Powered patch panels These are special category-5 patch panels that
provide power to the jacks of the patch cords much like the 3524 Inline
power switch does, except through the rack mounted patch panel.
These often fall between the cost of the switch and the external power
supplies, and are fixed in capacity and size.
Lastly, you must use the Cisco CallManager solution, which is a customized
Compaq server running Windows 2000.The version of Windows 2000 on this
server is also specialized for the Compaq server, and cannot run services other
than the required DNS,Trivial FTP, and DHCP functionality required for the
phones.This seems like quite a restraint, but it ensures that the CallManager
server is not burdened with unnecessary processing requirements given that
CallManager might have to service as many as 2,500 simultaneous call processing
connections at a time.
Let’s talk briefly about the various IP phones Cisco produces.There are six
types of phones, which can be broken down into two functional groups.The first
group is the older first generation of IP phones such as the Model 12 and VIP
Model 30 programmable phones that had multiple lines and as many as 30 memory
phone number settings.The second generation of IP phone is the 7900 Series
phones, the 7910, the 7910+SW which has a pair of 10/100 switch ports, the
7940, and 7960.The 7910 is analogous to the single line unit with few memory
positions and only one line.The 7940 supports two lines and an increased number
of memory storage positions while the 7960 is considered the executive phone.
Having as many as six lines, the 7960 supports the XML standard to enable special
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352 Chapter 10 • Designing and Implementing Single Site Solutions
features and functionality on the LED screen, such as lightweight messaging.The
7940 phones also support the XML standard.
Regardless of the model you choose, these are all Cisco proprietary phones
that work well on a Cisco-powered network for VoIP solutions. Prices ranged
from $150 to $600 per handset in July of 2001, but varied more widely when
items were purchased in volume.