4

Chapter 2: Applications for the IP Telephony System

How Does the IP Telephony System Fit into My Business or Home?

IP Telephony System

Chapter 2: Applications for the IP Telephony System

How Does the IP Telephony System Fit into My Business or Home?

High-speed Internet access is a valuable resource. When you have more than one computer, chances are you

want to share that Internet access with all of your computers. That’s when you create a network, a collection of

devices connected to each other. A device called a router connects computers and other devices, so they can

share a high-speed Internet connection and other resources, including data and printers.

One of the biggest benefits of the Internet is data communications, either e-mail or web browsing, whether you

send a file to a client or download the latest software upgrade. With the System, you also get voice

communications.

What Does the IP Telephony System Do?

The System connects multiple Internet phones to an Internet phone service. The System manages and routes all

calls. Incoming calls go to the auto-attendant, an automated greeting system, or correct internal extension (each

phone has its own extension number). Outgoing calls go to the correct external phone number (you can have

more than one external phone number).

You can have not only more than one external phone number, but also up to four Internet Telephony Service

Providers (ITSPs) for maximum flexibility.

A Typical Scenario

Typically, you connect the Internet port of the System to a local network port of your router. Then connect a switch

to another local network port of your router. Use this switch to connect Internet phones, computers, and other

devices. Then connect an administration computer to the Ethernet port of the System.

If you have analog telephones or fax machines, you can connect them to the Phone ports, so you can also use

those phones to make Internet phone or fax calls. (More details are available in “Chapter 4: Getting Started.”)

SPA941

Cable/DSL

Modem

Analog

Phone

Internet

Desktop

Computer

Switch

SPA941

Administration

Computer

Fax

SPA941

Router

NOTE:

The basic configuration of the System lets you connect up to four Internet phones and use

up to four ITSPs. To expand the basic configuration, contact your primary ITSP for more

information.

Figure 2-1: A Scenario for the IP Telephony System

5

Chapter 2: Applications for the IP Telephony System

Which Call Management Features Does the IP Telephony System Offer?

IP Telephony System

What Kind of Router Should I Use?

For your network, get the highest-performance router possible. For best results, use a QoS (Quality of Service)

router, so it can assign top priority to voice traffic.

What Kind of Switch Should I Use?

Again, performance is key. For best results, use a switch that offers QoS (Quality of Service) and full wire-speed

switching. QoS enables the switch to give top priority to voice traffic, while full wire-speed switching lets it

forward packets as fast as your network can deliver them. The next best choice is a switch featuring QoS (Quality

of Service).

What if I Keep My Traditional Phone Service?

Traditional phone service, also known as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), runs on a network called the Public

Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). If you decide to keep traditional phone service, then connect the Analog

Telephone Adapter (model number: SPA3000) to the switch. (For more information, refer to the SPA3000

documentation.)

Which Call Management Features Does the IP Telephony System Offer?

Beyond basic call routing, the System offers several powerful and sophisticated features:

•

Auto-Attendant. An automated system guides each caller to the appropriate contact.

•

Music-on-Hold. You can combine the auto-attendant feature with the music- or information-on-hold feature,

so the caller has a richer experience with your call system.

•

Call Hunt. You can designate which Internet phones receive outside calls. You can even have calls ring

multiple phones, either simultaneously or one at a time.

•

Paging. When you want to page all of the Internet phones, you can use the System.

•

Dial Plans. When you have more than one dial plan, you can route outgoing calls to take advantage of the best

rates available for the different types of calls.

After setup of the System, you will have dynamic and feature-rich Internet voice communications for your

business or home.

NOTE:

If your ITSP configured the System for

you, then these features may already be set up.

Check with your ITSP for more information.

(To set up these features yourself, refer to

“Chapter 6: Using the Web-based Utility.”)

6

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the IP Telephony System

The Back Panel

IP Telephony System

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the IP Telephony System

The Back Panel

The System’s ports and LEDs are located on its back panel.

Phone 1/2 Ports

The

Phone 1/2

ports allow you to connect analog telephones (or fax machines) to the System

using RJ-11 telephone cables (not included).

Power Port

The

Power

port is where you will connect the power adapter.

