Page 5 - TelecomReseller DecJan 2015 2016

December/January 2016
Telecom Reseller 5

GRANT
continued from page 1

UNIVERSAL
TIP #1: ENSURE ENOUGH INTERNET to the o ine server. A nal pointer is to exclude
BANDWIDTH
Skype for Business in logging les to avoid
GATEWAYS
ere are two ways Skype for Business can be constant AV scanning during a UC session.
deployed -- on premises or o premises in the
cloud. If you’re considering the latter, ensuring CONCLUSION
you have adequate Internet bandwidth is a top If you are deploying Skype for Business for the
PRI/T1, GSM/3G, SIP, FXO-FXS Connectivity
priority. e best way to calculate this number very rst time, the most important thing to keep
is by determining the maximum number of in mind is that real-time data is much more
concurrent voice and video sessions, plus the sensitive than data from a CRM application,
additional Internet tra c generated by other database, or email. If someone’s email takes an
Compatible with any PBX Scalable Conigurations Universal Routing users on the network. Once that is determined, extra second to reach their inbox no one cares,
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it is a good idea to allocate an extra 20 percent but if a voice or video packet is delayed it will
of bandwidth to account for growth as well as de nitely get noticed — for all the wrong reasons.
anomalies such as occasional drops in available Planning ahead and ensuring your bandwidth,
bandwidth due to oversubscribed network network, and devices are optimized for real-time
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communication will go a long way in ensuring a
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TIP #2: GIVE VOICE AND VIDEO TOP PRIORITY
ON YOUR NETWORK
Although one has limited control over UC
packets once they reach the Internet, there are
ways to optimize these packets to ensure quality
of service (QoS) while the packets are traversing
the internal network. Microso supports QoS as
part of its standard networking protocol, which
entails marking each packet on the network with
a DSCP (Di erentiated Services Code Point)
code and appropriating to it a level of service.
Giving voice and video packets the highest
service level is a simple step, but it’s easy to
overlook.

TIP #3: DON’T FORGET ABOUT WI-FI
CONNECTED USERS
Wireless connectivity is common within many
workplaces and campuses and needs to be
accounted for when implementing Skype for
Business. One recommendation is to consider
disabling WAP (wireless access point) scanning,
which is a bandwidth intensive process that
constantly scans the Wi-Fi network looking for
the AP with the strongest signal. e downside is
that when it is turned o , the mobile device will
no longer look for a stronger AP unless the signal
drops to zero. If users will be roaming during
their UC sessions, WAP scanning should be le
on. Another point to keep in mind with Wi-Fi
is to ensure Wi-Fi cards are up to date with the
latest drivers and to ensure ahead of time that
each WAP is able to accommodate the number of
potential users who may be accessing it.

TIP #4: CHECK YOUR WIRELESS HEADSET
Besides Wi-Fi networks, wireless headsets
introduce another communication point that
must be taken into consideration when rolling
out Skype for Business. In addition to the more
basic issue of ensuring headset batteries are
strong enough to last throughout the workday,
the type of wireless technology used should
be examined. Two common technologies, for
example, are DECT (digital enhanced cordless
telecommunications) and Bluetooth. DECT
headsets are known for their range, which is
around 100 meters (compared with 30 meters for
Bluetooth). e downside is that in a busy call
center, interference can become a serious issue.
Be sure when selecting headsets to not only take
into distance considerations, but the number of
concurrent users.

TIP #5: DON’T OVERBURDEN YOUR COMPUTERS
AND SERVERS
During a Skype for Business call it is important
to ensure laptops/desktops aren’t performing
resource-intensive activities in the background
such as antivirus scans, Windows updates, or
backups, which can negatively impact voice
and video quality. With regard to servers, DNS
load balancers are highly recommended, too,
to ensure UC tra c doesn’t get routed to an
overburdened network resource. One other
point worth noting about load balancing is that
sometimes when servers are taken o ine for
routine maintenance the load balancer needs to
be updated to avoid inadvertently routing tra c