManager administration
- Prevent toll fraud and harden the IP phone against attack
- Configure Cisco Unified CallManager to support video
- Monitor performance and configure alarms, traces, and CAR
This volume is in the Certification Self-Study Series
offered by Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed self-study
solutions to help networking professionals understand technology implementations
and prepare for the Cisco Career Certifications examinations.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Part I: Cisco CallManager Fundamentals
Chapter 1 Introduction to Cisco
Unified Communications and Cisco Unified CallManager
Cisco Unified
Communications
Understanding
Cisco Unified CallManager
Cisco Unified CallManager and IP Phone Interaction
The Components of Cisco Unified CallManager
Cisco Unified CallManager Servers
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 2 Cisco Unified CallManager
Clustering and Deployment Options
The Two
Sides of the Cisco Unified CallManager Cluster
The SQL Database Cluster
Intracluster Run-Time Data
Cluster
Redundancy Designs
1:1 Redundancy Design
2:1 Redundancy Design
Call-Processing
Deployment Models
Single-Site Deployment
Multisite Deployment with Centralized Call Processing
Multisite Deployment with Distributed Call Processing
Clustering over the IP WAN
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 3 Cisco Unified CallManager
Installation and Upgrades
Cisco Unified
CallManager 4.x Clean Installation Process
Installation Disks
Installation Configuration Data
Sample Configuration Data Worksheet
Postinstallation Procedures
Activating Cisco Unified CallManager Services
Upgrading
Prior Cisco Unified CallManager Versions
Summary
Review
Questions
Part II: IPT Devices and Users
Chapter 4 Cisco IP Phones and Other
User Devices
Cisco IP
Phones
Entry-Level Cisco IP Phones
Midrange and Upper-End Cisco IP Phones
Additional Cisco IP Telephony Endpoints
IP Phone
Startup Process
Cisco IP
Phone Codec Support
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 5 Configuring Cisco Unified
CallManager to Support IP Phones
Configuring
Intracluster IP Phone Communication
Removing DNS Reliance
Configuring Device Pools
Cisco Unified CallManager Group Configuration
Date/Time Group Configuration
Region Configuration
Softkey Template Configuration
IP Phone Button Templates
Putting It All Together
IP Phone
Configuration
Manual IP Phone and Directory Number Configuration
Automatic IP Phone Registration
Case Study:
Device Pool Design
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 6 Cisco IP Telephony Users
Cisco CallManager
User Database
Cisco CallManager
User Configuration
Adding a User
Configuring Device Pools
User Logon
and Device Configuration
CallManager User Options: Log On
CallManager User Options: Welcome
CallManager User Options: Call Forwarding
CallManager User Options: Speed Dials
CallManager User Options: IP Phone Services
CallManager User Options: Personal Address Book and Fast Dial
CallManager User Options: Message Waiting Lamp Policy
CallManager User Options: Locale Settings
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 7 Cisco Bulk Administration
Tool
The Cisco
Bulk Administration Tool
BAT Components
BAT Installation
Adding Cisco IP Phones Using BAT
Using BAT Wizard Step 1: Choosing Devices
Using BAT Wizard Step 2: Device Specifics
Using
BAT Wizard Step 3: Proceed with Task
Adding Phones Step 1: Configuring BAT Templates
Adding Phones Step 2: Creating CSV Files
Adding Phones Step 3: Validating Phones
Adding Phones Step 4: Inserting Phones
Updating IP Phones Using BAT
Using the
Tool for Auto-Registered Phone Support
Summary
Review
Questions
Part III: IPT Network Integration
and Route Plan
Chapter 8 Cisco Catalyst Switches
Catalyst
Switch Role in IP Telephony
Powering
the Cisco IP Phone
Two Types of PoE Delivery
PoE Device Detection
Catalyst Family of PoE Switches
Configuring PoE
Verifying PoE
Data and
Voice VLANs
Configuring and Verifying Dual VLANs Using the CatOS
Configuring and Verifying Dual VLANs Using the NativeOS
