QoS through switch then to router?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 3

I have the following network setup and I'm wondering if QoS will work properly (with priority set to the MAC address of my Linksys PAP2 Vonage adapter):

Internet
||
DSL Modem
||
Linksys WRT54G router ==== PCs
|| (uplink)
Linksys 5 port 10/100 Switch ====== PCs
||
Linksys PAP2 adapter

I've had echo problems, choppy performance, and callers say they can't hear me well with the PAP2 when I am using the internet heavily, so I strongly suspect the QoS is not working. The PAP2 is running the latest firmware. I've tried various bandwidth saver settings. I also had Vonage support increase the audio gain.

Can anyone confirm/deny this will / will not work?

Posts: 183 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject:

I have a similar setup, except my Motorola telephone adapter is connected directly to the WRT54G and that port has the high priority QOS enabled. I did observe a slight improvement in performance when I enabled the QOS so I believe it is working as intended.

By setting the MAC ID of the high priority device in the router one would expect it to behave accordingly, but you may be defeating the purpose by putting the TA on the secondary switch with other devices rather than on the router itself. You could try running the VoIP speed test in both configurations and see if there is a difference. If there isn't, disable the QOS and run the test again to see if it is having any effect at all.

Perhaps someone else here in the forum could enlighten us both with their experiences, but you have nothing to lose in the interim by trying, if your TA can be colocated with your router.

Good luck, and let us know how you did. I might take my TA and hang it off another switch and see what kind of results I get.

Posts: 217 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:52 pm Post subject:

I tried that setup, but I had the following:

Cable Modem
BEFSR41
Switch
PAP2

Of course, I couldn't do QoS, but I had choppy calls and a lot of problems until I plugged the PAP2 directly into the router. I wouldn't think there would be that much latency on a small home network, but something was going on and since the move I have had no problems at all.

Posts: 49 · Full Forum Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 49

In order to do packet shaping, it must be done at a point that all of your network traffic transverses. Some switches are smart enough to do this, but the cost is probably prohibitive.

I am not familiar with the PAP2 so I can't comment on it specifically, but with the setups I have used Modem->VoIP Router->Switch works flawless.

I have also used Modem->Linux Router with QoS->Switch->Access Point->Wireless Bridge->VoIP Box
It works flawlessly as well.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 26, 2005 Posts: 9

I set up my Vonage this weekend as follows

Modem->VoIP Router->Wireless Router->Switch

My call quality is excellent (better than Verizon landline) and all my equipment seems to work fine so far. This includes a wired desktop and 2 wireless laptops on the wireless router, and Xbox Live and MP3 player on the switch.

I have nothing plugged into the VoIP Router except the phone.

Posts: 482

mskovrinskie wrote:

I have the following network setup and I'm wondering if QoS will work properly (with priority set to the MAC address of my Linksys PAP2 Vonage adapter):

Internet
||
DSL Modem
||
Linksys WRT54G router ==== PCs
|| (uplink)
Linksys 5 port 10/100 Switch ====== PCs
||
Linksys PAP2 adapter

I've had echo problems, choppy performance, and callers say they can't hear me well with the PAP2 when I am using the internet heavily, so I strongly suspect the QoS is not working. The PAP2 is running the latest firmware. I've tried various bandwidth saver settings. I also had Vonage support increase the audio gain.

Can anyone confirm/deny this will / will not work?

I wonder if your WRT54G sees the PAP2's MAC address if it's not directly connected to a port on the WRT54G.

I have my adapter connected directly to the WRT54G and the QoS has saved my bacon. I am running Sveasoft firmware on the WRT54G, though (check my sig).

I have the MAC prioritized as well as SIP traffic. I have NNTP and FTP set to bulk priority. Works awesome.

Posts: 183 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject:

Does the Sveasoft Alchemy Pre7a v3.37.6.8sv that you run on your WRT54G really do anything significant for VoIP that the stock 3.03.6 firmware cannot do?

I've thought about using it to improve my VoIP results (see my sig) and maybe get rid of some of the perceived delays in conversation.

Posts: 482 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject:

I really don't know. I understand that it has many more ways you can prioritize your traffic than the stock firmware does. I never used the stock firmware at all, so I can't compare them.

Posts: 244 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:55 pm Post subject:

Never tried the stock firmware either.

Posts: 492

mskovrinskie wrote:

I've had echo problems, choppy performance, and callers say they can't hear me well with the PAP2 when I am using the internet heavily

Echo problems are usually the result of poor PSTN wiring. That is something to discuss with the people you call, perhaps. Choppy performance and an inability to hear you well is an indication of poor connectivity and latency problems. As you said, "when I am using the internet heavily".