Deploying SpectraLink 8020/8030
Wireless Telephones
May 2009 Best Practices Guide
3 Network Infrastructure Considerations
3.1 Physical Connections
SpectraLink infrastructure components, including the SVP Server(s), Telephony Gateways and OAI
Gateway, must connect to a facility’s LAN using enterprise-grade Ethernet switches rather than Ethernet
hubs or consumer-grade SOHO switches in order to provide adequate bandwidth and limit traffic collisions
and bottlenecks (see Figure 4 for reference).
Ethernet switches should be configured to statically set the speed and duplex values as appropriate for the
device being connected to that port. The SVP Server should be set to the 100Base-T/Full Full-duplex
transmission setting. This is required to support the maximum simultaneous voice calls and for optimal
system performance. The SpectraLink Telephony Gateway and OAI Gateway products utilize a 10Base-T,
half-duplex Ethernet interface and the Ethernet switch ports should be set accordingly.
Network wiring is an important component of any Ethernet-based system and is subject to local and state
building code specifications. Cat 5 or better, 4-pair 10/100 Base-T Ethernet cabling must be used for
SpectraLink infrastructure equipment.
Wireless bridges are sometimes used to interconnect geographically isolated Ethernet LANs or to extend
the range of existing WLANs. Such devices create bottlenecks for network capacity and add delay to the
overall network, which are generally not tolerable for real-time voice connections. Polycom does not
support a configuration that includes wireless bridges and does not recommend using wireless bridges
with any wireless network supporting voice.
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