The new ViBE enabled Billion router & a chef from McDonalds

[paulcolmer]

For all those following the ViBE ( Voice Over Internet Broadband Enhancement) story, things are definitely moving forward.

ViBE with its ability to optimize bandwidth, simultaneously run voice & data using byte level QoS, bond multiple WAN links, support seamless failover & send duplicate voice packets to effectively reduce packet loss to zero has made it unique for solutions for last mile backhaul.

Now there is another string to the bow of the ViBE stable. The Billion 7300 NX-V is a 4 port, Wi-Fi 802.11n, 3g (primary or failover) ViBE enabled DSL router. The implementation of this Billion device will alleviate the need to use a ViBE enabled Microtik behind a standard DSL router as was the norm in the past.

If ViBE ever had any hurdles to cross it was in the fact that you do require a little technical ability to establish the tunnel and set it up. It is in this regard that the Billion 7300 NX-V could truly excel !

This ViBE enabled billion can support TR-069 provisioning ! TR-069 uses CWMP (CPE WAN management protocol) for the auto provisioning, mass management, monitoring, backup / restore & firmware upgrades of CPE’s via an ACS ( auto configuration server) This server can be either set up by the provider or the provider may take advantage of a hosted CWMP service. This provisioning and management system can also be applied to standard DSL routers and other types of CPE, IP phones will require a slightly different approach using TR-111 as this can deal with STUN & NAT transversal.

So lets imagine what we can achieve here, a seamless deployment of ViBE CPE’s , in fact its plug & play ! Couple this to what we can do with phones and other devices, providers will be able to offer their clients a speedy, no fuss, fully managed solution that can be deployed by less technical staff, dramatically reducing the deployment time & costs.

Hence the title, if you can get a job as a chef at McDonalds you can deploy on a system that supports CWMP !

Im slowly putting together ViBE related articles in one place so for more info follow the attached link

http://www.whichvoip.co.za/index.php...owcat&catid=35

[Saajid]

Very interesting and pretty cool. We use a wireless point to point microwave link to ClearVoice as our primary voice/VoIP connection, and do failover/backup onto ADSL (in rain mode). So we have 3 devices - Mikrotik ViBE box, ADSL modem, and Wireless Mikrotik router.

I'm guessing this Billion 7300 NX-V could merge the modem and Mikrotik ViBE box into 1. Can it be setup so that Wireless is primary, ADSL is secondary, and 3G is tertiary?

This device would be useful for our Durban and CT branches, to connect to the main branch. Any idea on pricing?

[paulcolmer]

You are correct in your thinking, The Billion 7300NX-N is flashed with the ViBE firmware one single unit will replace the Microtik and existing DSL router.

With regard to your 3 links, you may aggregate them together as 1 single WAN link, in this mode single link failier would be invisable apart from the alert it would generate but as you asked you are looking for something slightly different, you may create a primary link ( your Microwave) and create backup links. Backup links can be switched to in less than a second and without loosing calls in progress. Links that are reserved for backup can automatically be tested and their status reported in order for you to have confidence that they will be available when needed.

I will confirm pricing for you and gladly answer any other queries you may have

[morkhans]

Will the billion do private Vibe to Vibe links or is it for connecting to a provisioning server only? Is it running OpenWRT or have they hacked it onto the stock Billion firmware?

[paulcolmer]

Hi Saajid

Just some feedback on pricing, your provider ClearVoice now merged with i-Connect will have been given pricing on these Billion units and will be able to assist you, any queries pls feel free to give me a shout

[paulcolmer]

Hi Morkhans

The ViBE enabled Billions cannot talk to each other, neither can the Microtik’s but it can be deployed very successfully in a point to point scenario or multipoint scenario, ie, head office in JHB, branches in CPT, Durban ect. This set up would require a small server at head office and CPE’s at any connecting branch, the tunnel WAN links that are created then provided a powerful solution to handle voice and data simultaneously and an array of features previously discussed. ViBE however is not ‘Open’ and requires licensing server side, this licensing is then cut up into blocks (concurrent calls per CPE) and allocated at the branch end points. Considering the amount of voice and data you can run down relatively inexpensive WAN links, even with the licensing the maths comes out very good.

[morkhans]

The ViBE enabled Billions cannot talk to each other, neither can the Microtik’s but it can be deployed very successfully in a point to point scenario or multipoint scenario, ie, head office in JHB, branches in CPT, Durban ect. This set up would require a small server at head office and CPE’s at any connecting branch, the tunnel WAN links that are created then provided a powerful solution to handle voice and data simultaneously and an array of features previously discussed. ViBE however is not ‘Open’ and requires licensing server side, this licensing is then cut up into blocks (concurrent calls per CPE) and allocated at the branch end points. Considering the amount of voice and data you can run down relatively inexpensive WAN links, even with the licensing the maths comes out very good.

We have setup Vibe (with OpenWRT) running on RB750's over WAN links without a provisioning server. As long as you have the licenses setup on both devices you can build a vibe tunnel between them.

I want to know if the Billion is OpenWRT or not, in which case I can save myself an ADSL modem for the installs that require it. We've looked at Vibe on Netgear, but it's rolled into the stock firmware so it's CPE only connecting to a provisioning server.

[paulcolmer]

Ok, what I was trying to explain is that the CPE’s cannot talk to each other, however you can install a server license on a Microtik one end and it will behave like a ViBE server and communicate to the Microtick the other end. As you point out the Microtik is running OpenWRT, the Billion is running a proprietary firmware designed for the Billion chipset so it is not possible to load a server license on the Billion. It would of course be possible to run a Microtik running a server license ( separate DSL router) to connect to a Billion CPE, no DSL router required as all is taken care of in the Billion.

A thought on this subject is that we want to encourage VoIP providers who are running ViBE servers for voice services to facilitate a point to point connection to 2 CPE’s , which the server is more than capable of doing. They would then charge a monthly fee for voice channels on the link. You would only have to purchase the number of call channels you require and not purchase the licenses in blocks. This service could be offered as a stand alone, sort of point to point VPN or as an add on to provider VoIP services.