| You are the network administrator at your organization | | | | Problems with the overall system are your problem |
| and the company has just decided to switch to a | | | | and not his-he just wants everything to work and to |
| VOIP network. Based on your knowledge of this from | | | | work well. So how do you make everything work |
| other network administrators, you know that it is very | | | | correctly? |
| possible that the VOIP network will have major | | | | You can work with your internet company to resolve |
| problems within a short period of time after installation. | | | | the problems, but if the problems are in your network, |
| It was fairly easy to maintain your networks in the past | | | | you have to isolate and correct them. How do you |
| because it did not need very much attention based on | | | | know where to find the problems? You can check |
| its usage. Employees were surfing the internet, storing | | | | with other network administrators-you probably have a |
| files, checking emails and this was highlights in the | | | | few of them as friends-even if they work for the |
| system. There was rarely a major problem with the | | | | competition. |
| network considering the type of work being done. You | | | | They are still your friends and they will probably give |
| considered it a bad day if there was a virus that got | | | | you some very important advice on what to look for |
| through your firewall. | | | | and how to find it. There is also the option of |
| Now, you are dealing with a whole new problem since | | | | purchasing a software tool that will help you find the |
| the company decided to have VOIP network installed. | | | | problem and to find it fast. But, where do you get this. |
| The people in the company are now reporting that | | | | Start by checking on the internet-just do a search and |
| they are having problems that include hearing echoes, | | | | you will find companies that are selling what you might |
| garbled conversations and even dropped calls. All of | | | | need. |
| these problems can cause major problems, including | | | | You already know that new technology can be tricky |
| hard feeling by the customers and lost business and | | | | in the beginning and that there will be the potential for |
| revenue. You do not want your customers going to | | | | problems. As soon as you know that your company is |
| your competition just because your telephones are not | | | | considering the use of VOIP, get yourself appointed to |
| working well. | | | | the committee that is working on this project. |
| The company did not consider how the VOIP system | | | | You will be in the forefront of learning the technology |
| would interact with the currently network you have. | | | | and will also be in a great position to make suggestions |
| Because of this, there is the potential for problems to | | | | about the product. You may find that you are |
| come up while the systems are being merged and | | | | overruled when it comes down to the purchase, but |
| probably immediately afterwards. You and your staff | | | | you also have the knowledge and background on |
| will be working a lot of overtime to resolve the | | | | what is good and bad in the VOIP technology arena. |
| problems. No one wants to tell the boss that the VOIP | | | | This will be put you one step ahead of the curve |
| network he wanted is causing major disruptions. | | | | when it comes to fixing any potential problems. |