Wall Plate and VoIP Systems

There are two separate but related changes coming to the campus computer network and telephone infrastructure. First is the Wall Plate project, to provide centralized management for all network connections from the internet, through the campus network, and out to the wall plate system to which computers are connected. This project is partially funded by the Provost and managed by CNS. See the CNS Wall Plate web site for more background information and a schedule:

The other change is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as IP-telephony, which "converts sound into small packets of data and transports them via the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) between telephone sets". VoIP lines extend across campus and are converted to standard telephone lines beyond the border of campus. More details are available at:

UF VoIP is not a PC-based software like Skype, but rather a change in how telephone handsets are connected on campus. The new handsets will use the computer network to communicate as far as the edge of campus. Beyond campus, or when calling a non-VoIP campus line, a Telecommunications switch changes them back to standard voice lines.

Adoption

CLAS is adopting Wall Plate service and VoIP phones as each building with CLAS departments comes up in rotation for the migration. For some buildings, there has been relatively little change except for new telephone handsets. For other buildings, there will be significant additional wiring required before we can go to Wall Plate networking. Once a building gets Wall Plate networking and IP-telephony, each computer or phone will be plugged into the wall rather than sharing a port via a switch or hub in the room.

Migration

Before each building migrates, CNS will meet with the department chairs and IT staff to discuss the technical aspects of the migration. There will be a period of survey when CNS staff will visit each office to count ports, handsets, and computers. They will also re-label the network ports in each office according to campus standards. After this survey, Telecommunications will contact each department to determine the exact number and types of handsets needed, and the desired configuration and location.

During this discussion, it is important to communicate precisely the location of each current handset, and where the new VoIP ones should be after the migration.

There are many options for IP-telephony. It can simulate your existing phone service, or do entirely new things if you prefer. For instance, it can be configured to obscure the handset's individual phone number to remote caller-ID, by masking it with the main departmental phone number.

Implementation

After the survey and the telephone discussions, CNS will replace the existing network electronics in each closet, and Telecomm will begin placing the VoIP handsets. Brief network outages will occur during the regular UF network maintenance periods, usually very early on Sunday mornings.

When everyone is comfortable with the new handsets, CNS will remove the old phones and any key systems. The department and CNS will schedule training for the users during the change period when both phone systems are active. The department should let Telecommunications know as soon as they're ready to have the old phones disconnected.

Redundancy

Because the telephone system is critical infrastructure, migration to Wall Plate and IP-telephony includes significant improvements to the building's network. Each telecommunications closet will have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for the network electronics. VoIP handsets are powered through the network, so power failures in a building will not immediately disconnect the phones.

The closets will be connected to one another through loops which allow continued communications even if a single network device fails. Similarly, the building is connected through two independent fiber paths to two different places on the campus core network. This means that even if a major network device in the campus core is off-line for maintenance or trouble, the building will still be able to connect to the rest of campus and the internet, and there will still be internet and phone service.

Cost Changes

Moving to IP-telephony allows UF to have fewer AT&T (formerly Bell South) telephone lines coming onto campus. Since a large number of calls from campus phones are to other campus phones, and rarely does any large portion of campus need to call off-campus at once, the UF total telecommunications bill will be lower.

The CLAS Deans Office is underwriting the purchase of the new handsets, and a portion of the wiring, in order to allow each building to make the transition.

VoIP telephones are charged a monthly recurring fee per handset, since each one has its own line and external phone number. Long distance calls will not be free. The fee per VoIP line is much lower than for a non-VoIP line. However, the total monthly cost for a department may increase if there were many extensions connected to relatively few lines before the conversion. Therefore it is important to only purchase the necessary handsets.

The central VoIP management console, voicemail, and related services will be centrally maintained. Upgrades, repairs, and replacements of those systems will be free to the end users, thus resulting in additional savings to departments.

---

Last updated: Apr 22, 2008 (12:57:04 PM EDT)
URL: http://www.clasnet.ufl.edu/wallplate/