Samsung OfficeServ 7200 - convergence within the office

IP-telephony has long ceased to be exotic for both Telecom operators and consumers. If there is a need to constantly call other cities and countries instead of dialing numbers through the eight, it is often more profitable to use the services of alternative IP operators, paying for them using cards. Organizations also actively use IP telephony. Small companies often use the same cards, but increasingly, gateways are installed in the companies themselves or on the operator's side that transmit calls from the telephone network to the IP network and back. IP phones that connect to intra-office IP switches or to Internet services like Skype or Skype are also becoming more common. Sipnet.ru. The advantages of IP telephony are not limited to cheap communication-they provide more additional features, are easier to integrate with corporate information systems, and so on.

Many companies offer systems for IP telephony deployment. They are designed for both exclusively IP telephone networks and mixed solutions that use traditional analog devices. One of the most versatile solutions of this kind is the Samsung OfficeServ 7200 communication server. In addition to performing the functions of an office PBX and access to external IP telephony networks, it can manage a local computer network, provide Internet access, work with e-mail, etc.

Samsung OfficeServ 7200

The OfficeServ 7200 has a modular design and is mounted in a standard nineteen-inch rack. The main configuration includes the main unit and the expansion unit, made in the same cases. Up to six modules of various functionality are installed in each of the blocks. Two of them are mandatory. The control module (MCP) must be present in the main block. It manages the entire OfficeServ 7200 system, and is responsible for switching, signal processing, and phone management. You can update the module software by downloading it from the SmartMedia card. The local control processor module is mounted in the extension block. Its task is to manage the modules of the extension unit and exchange data with the MCP module of the main unit.

Other modules are selected and installed depending on your needs. Among them are modules for interaction with external data transmission channels: telephone networks, including public networks, E1, T1 and ISDN, and the Internet. For maintenance of in-office equipment, OfficeServ 7200 installs modules for connecting analog and IP phones, managing a local computer network that can include other servers, as well as a module for supporting wireless Wi-Fi networks. It is important to note that both computers and Samsung WIP-5000M wireless IP phones can connect to the system via Wi-Fi. Separate modules are responsible for converting the signal from regular phones to IP packets and Vice versa. You can use the 4DSL module to connect subscribers up to 1 km away, which provides reliable data transmission over a single copper pair.

The modular design provides the system with high flexibility. You can change the configuration of OfficeServ 7200 as needed by adding or replacing the necessary modules. For example, when switching from analog to IP telephony in the office, you can gradually replace analog device management modules with VoIP modules. Similarly, you can increase the number of phone lines by simply adding additional modules. In total, OfficeServ 7200 can serve up to 120 IP telephony ports, which is more than enough for an average office size. The total number of internal and external phones can reach 160, and their ratio depends on specific needs. OfficeServ 7200 contains a number of built-in software solutions, such as OfficeServ News, OfficeServ EasySet, OfficeServ Call and OfficeServ DataView built-in Fax servers and digital conversation recording systems.

Additional extension features are provided by an additional Feature Server block running on the Linux platform. It combines the functions of an email server, instant messaging server, and IP telephony server over the SIP Protocol. More details should be given on the support of VoIP UMS technology. It works with email and voice mail as a single service. Messages are translated into a single format and can be sent as instant messages or read over the phone, and the text of emails is converted to speech automatically. Equally important, Feature Server is an extensible platform, and additional service modules will be implemented for it in the future. In addition, the OfficeServ 7200 system can be retrofitted with various external software that is based on stand-alone computers. These are ERP, CRM, communication packages, and so on.

You can use system programming procedures (MMC) to change the original values and parameters that enable the switch to function. The setup procedures are divided into three levels: technician, operator, and user. Users can only program certain MMC settings related to their personal phone, and you don't need a password to access the settings. For settings at the operator and technical specialist level, entering a password is required. All parameters are configured via the web interface.

Among the interesting additional features, you should mention connecting an external player to play melodies that sound when you hold a call. This can be a radio, tape recorder, CD player, or any other audio device. The system's detailed message logging system (SMDR) allows you to read information about all calls passing through the switch from OfficeServ 7200. You can view this data on your computer or print it on a network printer. The CTI computer telephony interface allows you to organize access to the telephone network via a computer.

When building a local network based on OfficeServ 7200, all the main features are available: support for DHCP (in server and repeater mode) and DMZ, translation of network addresses and ports, network firewall protection, etc. Internet access is provided via two Ethernet ports (supported by DHCP and PPPoE) and one port V. 35. if necessary, you can work in virtual private network (VPN) mode in transparent mode or tunneling mode.

Conclusions

Ultimately, OfficeServ 7200 can become a full-fledged basis for the communication infrastructure of a small or medium-sized office with up to 100-120 employees.

Michael Degtjarev (aka LIKE OFF)
16/05.2006