Configuring
Class of Service
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 9 Configuring Cisco Gateways
and Trunks
Cisco Gateway
Concepts
Analog and Digital Gateways
Core Gateway Requirements
Gateway Communication Overview
Configuring
Access Gateways
H.323 Gateway Configuration
Call Classification
MGCP Gateway Configuration
Non-IOS MGCP Gateway Configuration
Cisco Trunk
Concepts
Configuring
Intercluster Trunks
SIP and
Cisco CallManager
SIP Components
CallManager SIP Integration and Configuration
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 10 Cisco Unified CallManager
Route Plan Basics
External
Call Routing
Route Plan
Configuration Process
Route Group Overview and Configuration
Route List Overview and Configuration
Route Pattern Concepts and Configuration
Route Pattern: Commonly Used Wildcards
Route Pattern Examples
Digit Analysis
Digit
Collection
Closest Match Routing
Interdigit Timeout
Simple Route Plan Example
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 11 Cisco Unified CallManager
Advanced Route Plans
Route Filters
Route Filter Tags
Configuring Route Filters
Applying Route Filters
Practical Route Filter Example
Discard
Digit Instructions
Transformation
Masks
Calling-Party Transformations
Called-Party Transformations
Configuring Calling- and Called-Party Transformation Masks
Transformation Example
Translation
Patterns
Translation Pattern Configuration
Practical Use of a Translation Pattern
Route Plan
Report
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 12 Configuring Hunt Groups
and Call Coverage
Call Distribution
Components
Line Groups
Call-Distribution Algorithms
Hunt Options
Call Distribution Scenarios: Top-Down Example
Hunting and Forwarding
Configuring
Line Groups, Hunt Lists, and Hunt Pilots
Configuring Line Groups
Configuring Hunt Lists
Configuring
Hunt Pilots
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 13 Implementing Telephony
Call Restrictions and Control
Class of
Service Overview
Partitions
and Calling Search Spaces Overview
Calling Search Spaces Applied to Gateways and Intercluster Trunks
Partition Configuration
Calling Search Space Configuration
Time-of-Day
Routing Overview
Time Periods
Time Schedule
Time-of-Day Routing Effect on Users
Configuring
Time-of-Day Routing
Configuring Time Periods
Configuring Time Schedules
Applying Time Schedules
Time-of-Day
Routing Usage Scenario
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 14 Implementing Multiple-Site
Deployments
Call Admission
Control
Locations-Based Call Admission Control
Configuring Location-Based Call Admission Control
AAR Overview
Configuring AAR
Gatekeeper-Based
Call Admission Control
Gatekeeper Communication
Gatekeeper-Based Call Admission Control Configuration
Survivable
Remote Site Telephony
SRST Router Configuration
SRST Reference Configuration
Summary
Review
Questions
Part IV: VoIP Features
Chapter 15 Media Resources
Introduction
to Media Resources
Conference
Bridge Resources
Conference Bridge Hardware
Conference Bridge Hardware CallManager Configuration
Media Termination
Point Resources
MTP Configuration
Annunciator
Resources
Annunciator Configuration
Transcoder
Resources
Transcoder Configuration
Music on
Hold Resources
Creating Audio Source Files
Configuring MoH
Step 1: Configure the Audio Translator
Step 2: Configure the MoH Server
Step 3: Add and Configure Audio Source Files
Step 4: Set MoH Servicewide Settings
Step 5: Find and Configure the Fixed Audio Source
Step 6: Assigning Audio Source IDs
Media Resource
Management
Media Resource Design
Media Resource Groups
Media Resource Group Configuration
Media Resource Group List Configuration
Assigning Media Resource Group Lists
MRGL Design Strategy: Grouping Resources by Type
MRGL Design Strategy: Grouping Resources by Location
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 16 Configuring User Features,
Part 1
Basic IP
Phone Features
Speed Dial and Abbreviated Dial Configuration
Auto Answer Configuration
Call
Forward and Configurable Call Forward Display Configuration
Softkey
Templates
Adding Softkey Templates
