No clue with the WAN speed,

ClaudioRCM · ‎02-23-2015

Good morning, first post here. I´m trying to figure it out by myself, but I´m having a hard time trying to understand the overwhelming amount of data and specifications that Cisco have in each datasheet.

Let me describe the "problem":

I asked a vendor to include hardware with "Gateway" and "Router" functionalities, meaning that I need one unit doing the Router work and another one doing the Gateway work.

When I received the quote, the models offered were the following ones:

-ROUTER: WS-C4503-E (this is a chassis where all the different modules will be mounted)+CATALYST 4500 E-SERIES SUPERVISOR 848Gbps+4500E 48 PORT PoE+4500 12 PORT GE (SFP).

-GATEWAY: 3945 VOICE BUNDLE W/PVDM3-64. This, apparently, is the 3900 series router.

Both of these units seem to have the same routing function. Do I am missing something? The project I´m working on includes a IP Telephone system, by the way.

Please, if you can share your experience and opinions I will appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-23-2015

WS-C4503-E

This is a chassis-based switch. It's a 4-slot chassis which means, slot 1 will be the supervisor card and two more slots for line card. It's small and I doubt if this density is of any good to you.

This is your router.

What is the WAN speed?

ClaudioRCM · ‎02-23-2015

Thanks for your response, Leo.

So, the 3945 will be doing the routing-gateway work? There is no need to include the WS-C4503-E unit, I understand then.

No clue with the WAN speed, sorry. Our customer seems pretty reluctant to share information regarding this issue.

Thanks again!

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-23-2015

No clue with the WAN speed, sorry. Our customer seems pretty reluctant to share information regarding this issue.

Ok, then the customer may have to prepare themselves for the pain. The question about WAN speed and the specific model of the router has bitten so many people in the a$$. The main reason is because Cisco has managed to hide this very important question under a mountain of document.

3945 is rated for 502 Mbps. This is open knowledge. Now here's where the big-fat "gotcha!" lies: The value of 502 is expressed with no encryption and the total sum of the input and output data rate. So in a sense, it's very inflated.

Take the value of 502 as the full value and half this value (251) and you get the value of full rate inbound and outbound traffic. Take the value of 251 and half this further and you get the speed of the router can push with encryption AND inbound/outbound traffic.

My idea is(or was, I´m afraid I´m missing something) is to connect the IP PoE Phones to the 4500 device and then the 3945 will connect to my customer WAN.

The chassis for the switch is a 4503. So this means that you've got a maximum of 96 ports for phone, PC, printers, ETC. How many ports do you need?

Next, PoE, what kind of phone? Some phone is happy to operate at 7.7w, 15.4w or 20.0w. You need to be specific. Next, where's your solution for your call management server. Cisco's flagship call management server is the CallManager and this can have many, many subcategories and depending on what you are trying to do and the number of endpoints.

PVDM3-64

This is just a 64 channel DSP module. You'll need more than this. Where is your FXS/FXO module? What kind of call management server. The one that you can attach to your 3945 is CME (CallManager Express) and you'll need an SRE module for that.

Joseph W. Doherty · ‎02-23-2015

Disclaimer

The Author of this posting offers the information contained within this posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose. Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

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In no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising out of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if Author has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

Yes, a 4500 can route, but its a L3 switch, whereas the 3945 is a WAN oriented router. Sometimes you only need one, or can get by with just one, but they are different enough many networks benefit from having both. Unfortunately, there's insufficient information to say whether using these would be a benefit, or not, in this instance. There's also insufficient information to say whether these two devices would be the "optimal" choices for their roles.

I will add, though, if the 4500 only has a single 48 port copper card, a stand alone, or stackable, switch might be a suitable choice too. the 12 port SFP card is curious.

For the 3945, by "gateway" do you mean a VoIP gateway? If so, that would be a function/feature of the router, not supported by the 4500. (NB: ISRs, including 3900s [?], often can provide Ethernet modules for low port densities [PoE?].)

ClaudioRCM · ‎02-23-2015

Joseph, thanks for your opinion.

The system will connect to the customer WAN. There is still no information whether the licenses needed will be added to the hardware existing in the customer site or in the new site I´m working on.

So, yes, making a call from other site/to another site is something I must take into consideration. Using this 3945 means I can´t do that?

My idea is(or was, I´m afraid I´m missing something) is to connect the IP PoE Phones to the 4500 device and then the 3945 will connect to my customer WAN.

Any ideas I can work on?

Thanks in advance.

Joseph W. Doherty · ‎02-23-2015

Disclaimer

The Author of this posting offers the information contained within this posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose. Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

Liability Disclaimer

In no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising out of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if Author has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

For Cisco VoIP questions, beyond basic routing/switching of their packets, you'll likely do better posting to a VoIP forum.

ClaudioRCM · ‎02-23-2015

Thank you, Sir.

Have a nice day.

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