How to build a voice lab with GNS3 and VMWare

Is it possible to build a voice lab without actual hardware? The answer is yes and no. You can build a very good lab using GNS3 and VMWare but it is not possible to build a complete lab. The underlying emulation engine for GNS3 (dynamips) does not support digital signal processors (dsps) or voice cards.

Over the next few months, I will show you how to build a very good lab without any hardware. If you want a more complete lab, you will need to obtain at least one router with dsps and voice cards. I have a 2611XM router with DSPs, a vic-2fxs card, a vic-2fxo card and an ATA-186.

Click Here to download LAB visio drawing

Download

Disclaimer and Due Credit:

This tutorial series is heavily based on by Jayanm of Chicago, IL.  Jaynam has obtained the following Cisco Certifications: CCIE (Voice) – CCVP – CCSP – CCNA – CQS (PIX,VPN,IDS) – VMWare Certified Professional.

I really appreciate the ground breaking research by Jaynam.

Updates and Videos in the series:

I will include future videos in this section as they are created. It is a good idea to bookmark this particular post or subscribe to our RSS Feed if you would like to keep up on all future tutorials.

• How to install Call Manager 4.x in VMWare
• How to install Call Manager 6.x in VMWare
• Basic Call Manager Preparation
• How to run multiple IP Blue softphones on a single PC
• Voice lab – Running GNS3 as root
• Voice Lab – Headquarters build
• Voice Lab – Frame-Relay WAN
• Linux Bridging for GNS3 LAN communications
• Voice Lab – Branch1 and Branch2 Virtual Machine
• Voice Lab – Adding a physical router
• Voice Lab – PSTN Simulation LAB in GNS3 – Part 1
• Voice Lab – PSTN Simulation LAB in GNS3 – Part 2

Hardware

I am using a fairly basic pc with a 3Ghz hyperthreading CPU and 2GB Ram. By today’s standards, it is nothing special.

Update 1/19/09: I have added Dell 750 server with 4GB RAM for virtual servers at the Headquarters location.

Optional Hardware

As I mentioned before, I have a 2611XM router with a couple voice cards and some dsps. This is not manditory but I will include this hardware with the lab series for those that would like to purchase the hardware to follow along.

Emulated Hardware

I will be emulating 3725 routers because they will be seen on the CCIE lab. Although the 3725s call for 256 MB requirements, I have found that they only actually use ~192MB ram on my PC.

Jaynam and others have opted to use 2691′s. You may find this works better for you also.

Software

I have chosen to use Ubuntu Linux for my host operating system due to better performance over XP, stability, availability, ease of use and price.

Host OS: Ubuntu 8.0.4
PC Emulation: VMWare Server v1.0.6 or 2.x
Router Emulation: GNS3 v0.5 / v0.6
IOS: c3725-adventerprisek9_ivs-mz.124-15.T6.bin

What is possible without hardware?

It is possible to test lots of  different Cisco VOIP Technologies. Here is a short list. I am sure I will make mistakes with this list or leave things out. Feel free to email me or make a comment to help me get a more complete list.

Call Manager Features

• Call Routing – Partitions, CSS, Time of Day routing, Route Groups, Route Lists, Route patterns, Translation Patterns, Line Groups, Hunt Lists, Hunt Pilots, 4 digit dialing
• Media Resources – Software Based Media Resources only – Music on Hold, Software Conference Bridge
• IP Phone registration and dialing
• Redundancy – SRST, AAR
• Call Admission Control – Locations based and Gatekeeper
• Unity Integration
• Extension Mobility
• Attendant Console
• IPMA

SIP Trunking

SIP-UA.com offers free SIP trunks for voice labs.

IOS Features

• Call manager Express
• Gatekeeper
• IPIPGW
• Digit manipulation
• Auto Attendant
• TCL Scripts
• Voicemail Integration from CME to Unity
• WAN QOS
• Frame Relay
• Class of Restriction (COR)
• SRST

What is not possible without hardware?

• Xcoder registration and testing
• Hardware based conference bridges
• Router based MOH
• voice port configuration
• t.37 fax store and forward
• Fax relay
• MGCP
• Anything related to hardware not emulated, VG248, ATA, CAT6500, Catalyst 3550 switch.

Download