Modifying Softkey Availability and Positioning
Assigning Softkey Templates to Devices
Deleting
Softkey Templates
Enhanced
IP Phone Features
Multiple Calls per Line Appearance
Direct Transfer
Call Join
Immediate Divert to Voice Mail
Call Park
Call Pickup and Group Call Pickup
Other Group Call Pickup
Call Pickup Configuration
AutoCall Pickup
Cisco Call Back
Barge and
Privacy
Configuring Barge
Configuring Privacy
IP Phone
Services
Configuring IP Phone Services
Services Phone Display Examples
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 17 Configuring User Features,
Part 2
Cisco CallManager
Extension Mobility
Extension Mobility Example
Configuring Extension Mobility
Cisco CallManager Extension Mobility Service Parameters
Configuring a Default Device Profile
Configuring User Device Profiles
Associating Users with Device Profiles
Creating the Extension Mobility Service
Updating Cisco IP Phones to Add Extension Mobility Support
Client
Matter Codes and Forced Authentication Codes
FAC Concepts
CMC
Concepts
FAC and CMC Configuration
Creating CMC Codes
Creating FAC Codes
Enabling Route Patterns for FAC and CMC
Call Display
Restrictions
Understanding Calling Line ID Presentation
Understanding Connected Line ID Presentation
Understanding Ignore Presentation Indicators
Configuring Caller ID Restrictions
Malicious
Call Identification
Configuring MCID
Configuring CallManager to Support CDRs
Configuring MCID Alarms
Adding the MCID Softkey
Multilevel
Precedence and Preemption
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 18 Configuring Cisco Unified
CallManager Attendant Console
Introduction
to Cisco CallManager Attendant Console
Terms and
Definitions
The Telephony Call Dispatcher and Attendant Console Directory
Cisco Telephony Call Dispatcher
Cisco CallManager Attendant Console Directory
Pilot Points and Hunt Groups
Call Routing
and Call Queuing
Call Routing
Call Queuing
Server
and Administration Configuration
Adding Attendant Console Users
Adding the “ac” User
Pilot Point Configuration
Hunt Group Configuration
Activating Cisco TCD and CTIManager Services
Using the Attendant Console Configuration Tool
Installing and Configuring the Attendant Console Client
Cisco Attendant
Console Features
Attendant Console GUI: Call Control
Attendant Console GUI: Custom Speed Dials
Attendant Console GUI: Directory Lookup
Attendant Console GUI: Parked Calls
Attendant Console GUI: Broadcast Calls
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 19 Configuring Cisco IP
Manager Assistant
Cisco IP
Manager Assistant Overview
Cisco IPMA with Proxy-Line Support
Cisco IPMA with Shared-Line Support
Cisco IP
Manager Assistant Architecture
Configuring
Cisco IPMA for Shared-Line Support
IPMA Step 1: Activating the Cisco IPMA Service
IPMA Step 2: Configuring Service Parameters
IPMA Step 3: Restarting the Cisco IPMA Service
IPMA Step 4: Configuring Managers and Assistants
IPMA Step 5: Configuring Call Divert Target
IPMA Step 6: Installing the IPMA Assistant Console
Summary
Review
Questions
Part V: IPT Security
Chapter 20 Securing the Windows
Operating System
Threats
Targeting the Operating System
Lowering the Threats in Windows Operating System
Security
and Hot Fix Policy
Operating
System Hardening
IP Telephony Operating System Security Scripts
File-Sharing Considerations
Antivirus
Protection
Cisco Security
Agent
Cisco Security Headless Agent
Cisco Security Managed Agent
CSA Supported Applications
CSA Protection
CSA Guidelines
Administrator
Password Policy
Account and Password Considerations
Common
Windows Exploits
Security
Taboos
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 21 Securing Cisco Unified
CallManager Administration
Threats
Targeting Remote Administration
Securing
CallManager Communications Using HTTPS
HTTPS Certificates
Accessing
CallManager When Using Self-Signed Certificates
Multilevel
Administration
Enabling MLA
MLA Functional Groups
MLA User Groups
Assigning MLA Access Privileges
Creating New MLA Functional and User Groups
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 22 Preventing Toll Fraud