Status LED

Yellow. The

Status

LED is solidly lit when the System is powered on and ready for use. It

flashes when the System’s firmware is being upgraded.

Phone 1-2 LED

Green. The

Phone

LED is solidly lit when the phone line is ready for use. It flashes when the

phone line is in use. It is not lit when the phone line is disabled.

Internet Port

This

Internet

port connects to either a router or broadband modem.

Internet LEDs

Yellow and Green. The yellow

Internet

LED is solidly lit when a device is plugged into the

Internet port. The green

Internet

LED is solidly lit when the System is powered on, and it

flashes when the Internet port is actively transmitting or receiving data.

Ethernet Port

The

Ethernet

port connects to an administration computer, so you can access the System’s

Web-based Utility for configuration.

Ethernet LEDs

Yellow and Green. The yellow

Ethernet

LED is solidly lit when a device is plugged into the

Ethernet port. The green

Ethernet

LED is solidly lit when the System is powered on, and it

flashes when the Ethernet port is actively transmitting or receiving data.

Figure 3-1: Back Panel

7

Chapter 4: Getting Started

Overview

IP Telephony System

Chapter 4: Getting Started

Overview

Linksys strongly recommends using the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM for first-time installation of the

System. For advanced users, you may follow the instructions in this chapter, and then use the Web-based Utility

for additional configuration (refer to “Chapter 6: Using the Web-based Utility”). To use the Interactive Voice

Response Menu, proceed to “Chapter 5: Using the Interactive Voice Response Menu.”

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the following:

•

IP Telephony System (model number: SPA9000)

•

One or more Internet phones (for example, Linksys SPA-family IP Phones, model number: SPA941)

•

A router and cable/DSL modem (or gateway)

•

One or more Ethernet network switches (so you can connect Internet phones or computers)

•

At least one active Internet phone service account and its settings if you want to make external calls

•

An active Internet connection if you want to make external calls

•

At least one computer for configuration of the System and Internet phones

•

Two or more Ethernet network cables

•

Analog telephones or fax machines (optional)

Figure 4-1: A Typical Scenario for the IP Telephony

System

NOTE:

For best results, use a switch that offers QoS (Quality of Service) and full wire-speed

switching. QoS enables the switch to give top priority to voice traffic, while full wire-speed

switching lets it forward packets as fast as your network can deliver them. The next best

choice is a QoS (Quality of Service) switch.

SPA941

Cable/DSL

Modem

Analog

Phone

Internet

Desktop

Computer

Switch

SPA941

Administration

Computer

Fax

SPA941

Router

8

Chapter 4: Getting Started

Instructions for Installing the IP Telephony System

IP Telephony System

Instructions for Installing the IP Telephony System

Internal Calls

To install the System for internal calls, you will do the following:

•

connect and configure the System

•

connect the Internet phones

Connect and Configure the System

1.

(optional) Plug an analog telephone into the Phone 1 port of the System.

2.

(optional) If you have a second analog telephone or fax machine, plug it into the Phone 2 port of the System.

3.

Connect an Ethernet network cable to the Internet port of the System. Then connect the other end of the cable

to one of the Ethernet ports on your router.

4.

Connect a different Ethernet network cable to the Ethernet port of the System. Then connect the other end to

the computer you will use to manage the System (this will be called the administration computer).

5.

Connect the included power adapter to the Power port of the System, and then plug the power adapter into an

electrical outlet. The Status LED will start flashing as the System boots up.

6.

Launch the web browser on the administration computer.

7.

Enter

192.168.0.1/admin/voice/advanced

in the

Address

field (

192.168.0.1

is the default local IP address

of the System). Then press the

Enter

key.

Figure 4-2: Connect to the Phone 1 Port

IMPORTANT:

Do not connect the Phone port to a telephone wall jack. Make sure you only

connect a telephone or fax machine to the Phone port. Otherwise, the System or the

telephone wiring in your home or office may be damaged.

Figure 4-4: Connect to the Ethernet Port

Figure 4-5: Connect to Power

Figure 4-3: Connect to the Internet Port

ip

(internet protocol): a protocol

used to send data over a network.

ip address

: the address used to identify

a computer or device on a network.