Migrating to open unified communication

1. Learn and lab• Install an Asterisk or a FreeSwitch server• Buy a few different SIP phones• Get SIP softphones• Understand the technology• Attend this workshop!

2. Take inventory• Check all the PSTN lines • PRI lines, internal leased lines, alarms, elevator phones, POS connections• Check current equipment • Protocol support in phones and PBX • SIP or PRI trunks in the PBX

3. List used PBX services• List all current PBX services• Try to understand who uses what• Who depends on what?• Find the set that few uses and no one depends on and delete it from the list• Focus on the important services and the new services - presence and IM

4. Identities and name space• The address plan is important• Phone numbers and internal numbers• SIP addresses • Both email-style and numeric• Domain management• LDAP/AD integration

5. Migrate, migrate• Is there a way to connect the new platform with the old• Can you migrate department by department or in some other way?• Synch this with cancellation of old lines

6. Integrate• There is a cost of managing user accounts and groups• Try to build on the IT-departments systems • LDAP, Active Directory• The new system needs to be managed like any server - SNMP, Nagios/Icinga and other management platforms

7. Work with open source• Build local knowledge and participate• Or hire consultants and have them contribute back• Consider sharing source code with fellow institutions• Look at it from a professional and ﬁnancial point of view.

8. Security• Consider which type of security that is needed for every use case• CDRs and logs contains important information• Some phone calls or networks may need security

9. Integrate cell phones• Mobile extensions• Control PBX services in smart phones• Callback, dial-through• Wiﬁ/Softphone reachability when travelling• Make cell phone users part of the platform

10. It’s all about marketing• You have to sell the new platform to the users • Before you do the switch!• Let them be part of the project• Make it easy to learn and use• This requires hard work

Most important:Use open standard protocols to get interoperability in your realtime communications network. AVOID VENDOR LOCK-INS.

Migrating to open unified communication

by Olle E Johansson

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