Toll Fraud
Exploits
Preventing
Call Forward and Voice-Mail Toll Fraud Using Calling Search Spaces
Blocking
Commonly Exploited Area Codes
Using Time-of-Day
Routing
Using FAC
and CMC
Restricting
External Transfers
Defining OnNet and OffNet
Configuring Call Transfer Restrictions
Call Transfer Restriction Example
Dropping
Conference Calls
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 23 Hardening the IP Phone
Threats
Targeting Endpoints
Blocking
Endpoint Attacks
Stopping Rogue Images from Entering IP Phones
Disabling Phone Settings in Cisco CallManager Administration
Disabling PC Port and Settings Access
Disabling IP Phone Web Access
Ignoring Gratuitous ARP
Disabling Voice VLAN Access
Enabling IP Phone Encryption and Authentication
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 24 Understanding Cryptographic
Fundamentals
What Is
Cryptography?
Authentication and Encryption
Symmetric
Encryption
Symmetric Encryption Example: AES
Asymmetric
Encryption
Symmetric Encryption Example: RSA
Hash Functions
Digital
Signatures
Digital Signatures and RSA
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 25 Understanding the Public
Key Infrastructure
The Need
for a PKI
Key Exchange in Symmetric Cryptography
Key Exchange Protected by Asymmetric Encryption
The Pitfall of Asymmetric Key Exchange
PKI as
a Trusted Third-Party Protocol
PKI Entities
X.509v3 Certificates
Self-Signed Certificates
PKI Enrollment
Man-in-the-Middle PKI Enrollment Attack
Secure PKI Enrollment
PKI Revocation
and Key Storage
PKI
Revocation Methods
Key Storage
Smart Cards and Smart Tokens
PKI Example
PKI and SSL/TLS
Web Server Certificate Exchange
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 26 Understanding Cisco IP
Telephony Authentication and Encryption Fundamentals
Threats
Targeting the IP Telephony System
How CallManager
Protects Against Threats
Secure Signaling and Media Transfer
Authentication of Phone Images
Authentication
of Phone Configuration Files
PKI Topologies
in Cisco IP Telephony
Self-Signed Certificates PKI Topology
Manufacturing Installed Certificates PKI Topology
Locally Significant Certificates PKI Topology
Independent, Separated PKI Topology
CTL Client
CTL Client Application
CTL Verification on the IP Phone
Initial Deployment Issue
PKI Enrollment
in Cisco IP Telephony
CAPF
Acting as a CA
CAPF Acting as a Proxy to an External CA
Keys and
Certificate Storage in Cisco IP Telephony
Authentication
and Integrity
Certificate Exchange in TLS
Server-to-Phone Authentication
Phone-to-Server Authentication
TLS SHA-1 Session Key Exchange
Encryption
TLS AES Encryption
SRTP Media Encryption
SRTP Packet Format
Secure Call Flow Summary
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 27 Configuring Cisco IP
Telephony Authentication and Encryption
Authentication
and Encryption Configuration Overview
Enabling
Services Required for Security
Using the
CTL Client
Installing the CTL Client
Working
with Locally Significant Certificates
Issuing a Phone Certificate Using an Authentication String
Issuing
a Phone Certificate Using the CAPF
Configuring
the Device Security Mode
Negotiating
Device Security Mode
Generating
a CAPF Report
Summary
Review
Questions
Part VI: IP Video
Chapter 28 Introducing IP Video
Telephony
IP Video
Telephony Solution Components
Video Call
Concepts
Cisco CallManager Involvement in Video Calls
Video Call Flow
Video Codecs Supported by Cisco CallManager
Video Protocols
Supported in Cisco CallManager
SCCP Video Call Characteristics
H.323 Video Call Characteristics
SCCP and H.323 in Cisco CallManager
Bandwidth
Management
Video Call Bandwidth Requirement
Calculating the Total Bandwidth
Actual Bandwidth Used Per Video Call
Call Admission Control in Cisco CallManager
Call Admission
Control Within a Cluster
Region Configuration
Location Configuration
Call Admission Control Example
Retry Video Call as Audio
Call Admission
Control Between Clusters
Gatekeeper Call Admission Control Options
Gatekeeper Call Admission Control Example
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 29 Configuring Cisco VT
