New Customer Questions

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 4

I'd like to know how painless a switch to Vonage will be for one of my business clients that works out of their home.

The connection is verizon dsl business class service with static ip. The business line will remain on the dsl line with verizon service.

There is also three residential land lines that we are thinking of switching to Vonage.

Where the dsl enters is a dsl modem and windows small business server premium connected directly to the broadband modem. The server is running isa and manages all the traffic on the network.

A second network adapter on the server is connected to a linksys wrt54g wireless router that has four lan ports. There are two clients hard wired to the router and several roaming clients using the wireless.

I'd like to know first if we can make this work with Vonage; second, what is the best hardware to buy; and third what is the best configuruation.

thank you for the response in advance.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 4

I should also add that one of the residential lines is used exclusively to send and receive faxes.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:20 am Post subject:

First thing to do is to run some Voip tests, both from this site and www.testyourvoip.com - each Vonage line ideally should have about 90kbps of upstream and downstream bandwidth available.

Second thing would be to get a single Vonage adapter and line, and try that out under the 30-day guarantee. Be sure you read the terms carefully. If that works out, you can simply have a FAX line added to the PHONE2 port of that same adapter, then start another account for the second phone line, or buy another adapter for it.

Final thing to consider is usage patterns. Be sure you separate the "business" and "residential" functions. In other words, if you start using one of the Vonage lines for your business, and you start using it in patterns that make it obvious you are, that is a violation of the Vonage ToS.

If you think you might use a line for business, Vonage does have a plan for $50 (last I knew) that includes a FAX line and an unlimited-use voice line. This is a tad more expensive than a Voice line plus a FAX line for consumer use (which would be around $35-40 a month), but if you think the line might be used for business as an overflow/outbound line, it's probably worth spending the $10-15 extra per month. You can then put in the additional residential line as a separate account.

As far as the best hardware, it doesn't sound like you need any more routers in that configuration - if you can get the PAP2 at a retail shop, it's a good simple Vonage device. Otherwise, I'd get something that is free-after-rebates and just turn off or don't use the routing and wireless features if it comes with them.

Posts: 830 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 830

I would also think you may need to set some rules on ISA to allow Vonage. The SBS3 I help administer also has ISA enabled, and can be difficult to work with.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 4

ed56 wrote:

I would also think you may need to set some rules on ISA to allow Vonage. The SBS3 I help administer also has ISA enabled, and can be difficult to work with.

yes, that's one of the things I'm curious about. There are two places to put the Vonage adapter; between the dsl modem and the sbs server or connected to the router. If it's connected to the router it's behind ISA and the other option shouldn't be effected. How will this effect my server though? I expect to be able to figure it out rather quickly, but if you're in this business you know sometimes snags come and the headaches ensue. So it would be nice to hear from someone that's doing this that it won't be too bad.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Oct 27, 2005 Posts: 34

Typ0 wrote:

ed56 wrote:

.

yes, that's one of the things I'm curious about. There are two places to put the Vonage adapter; between the dsl modem and the sbs server or connected to the router.

I use a cable modem along with a Alink Wifi router and a FON router. I've tried several combinations, all work, but this seems to be the best that allows me access to all network resources (notebook on wifi, PC plugged into Alink connect, printer into the Alink also) and lets me use the Vonage Linksys QOS settings since voice is #1 with me while talking.

Cable modem --> Vonage Linksys --> Alink Wifi --> PC and printer

and FON wifi access point also into Vonage Linksys

Posts: 830 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 830

Typ0 wrote:

ed56 wrote:

I would also think you may need to set some rules on ISA to allow Vonage. The SBS3 I help administer also has ISA enabled, and can be difficult to work with.

yes, that's one of the things I'm curious about. There are two places to put the Vonage adapter; between the dsl modem and the sbs server or connected to the router. If it's connected to the router it's behind ISA and the other option shouldn't be effected. How will this effect my server though? I expect to be able to figure it out rather quickly, but if you're in this business you know sometimes snags come and the headaches ensue. So it would be nice to hear from someone that's doing this that it won't be too bad.

I want to start out saying I know enough about network topology too be dangerous and there are others who are much better. Putting the Vonage router behind your router allows it to operate without DHCP issues. As stated in the thread http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic20342.html the Vonage adapter is a router. I had issues putting it in front of my router, since I had two DHCP's running and lost my ISP provided DSN address. Nate (in the referenced post) made a suggestion that I change my router to a switch by disabling the DHCP on that router. However, your server may also be acting as a DHCP. Not sure.

You could hook the Vonage device to your router, and if it fails to operate properly, check the ISA logs to identify the addresses/urls it is trying at access and make a rule for them. I have never sniffed the packets sent and received by Vonage, so I am unaware of how many addresses/urls, etc. it accesses (may need a rule set to multiple addresses, etc.). As I said earlier, ISA can be troublesome to configure.

Lastly, I am not sure what ISA will do to your QOS as it filters packets to determine if they are authorized, etc.

Posts: 43 · Full Forum Member Joined: Dec 27, 2006 Posts: 43

there are problems here and there at the moment with Vonage and verizon, not to go into that.
don't mean to seem glib ..but with all that equipment why don't you just order a 'trial' basic500 14.99 per month line; do it thru sales get the activation fee waived, it'll cost you 9.99 and you have 30 days to figure it out test it out and/or change your mind

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 5

You will be money ahead if you stay clear of Vonage. That is of course unless you enjoy having the WORST customer service when you have a problem. I'd reference my experience but it seems someone here deletes posts that have anything negative about Vonage... obviously not an "independent support site". Nothing like a company that tries to sweep it's dirt under the rug. Oh and if you still go w/ Vonage have SOME common sense and only go with the monthly rate. I don't expect this company to be around much longer.