Lightning Case Studies: Implementing Modern Enterprise Communications Across Industries
1. Lightning Case Studies:
Implementing Modern Enterprise
Communications Across Industries
Session 4, Moderated by Dave Deutschman, Sr. Director Customer Services, eZuce
March 10, 2013 / Bentley University / Boston MA
2. 2
Lightning Case Studies: Implementing Modern Enterprise Communications
Across Industries
All capital projects in an Enterprise must be justified using financial, operational, and technological
criteria. This includes implementation of an Unified Communications system. In the Customer Case
Studies session, a panel of customers will present a synopsis of their reasons for selecting sipXecs /
openUC for their Unified Communications Systems and whether or not their objectives have been met.
> Panelists:
> Shawn Billings, Director IT, Pythian
> Skip Bachman; Systems Administrator, Network Infrastructure, Francis Tuttle Technology Center
> William Hayes, SVP Platform Development/IT, Selventa
> John Fulton, ITS Director of Network and Systems, Lafayette College
4. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 4
> Recognized Leader:
• Global industry-leader in remote database administration services and consulting for Oracle,
Oracle Applications, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server
• Work with over 250 multinational companies such as Forbes.com, Fox Sports, Nordion and
Western Union to help manage their complex IT deployments
> Expertise:
• Pythian’s data experts are the elite in their field. We have the highest concentration of Oracle
ACEs on staff—9 including 2 ACE Directors—and 2 Microsoft MVPs.
• Pythian holds 7 Specializations under Oracle Platinum Partner program, including Oracle Exadata,
Oracle GoldenGate & Oracle RAC
> Global Reach & Scalability:
• Around the clock global remote support for DBA and consulting, systems administration, special
projects or emergency response
• Currently 250 staff , Last year company added 100 staff, 2013 growth projections another 100.
5. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 5
Challenge – Bring Pythian’s telecom system up to a level
where it can support the aggressive corporate growth
plans, and provide end-users with excellent voice quality
along with a feature rich voice platform.
6. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 6
> Key Requirements
• Scalability for growth
• Excellent voice quality for all users internal or remote
• Ease of management
• Ease of deployment
• Feature rich - mobile app, presence, voice conference, user self management.
• Disturbed architecture to allow for local services and survivability across all regions.
• Reliability
• Reasonable TOC over 3 years
7. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 7
> Issues
• Pythian aggressive growth plan will put stress on the current single server design
• Current architecture built and developed by previous team and current teams knowledge is limited
• Architecture leads to poor call quality in areas that have poor data connections
• Architectures Single server design could lead to failure
• No redundancy or regional distribution
• Lack of UC software has lead to the use of multiple chat clients, video chat clients and no
presence capability
• No Voice Conference security on bridges
• Old hardware set for refresh
8. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 8
Base Systems Features Asterisk eZuce Shortel
Distributed by design
Redundant
Automatic failover
Integrated IM
Keep existing phones
Mobile phone presence
Can be Virtual (non-appliance components)
Development API for future DB integration
E911 ready
automatic cost based call routing
No SBC required (Ingate)
phone VPN (remote users)
Individual user languages (set menus and voice prompts)
Peer to peer voice/media stream
Centralized management
99.998% reliablity
CDR Reporting
Site survivability
Administration advantages Asterisk eZuce Shortel
Quick Delivery/implementation
simple architechture
ease of initial deployment
ease of scalability deployment
Little training required
quick account management
system user accounts
self administration of personal options
9. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 9
> Deployment
• Two initial sites, Canada and Australia, each with OpenUC server and gateways (SIP & PRI)
• 130 Internal Polycom SIP sets (all in Ottawa, CAN)
• 110 External SNOM SIP sets – with VPN connection into internal network
• Coordinated extensions/dialing plan between sites and Cost based call routing
> Challenges
• Complex internal network structure maintained by Cisco ASA devices. (NAT, VLAN’s, Firewalls
etc…)
• VPN/IPsec adding delay.
• Remote home based connections providing inconsistent data connection quality.
• Varying latency with site-to-site IPsec tunnels
• Memory restrictions on Polycom SoundPoint IP sets
10. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 10
> Current State
• Canada: Virtual OpenUC 4.6 server with AudioCodes PRI gateway and Ingate SBC. openVPN
server for remote SNOM sets.
• Australia: Ingate SBC and AudioCodes PRI gateway. openVPN server.
• All sets registering to one signaling server in Canada.
• Testing call quality and consistency over IPsec between Canada and Australia to determine need
for second OpenUC server in Australia
12. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 12
> Current Issues
• DTMF with G729 not being recognized by OpenUC when run as a VM.
• External Avatar not being displayed in Unite.
• IM status not updating when on calls.
• Outlook plugin status not updating
13. Lightning Case Studies: Pythian 13
> Future plans
• Add third and fourth site in India and UK
• Setup OpenUC Clustering
• Deploy Contact center to replace current Hunt Group setup.
