K. Salah1 A Methodology for Successful Voice over IP Deployment An Approved Research Proposal Submitted To DEANSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH KFUPM Research Grants By Khaled Salah

October 2005K. Salah2 Outline Introduction and challenging questions Introduction and challenging questions Existing tools Existing tools Drawbacks of existing tools Drawbacks of existing tools Advantages of Proposed Work Advantages of Proposed Work Case Study Case Study Proposed Methodology Proposed Methodology Project Objectives Project Objectives Project phases and scheduling Project phases and scheduling Equipment Equipment Budget Budget Summary Summary

October 2005K. Salah3 Introduction Importance of VoIP Importance of VoIP  Unification of data and voice networks  It is easier to run, manage, and maintain. Existing IP networks are best effort and VoIP requires QoS Existing IP networks are best effort and VoIP requires QoS Challenging questions Challenging questions  What are the QoS requirements for VoIP?  How will the new VoIP load impact the QoS of currently running network services and applications?  Will my existing network support VoIP and satisfy the standardized QoS requirements?  If so, how many VoIP calls can the network support before upgrading prematurely any part of the existing network hardware?

October 2005K. Salah4 Existing Tools Ample of commercial tools Ample of commercial tools NetIQ Brix Networks Agilent Cisco Avaya Siemens Uses two common approaches for assessing the deployment of VoIP Uses two common approaches for assessing the deployment of VoIP  Take network measurements and then predict the readiness based on the health of network  Inject real VoIP traffic and measure QoS

October 2005K. Salah5 Drawbacks of Existing Tools Commercial Commercial Injection approach can be intrusive to operation of existing network Injection approach can be intrusive to operation of existing network None offers a comprehensive approach or methodology for successful VoIP deployment. None offers a comprehensive approach or methodology for successful VoIP deployment.  No answers to all challenging questions, e.g. Number of calls Call distribution Call flow Future growth Impact on existing network apps

October 2005K. Salah6 Advantages of Proposed Work No cost No cost  Typical institutions Free  For well-to-do institutions: Can be used to measure the degree of accuracy of commercially-available tools, and thus help in selecting the proper tool to use. Based on using already existing free tools readily available to network managers. Based on using already existing free tools readily available to network managers. Based on an analytical approach to easily and quickly predict the number of voice calls that can be supported. Based on an analytical approach to easily and quickly predict the number of voice calls that can be supported.  The learning curve of using complicated commercial curve is minimized Use of OPNET Use of OPNET  Popular in industry and free for academia  Research work will be valuable to show how to use OPNET for VoIP deployment No injection method, and thus non disruptive to network services and operations No injection method, and thus non disruptive to network services and operations Address all concerns and challenging questions Address all concerns and challenging questions

October 2005K. Salah7 Case Study

October 2005K. Salah8 Proposed Methodology Determine VoIP characteristics and requirements Determine VoIP characteristics and requirements Determine VoIP traffic flow and call distribution Determine VoIP traffic flow and call distribution Define performance thresholds and growth capacity Define performance thresholds and growth capacity Perform network measurements Perform network measurements Early modifications to existing network Early modifications to existing network Theoretical Analysis Theoretical Analysis OPNET Simulation OPNET Simulation Comparison of Simulation and Analysis Comparison of Simulation and Analysis Final modifications to existing network Final modifications to existing network

October 2005K. Salah9 Project Objectives Develop an analytic approach to assess the readiness of an existing network to support VoIP while meeting the QoS requirements for VoIP and at the same time not affecting negatively the quality of existing applications. Develop an analytic approach to assess the readiness of an existing network to support VoIP while meeting the QoS requirements for VoIP and at the same time not affecting negatively the quality of existing applications. Develop a simulation approach which serves multiple purposes: Develop a simulation approach which serves multiple purposes:  to verify and validate the analytic approach  to produce various details on OPNET configuration and setup that can be extremely valuable for the research community as well as industry Produce, with adequate details, a step-by-step methodology for deploying popular real-time network services such as VoIP. Produce, with adequate details, a step-by-step methodology for deploying popular real-time network services such as VoIP. Address all the challenging questions and issues pertaining to the deployment of VoIP. Address all the challenging questions and issues pertaining to the deployment of VoIP.

October 2005K. Salah10 Equipment Laptop Laptop  to run OPNET simulation as well as Matlab programs.  to measure traffic at various point of an existing network. Network Misc Network Misc

October 2005K. Salah11 Project phases and scheduling Phase I: (Period of six months) Phase I: (Period of six months)  Defining the order and the details of the step-by-step methodology.  Make any necessary modifications to existing network, and make proper assumptions for network flow and call distribution.  Develop mathematical analysis and models to assess the readiness and support of an existing network.  Derive equations to compute the number of VoIP calls to be supported.  Plot, obtain, and study analytical findings. Phase II: (Period of six months) Phase II: (Period of six months)  Produce various models and configurations to be used by OPNET simulator.  Interpret the results of the simulation findings to assess the network readiness and support for VoIP deployment.  Compare the results of simulation and analysis. Find the error percentage of the analytic approach to that of simulation.  Based on analysis and simulation findings, make the most appropriate modifications to the existing network to support high QoS VoIP while not impacting negatively existing applications, as well as leaving adequate capacity for future growth.  Prepare and submit the final report.

October 2005K. Salah12 Project Schedule

October 2005K. Salah13 Benefits and Utilization Producing mathematical equations to exhibit the readiness and support of an existing network. Producing mathematical equations to exhibit the readiness and support of an existing network.  considering future growth and meeting the QoS requirements for VoIP and at the same time not affecting negatively the performance of existing applications.  The deliverable will be in a form of equations and Matlab programs. Producing guidelines and configuration files for OPNET, with complete set of instructions, on how to assess the readiness of an existing network to support VoIP. Producing guidelines and configuration files for OPNET, with complete set of instructions, on how to assess the readiness of an existing network to support VoIP. Produce, with adequate details, a step-by-step methodology for deploying popular real-time network services such as VoIP. Produce, with adequate details, a step-by-step methodology for deploying popular real-time network services such as VoIP.  The deliverable will be in the form of a flow chart with details describing each activity.  The steps must handle important activities of deployment such VoIP requirements, call distribution, background traffic, measurement and impact of existing load, modifications and redimensioning of existing network infrastructure, etc.

October 2005K. Salah14 Detailed Budget

October 2005K. Salah15 Final Comments VoIP will play a vital role in future VoIP will play a vital role in future With time and budget, there is considerable work to be done With time and budget, there is considerable work to be done The comments of three reviewers were very positive and wished to have research outcome very soon The comments of three reviewers were very positive and wished to have research outcome very soon