Advantage
Cisco VT
Advantage Overview
Cisco VT Advantage Components
Cisco VT Advantage Supported Standards
Protocols Used by Cisco VT Advantage
How Calls
Work with Cisco VT Advantage
Cisco VT Advantage Video Modes
Configuring
Cisco CallManager for Video
Call-Routing Considerations
VT Advantage Deployment Tool
Configuring
Cisco IP Phones for Cisco VT Advantage
Verifying Phone Loads
Configuring IP Phones to Support Video
Verification
of Phone Configuration
Installing
Cisco VT Advantage on a Client
Cisco VT Advantage Hardware and Software Requirements
Cisco VT Advantage Installation Preparation Checklist
Installing
Cisco VT Advantage
Cisco VT Advantage Installation Verification
Summary
Review
Questions
Part VII: IPT Management
Chapter 30 Introducing Database
Tools and Cisco Unified CallManager Serviceability
Database
Management Tools
Database
Management Tools Overview
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Manager
DBLHelper
Cisco CallManager
Serviceability Overview
Serviceability Components
Alarm
Trace
Tools
Application
Help
Control Center
Service Activation
Tools Overview
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 31 Monitoring Performance
Performance
Counters
Performance Analysis
Microsoft
Event Viewer
Microsoft
Performance Monitor
Microsoft Performance Monitor Report View
Microsoft Performance Monitor Graph and Histogram View
Microsoft Windows Task Manager
Real-Time
Monitoring Tool Overview
Real-Time Monitoring Tool Configuration Profiles
Using the Real-Time Monitoring Tool Effectively
Viewing Call Activity
Using Device Search
Visiting
Alert Central
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 32 Configuring Alarms and
Traces
Alarm Overview
Alarm Configuration
Configuring Alarms
Configuring Alarms for Java Applications
Alarm
Details
Trace Configuration
Types of Traces
Trace Configuration and Analysis Overview
Trace Configuration
Enabling Clusterwide Trace Settings
Trace Analysis
Trace Collection
The Trace Collection Tool
Bulk Trace
Analysis
Bulk Trace Analysis Features
Using Bulk Trace Analysis
Additional
Trace Tools
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 33 Configuring CAR
CAR Overview
CDRs and CMRs
CAR Users
CAR Report Types and User Levels
CAR Configuration
Initial Configuration
CAR System Parameter Menu Configuration
Administration Rights and Mail Parameters
Dial Plan Configuration
Gateway and System Preferences
Report
Scheduling
Managing the CDR Load
Configuring the Schedulers
System
Database Configuration
CDR and CAR Database Alerts
Database Purges
User Report
Configuration
Viewing the Report
Sending the Report
Summary
Review
Questions
Chapter 34 Using Additional Management
and Monitoring Tools
Remote
Management Tools
CiscoWorks ITEM Overview
Simple Network Management Protocol
SNMP Basics
SNMP Configuration on Cisco CallManager
Syslog Overview
Syslog Configuration in Cisco CallManager
Dependency
Records
Enabling Dependency Records
Accessing Dependency Records
Password
Changer Tool
Using the Password Changer Tool
Cisco Dialed
Number Analyzer
Installing Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer
Using the Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer
Quality
Report Tool
Activating the QRT Softkey
Viewing QRT Logs
Summary
Review
Questions
Part VIII: Appendix
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews: 1 Average Customer Rating: Nov 19, 2006 Martin from Los Angeles
Very Good Cisco Press book for Cisco IP Telephony
Having experiences in deploying non-Cisco Voice over IP solution, I found this book very helpful in explaining Cisco Unified Communications, particularly Cisco CallManager concepts and configuration. The obvious goal for this book is to help users to pass Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) exam (642-444). However, it can also server as a quick reference guide to help preparing users to install, configure and maintain a Cisco IP Telephony solution. The book does focus primarily on Cisco CallManager version 4.1 and is definitely not for beginners.
