Voice VLAN for VoIP phones

[tantony]

We’re looking at VoIP phones. Service is through Comcast. They’re using Edgemarc router for it. How would that work with the MX?  Do I create a voice VLAN on the MX?  Do I need a static route between MX and Edgemarc?

The VoIP phones comes with 2 built in 1Gb switch ports, so cable goes from wall to a port on phone, then second phone port to computer. How does the phone ports know about VLANs?  Is this something I need to configure on the phone?

Also, im using Netgear switch. Not that it matters.  

[BrechtSchamp · Accepted solution]

Actually the switch does play an important role in this. Usually the switch and phone use the LLDP-Med protocol to recognize each other. After that process the switch tells which VLAN to use for the voice and which VLAN to use for data.

More info about that process can be found here:

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Port_and_VLAN_Configuration/Configuring_the_MS_Access_Switch_for...

I think the following link will answer your other questions:

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Port_and_VLAN_Configuration/Configuring_the_MS_Access_Switch_for...

If not let us know!

[tantony]

Thank you.  I don't have the VoIP router and phones in place yet, but just wanted to know how it all comes together.

[TechAttorney]

The article addresses the MS configuration.  I, too, have a Netgear switch run through MX.  How do you configure the MX to allow traffic to the phones and PCs.  Without MX, (only Netgear) phones work fine.  With MX the phones do not receive dial tone.  (also problem with printers - but I will leave that for another day).

[tantony]

This is what I ended up doing.  Assuming you have a void router like I do, I created a VLAN (10) on the voip router.  I didn't do anything on the MX. 

Then I created VLAN 10 on the Netgear switches along with VLANs on the Netgear switches for MX.  Then assigned VLAN 10 on the actual phones, so the phones receive VLAN 10 for voip, then the other port on the phone which goes to the computers receive their VLANs from MX.

If you setup is different from mine, hope this helps.  You can also contact MX support.

https://documentation.meraki.com/General_Administration/Tools_and_Troubleshooting/VoIP_on_Cisco_Mera...

Hope this helps.

[TechAttorney]

Thank you for your prompt reply.  So, if I read this correctly - I need a managed switch to get my voip to work with the MX?  Without MX, the unmanaged switch worked. Thanks again for your help!

[tantony]

I'm not sure if you NEED a managed switch, all my switches in my network are managed.  I'm attaching a diagram if it helps.  This is my configuration.

Let's say I have VLAN 5 on the MX and VLAN 10 on the voip router

Both of these are connected to a Netgear switch.  I'm using VLAN 5 (U) and VLAN 10 (T)

The I simply connect the phone to the switch, and my phone is configured for VLAN 10.  Connect the cable from the switch to the phone port labeled LAN to get VLAN 10 (from the voip router), then connect the cable from the phone labeled PC to PC to get the VLAN from MX (in my case VLAN 5)

What kind of voip router do you have, and what kind of voip phones?

[TechAttorney]

I am using Polycom phones (7) my VoIP is cloud based.  So, no router.   

Otherwise, my setup is as you diagram

Setup:

Gateway – MX65 – Unmanaged Switch – Phone – PC (through the second port on the phone)

Thank you for your help.

sal

[tantony]

Oh ok, I'm not too familiar with cloud based VoIP, may be you have to do something with firewall settings on MX.  I would recommend call MX support.  

[TechAttorney]

Will do.  Thanks again for your help.

[tantony]

No problem, and good luck.  MX support is really good.

[tantony]

hope this helps

https://documentation.meraki.com/General_Administration/Tools_and_Troubleshooting/VoIP_on_Cisco_Mera...