• Replace remote set VPN with TLS/SRTP
• Mobile SIP client deployment (iPhone, Android, Blackberry)
• Integration:
> MS Active Directory and RSA
> Internal ticketing system
> Internal Multimedia server
14. 14
Lightning Case Studies:
Implementing Modern Enterprise Communications Across
Industries
Skip Bachman; Systems Administrator, Network Infrastructure; Francis Tuttle
Technology Center
http://www.francistuttle.edu
15. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 15
> Serves high school juniors and seniors who
reside in one of our 5 partner districts
> Two Academy programs prepare high school
sophomores, juniors and seniors for the
academic rigor of university-level degree
programs.
> Adults, with career-specific training to
maintain a quality workforce.
> Francis Tuttle also offers complete business
and industry training and consulting
One of largest Career Tech schools in
Oklahoma Department of Career & services, short-term training for career
Technology Education enhancement or leisure activities, and a
variety of offerings via the online campus.
16. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 16
> 2,500+ Students in Career Training Programs
such as Business Management, Culinary Arts,
Health Sciences, Information Technology,
Transportation
> 9,000+ annual enrollments in Adult & Career
short-term training classes
> 16,000+ attend Business and
Industry training each year.
> Special initiatives in Aircraft Sheet
Metal and Wind Turbine Technician
17. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 17
> 2010 Telephone system expansion / replacement
• Replace 15 year old digital PBX
> Telephone service for 200,00 sq. ft. expansion of
Business and Industry Services; Culinary Arts and
Information Technology
> Match existing phone system functionality
> IP based system
• Minimal copper infrastructure to new buildings
• Loss of private fiber between 2 largest locations.
> Go Live in 4 months
> Budget conscience
18. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 18
> What we have
• Records out of date; required a physical survey across entire district
• Interviewed employees to determine features used
• 100 multi-line phones; 400 single line phone
• 50+ analog cordless phones 42 fax machines 6 external shop bells
> Features Used
• Shared Lines
• Call Pickup Groups
• In one department, 8 staff monitor and answer department’s 20+ lines Every call answered
by a person
• Limited function ACD
• Call Volume Reporting
19. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 19
> Solutions Evaluated:
• Barracuda
• pbxNsip
• Asterisk
• SipXecs
> Lab Tested
• 8 weeks lab testing w/ 8 phones
> SipXecs 4.2 selected
• Open Source code
• Consultants on contract for implementation / support
• Commercial version available
• Major University in neighboring state implementing SipXecs
• Low cost
20. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 20
> Hardware selection
• Compatible with other VoIP systems
• Industry Leader
> Polycom
• SoundPoint IP 321, 335, 550, 650 6000
• AudioCodes Mediant 1000 PRI gateway; dual PRI
• Grandstream HandyTone 286
• Cisco/Linksys SPA2102
• Dell PowerConnect 3548P POE switches
> Dell R710 – ESXi 4.1
• 24Gb Ram – 80 GB Raid 1
• SipXecs 4.2 ISO
21. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 21
> Plan
• Integration with existing PBX via T1
• Build out new dedicated VoIP
infrastructure
• Phased Deployment by building / campus
> Configure
> Train
• Develop curriculum and train users
• Bi-annual training for new users
• Training videos for self help
> Deploy
• Phase I – 96 devices
• Final device count: 625 Phones, 140 ATA ports, 1000 SIP registrations
22. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 22
> Obstacles
• Existing Infrastructure
• Feature scale out limitations
• Shared Line appearance
• Call Pickup
• Performance on virtual server; moved to physical hardware after 4 months and increased load
• Overcome Legacy mindset
• ACD
• Reporting
• Queue Monitoring
> 14 Month deployment
> 4 Months of error free operation
• Upgraded to 4.4
23. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 23
> Expansion
• 2 additional servers for load balance
• ACD reporting prevents upgrade to 4.6
> 3 server implementation
• Stabilized ACD
• Ended bi-weekly need for system reset
> Issues
• Random Free/Busy light errors
• Frequent need for device reset
> Solution
• Upgrade to openUC 4.6
24. Lightning Case Studies: Francis Tuttle Technology Center 24
> Lessons Learned
• Cost Benefit of open source product
• Plan / Plan / Plan
• Read / Read / Read : Live on the open source wiki.
• Hire a consultant for turn-key installation
Or Plan to become intimately familiar with the product
• SLA for maintenance
> WINS
• Email notices with voice mail attachments
• User configurable options, ring duration; call forwarding; Personal AA
> Future
• Instant Message
• Integration with Active Directory / Exchange / Outlook
26. Lightning Case Studies: Selventa 26
> Selventa is a 40 person biotech company
> One main office with distributed personell across three continents
> We do business in the US, Europe and Asia
27. Lightning Case Studies: Selventa 27
> Selection Criteria:
> Functionality
• More modern phone system, easier integration with other phone systems (e.g. mobile, Skype, etc.)
