Virtualization for VoIP and UC - Why Now...

Virtualization - it's a key term used in the IP telephony and UC marketplace today. For years we've talked about voice as an application and the possibility of running voice communications in a virtualized environment. The age of software-based communications and virtualization is now here.

As user acceptance grows for new UC-enabled applications, so does the requirement for additional servers (there is however an alternative). Up until recently, the number of servers utilized for VoIP and UC were totally dependent on:

- The level of redundancy the enterprise users seek

- The number of applications (and thus individual servers required) utilized - including (but not limited to):

• Audio conferencing
• Videoconferencing
• Call Recording
• Call Center Seats
• IVR
• Voice Mail
• Unified Messaging
• IM/Chat
• Unified Communications
• Call Routing
• Follow Me
• Directory services
• Other individual servers as required (manufacturer-based)

We have determined for some of our clients, as many as 18-20 servers would be required in one Data Center for the number of voice-enabled applications to be run. This places a tremendous burden on CIOs and staff for costs (capital as well as ongoing). As a clear rule for CIOs, the fewer number of servers, the better.

The latest round of releases from a few manufacturers begins to change all that. Virtualization, as defined by Wikipedia, is the virtualizing of computers or operating systems or applications, hiding the physical characteristics of a computing platform from users.

Virtualization technology has advanced to such a degree that it is possible to allocate specific resources to independent "virtual machines", such as RAM, CPU, Ethernet Ports, USB Ports, Hard Drive, etc. that the virtual machine capability is substantially the same as that of a dedicated server. Enterprise level virtual machines today can support the most demanding applications, such as databases, Exchange, SAP, SQL and more.

Virtualization Advantages

Software-based communications has arrived in the VoIP and UC spaces. By its inherent nature, software-based communications offers several elements that make it a clear solution:

- Open, software-based and runs on standard servers - Customers can now use their native preferred server hardware manufacturer of choice

- Easily distributed - Redundant and interconnected applications can now be distributed across the enterprise, lessening the risk associated with a single site legacy TDM-telephony system

- Fits into existing IT application environments and Data Center friendly - Uses standard 19" racks and utilizes standard NEMA electrical connectors, isolated ground outlets

- Dynamic - Provides auto load balancing and failover in the event of an outage on the primary server

- A single database across all servers with single point of administration - this solves what is perhaps one of the single largest headaches in the legacy TDM world - separate databases for telephony, voice mail, call accounting, directory, move and change activity

- Scalable - add servers or virtual software to expand

- Network agnostic - Networks, IP driven, are a perfect environment for virtualization as they are agnostic to such technology

- Standards-based - Virtualization utilizes networking standards for compliancy purposes

- Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) - enables integration with and communications-enablement of other business applications

Today multi-licensing formats are now being presented by select manufacturers. This means that one can conceptually utilize a single user license for basic Telephony, Voice Mail, Unified Messaging, Follow me, and even Call Centers. This also means fewer servers, and thus virtualization of many servers.

There are key advantages with using virtualization:

1. Reduced number of servers - lower hardware costs (as much as 50-70%)

2. The greening of IT and VoIP/UC, i.e.,:

a. Less rack space in the Data Center

b. Lower HVAC requirements

c. Lower electrical requirements

d. Reduced number of server outages

3. Helps expand and promotes the number of applications throughout the enterprise at a relatively nominal cost (primarily for licensing)

4. Enables a cloud-computing model - servers can reside just about anywhere (depending on data network characteristics available and QoS availability)

5. Encourages open standards

6. Allows applications to be centrally run for an entire enterprise

7. Facilitate a virtual corporation, virtual building culture, with any-to-any connections

8. Expands redundancy possibilities at a relatively nominal cost

9. Apps can be added as needed in less time

10. Less maintenance, less hardware failures

There are possible issues though - multiple applications can impede server performance and thus the ability to make and receive calls, perform multi-user functions such as simultaneous applications at once and limit the number of simultaneous calls or sessions, etc. It all has to do with software overhead and needs to be included in the evaluation and optimization of a software-based solution.