The book has 34 chapters where each one of them explains the concept and configuration in a concise and clear way and helps the readers understand the subject easily.
It opens with Cisco Unified Communications concept and CallManager components. Chapter 2 and 3 discuss CallManager clustering, deployment, installation and upgrades.
Chapter 4 explains Cisco IP phones and other IP Telephony endpoints. I found that this chapter is useful to distinguish different models and features that each Cisco IP phones provides.
Chapter 5 explains CallManager configuration to support IP phones, Chapter 6 talks about IP telephony user configuration. I learnt that Cisco CallManager provide end users access to configure their own IP Phones for common features such as speed dial and call forwarding. This is a very useful feature that many other VoIP Telephony providers do not provide. This will certainly ease network administration load and reduce support calls.
Chapter 7 explains Bulk Administration Tools (BAT) to apply bulk changes to Cisco CallManager cluster. Chapter 8 talks briefly about PoE, voice VLAN and Class of Service (CoS). I wish that it can elaborate more on Quality of Service (QoS) instead of dedicating just 2 pages on CoS.
Chapter 9 to 14 explain the most important and useful subjects in this book. They discuss Cisco gateways and trunks concepts as well as configuration, route plan, route filter, transformation masks, hunt groups, call forwarding, call restriction, partition, calling search spaces, call admission control, Automated Alternative Routing and Survivable Remote Site Telephony. These chapters have been greatly condensed and have less detail for the target audience for this book. However, readers can find more details on these subjects in Cisco Product Documentation in Cisco web site.
Chapter 16 to 19 mentions VoIP features sic as IP Manager Assistant, Attendant Console and others. Chapter 20-27 explains IP Telephony security. They start from securing Windows Operating System (we might need another book to discuss this) to hardening IP phones all the way to introducing encryption and authentication fundamental. Users who are familiar with RSA, MD5, SHA, and PKI can skip some of these chapters. I found that Chapter 22 is one of the most interesting chapters since it talks about toll fraud prevention. I think that this chapter alone can justify the purchase of this book since it exposes me to different ways to mitigate toll fraud done by external callers and internal users.
Chapter 28 to 29 discusses IP Video Telephony. I am pretty sure that these chapters will be outdated fast and there will be another book to discuss this topic in detail as Cisco will continue to release more products for IP Video Telephony including the newly released Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution. That acquisition for Scientific-Atlanta certainly helps Cisco to penetrate into this IP Video market niche.
Chapter 30-34 basically explains various tools to manage and monitor Cisco IP Telephony.
In conclusion, the author has provided a very concise and understandable reading with the few number of pages provided. Each chapter goes straight to the topics, explains in an easy to follow manner, provides some configuration examples and screenshots and closes with a simple brief summary with review questions.
Overall, I consider this book an important tool in my preparation for CCVP certification as well as a reference guide. I liked this book a lot and certainly will recommend others to read this. I like the way it presents the materials in a brief and concise manner. I gave the book five out of five stars for its good and concise explanation.
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