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When the information technology group plans for upgrades, especially a VoIP upgrade, much of attention is focused on servers, applications, switches, routers, and network security. Almost no attention is paid to the core network services that enable users to use all these wonderful systems, and are in fact essential for VoIP to even work at all.

If users are unable to access the applications that they need over the network, or if customers are not able to access the Internet-based Web services or applications that they require , all business transactions come to an immediate screeching halt. Since application access is so critical , it is worthwhile to look at how to make sure everything in the system works reliably.

There are four core network services that have to be working for users to be able to get to their applications. They are:

1. DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This service is what hands the user an IP address on the internal network as soon as they connect. No network activity can take place without having an IP address, as well as the other information that the DHCP service provides, which is a default route and the IP addresses of the DNS servers. What most people don’t know is that most often the DHCP service is handled by a non-redundant Windows box , or by a router that gives almost no visibility into the operation of the service. DHCP is essential for VoIP systems.

2. DNS stands for domain name service. This service is what translates simple to remember names on the network, like a URL in an application , to the IP addresses that the programs running on computers require. Without DNS, any network-based applications cannot be used. DNS is usually provided centrally by redundant windows servers, and externally by multiple small Linux boxes running BIND. Unfortunately, sometimes the Windows DNS service has stability issues, and it is tedious and error prone to update the BIND settings on the Linux boxes.

3. NTP stands for network time protocol. There are many applications that require precise time on the servers and workstations, especially SIP-based voice applications and network security applications. NTP is in most cases served from redundant windows servers.

4. IPAM stands for IP address management. It is important to have an overall IP address management method in order to ensure that DHCP and DNS are working properly. Entire new network subnets are added in a VoIP deployment, as well as a number of devices with static IP addresses, so this is especially important in that case.

As you can see, high availability core network services are essential to the proper operation of everything on the network, and especially VoIP. In your next upgrade planning cycle, it is worthwhile to look at improving the availability of the core network services of DHCP, DNS, NTP, and IPAM.

Find out more about VoIP and Networking. Great articles from voice, security, and network engineers that are in the field doing designs and deployments on a daily basis. Unique version for reprint here: Reduce VoIP Network Downtime With Improved Core Network Services.