Enter NEC UNIVERGE Sphericall

Virtualization of communications has now matured. One example is the NEC UNIVERGE Sphericall platform, a pure software-based Unified Communications platform which can run in a virtualized environment.

NEC's Sphericall is one approach to a software-based, server agnostic VoIP/UC architecture. It provides the following key attributes:

- Sphericall is an all-software IP-PBX running on industry-standard servers across the enterprise existing data network

Sphericall takes a comprehensive approach to UC. Major integrated features include voice, presence, softphone, desktop video conferencing, instant messaging, unified email / voice mail, business mobility, and personal calling profiles among others

- Sphericall software scales from 1 to up to 30,000 ports per system across any number of locations, providing for significant scalability as required by the customer.

- Sphericall is designed for high availability in distributed environments via a feature called automatic load-balancing. If CPU occupancy is above 50 percent on a single server, which is common in virtualized environments, Sphericall instantly utilizes another CPU in the network with higher availability. Each Sphericall instance on the network, whether virtual or on a dedicated server, is completely redundant as a single-imaged system. In this way, Sphericall is designed to provide the same level of reliability we're accustomed to.

- Sphericall uses an open systems solution approach and interoperates with standards based SIP and MGCP business telephony devices, supports SIP trunking services, and runs on industry standard servers

- Sphericall can be deployed and managed via a single database - with single point of administration equaling easier and less expensive management over time

- Sphericall utilizes Web services standards and can be leveraged in an SOA environment to communications-enable other mission-critical applications, such as CRM or ERP.

So What Is The Message?

NEC has always been a strong manufacturer over the years known for its reliability. Yet, NEC is at the cusp of either breakthrough or possible failure. They are transforming the organization from a "hard/firmware-based" platform to software-based. There is a high probability they will eventually retire the legacy NEC products line, the 8500 series (successor to the flagship NEAX 2400 series we have come to know over the years) with Sphericall. Sphericall is an acquisition technology and not home grown. I believe NEC is betting on the future with Sphericall.

Yet there are mixed messages. Customers can make a choice when buying NEC, 8500 or Sphericall, as NEC transitions to this software-only platform. Bets are that in 24 - 36 months you will only see the Sphericall product replacing the 8500 as its flagship.

Software-based platforms are the future of the IP-PBX and UC, and NEC MUST transition as does every other manufacturer. If they don't they will die.

So I think the message of NEC must be clear:

- software-based technology is the new wave and future of IP Telephony and UC

- NEC has stepped up to the challenge to take the company forward utilizing the new technology

- NEC has adopted Sphericall to the NEC culture and technology, giving legacy and new customers the "warm and fuzzy" that the new product is reliable, user-friendly with features and technology we have come to appreciate from NEC

- All customers, legacy, new, and prospects, will come to appreciate the new Sphericall platform, NEC's future

Go on NEC, it's okay to place the new "stake in the ground" and move the company (and industry) into the new software-based architecture. The future of IP Telephony is here, and NEC must step up to the opportunity and shout its new flagship from the roofs, otherwise, as we are seeing with some of the legacy Telephony manufacturers, NEC could eventually die a slow death if it doesn't.

Summary and Conclusion

Virtualization is no doubt here. With multi-licensing available and UC now more affordable (a full 20% less than just 24 months ago) UC will quickly proliferate. We will either need additional servers to support these new apps or utilize virtualization to manage the growth and costs associated with these apps.

NEC brings the Sphericall platform to the 'table' and in my opinion, a dependable, virtualized software-based solution that is highly scalable and affordable in the SMB and larger enterprise spaces. Growing on the tradition of NEC reliability, NEC is focusing on Sphericall as their software-based solution to enterprise customers. When considering a software-based platform, NEC's Sphericall should be, in my opinion, on your list for a look-see.

Watch NEC closely, though. Are they making a total commitment to Sphericall? Ask them for an NDA as you are going through your selection process - what is around the corner for this product? The advantages of virtualization are very significant, and you need to know the future and commitment of this product and NEC as well.