• Better conference room speakerphone quality
• Conferencing functionality built in – reduce/remove our reliance on other audio-conferencing
solutions
> Cost
• Not looking for cost reduction but happy to get one, can’t be more expensive
> Ease of management
• One IT Ops manager – has to be simple and easy to manage, low effort
> Reviewed mostly hosted VOIP solutions
28. Lightning Case Studies: Selventa 28
> Deployment process
> Tested server with a couple of desk phones and Bria prior to company
deployment
> Rolled out openUC in the afternoon for almost seamless switchover (Dec
20th)
• Interestingly enough – most users opted for softphone (Bria client) only
• Linux users had trouble getting a SIP-client softphone setup
> Almost everyone has cell phones so company phone system is less critical to
business operations
29. Lightning Case Studies: Selventa 29
> Call quality is generally higher
• Still having some problems with echo using softphone
> Audio conferencing works very well, but still working on
education/awareness
> Some growing pains with the new Amazon hosting option from eZuce
• Some DoS attacks have caused problems
> Overall less expensive than previous system
> Mgmt overhead vs. previous PBX system is higher but indications are it will
reduce to <= PBX as deployment matures with increased functionality
30. Lightning Case Studies: Selventa 30
> Deployment, lessons learned, summary
> Successful switchover
> Softphones are still quite challenging for most users – though they like the
option of having their phone with them at all times
> Love being able to set up a desk phone and ship it to field locations for them
to plug in and use
> Conferencing lines are simple and easy to use
> More angst and effort involved in selection and planning than actual
deployment
31. 31
Lightning Case Studies:
Implementing Modern Enterprise Communications
Across Industries
John Fulton, ITS Director of Network and Systems, Lafayette College
32. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 32
> Lafayette College Overview
• Approximately 2,400 student private liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton PA.
• Central ITS provides Network, ERP, Authentication, Web Hosting, Instructional Technology, and
Support
• Computer Science majors are interested in contributing some code to sipXecs
• Endowment Driven ($700M)
33. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 33
> ITS Network & Systems Overview
• SA expertise in RedHat
• 80% virtualized on RHEV (NOT vmware)
• Services in HA between two data centers
• MPLS segregated network >10 FW contexts
• Telephony was provided outside of ITS
• Replacing Avaya Definity G3 & Alcatel VM
34. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 34
> Philosophy driving project
• Don't just do dial tone
• Video, Presence/IM, Voicemail to email
• One softphone with same features for: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android
> Criteria used to select a UC platform
• Feature Qualities
• Cost
• Risk of investment
• Fit with skills and infrastructure
> We RFP'd our desired feature list to Cisco, Avaya, and eZuce.
> We evaluated RFP based on 2-4 above.
35. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 35
> Feature Qualities Evaluated
• Hardphone
• Voicemail
• Softphone
• Video conferencing
• Architecture
• Support
• Initial investment
• TCO
• Integrator
• Mobility
• Company stability
36. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College
Feature Quality Scores 36
> Feature Quality Scores
37. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 37
> Cost Analysis Categories
• Servers/Infrastructure
• Professional Services
• Gateways (e.g. AudioCodes, Acme Packet)
• Softphones
• Server Licensing
• Hard phones
• Add-ons
38. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 38
> Striking Price Differences
> Initial Investment:
• Avaya & Cisco were 50% more costly than eZuce
> Annual Costs:
• Cisco was 3x more costly than eZuce
• Avaya was 5x more costly than eZuce
> Avaya Softphones were largest cost
> Cisco prof. services were largest cost
> eZuce prof. services lowest of three
> eZuce software was largest cost
• New HEP edu pricing makes this more compelling
39. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 39
> Risk
• High risk: total goods and services that cannot be reused if vendor changes
• Low risk: total goods and services that can be reused if vendor changes
> Risk Findings
> Avaya: 77% High Risk
• Can't reuse services, tablets, softphones, licenses
> Cisco: 80% High Risk
• Can't reuse services, tablets, softphones, e911, licenses
> eZuce: 55% High Risk
• Can't reuse services, licenses
> All: reuse hard phones
40. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 40
> Fitting into Infrastructure & Skills
• eZuce was supported on RHEV
• 'yum install sipxecs'
• Leverage existing Linux skills
• Not a magical black box
41. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 41
> Deployment: Adding VOIP to Network
• 3 PRIs from provider into Definity G3
• 4 PRIs out of the Definity into AudioCodes
• IP out of Audio Codes into OpenUC
• All SIP and RTP traffic goes through SBC
• Isolation leads to good security
42. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 42
> Deployment: Selecting Pilot Users
• ITS; we were the first to go
• Picked departments who use phone often:
> Development and Alumni Relations
> Athletics
> Communications
> Public Safety
• Met secretaries from these departments:
> Invited them to coffee break
> Asked them how they use phones
> Showed them OpenUC features
• Invited them to joint training session
• RoncDid same day place and set
43. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 43
> Evaluation: 1 year into 3-year project
• Athletics & Development report time savings
• Some cost savings so far (retiring old PBX)
• Students get experience on real code
• Students using Bria/OpenUC in class:
> Each student meets 4 times with WA
> Half of these will be over Video Conferences
> WA will be available for questions over IM
> 3 & 4 best: Mission of the college is education
44. Lightning Case Studies: Lafayette College 44
> Lessons Learned
• Make sure place/set vendor will do requirements gathering
• Whiteboard with eZuce and ask questions until you're convinced that implementation details are
correct (we did this, it paid)
• Find the right spot to insert OpenUC into the existing PBX for minimal interruptions