Book excerpt: Authorized Self-Study Guide Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE) Third Edition Foundation learning for CVOICE exam 642-436 Kevin Wallace, CCIE No. 7945 Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE), Third Edition, is a Cisco-authorized, self-paced learning tool for CCVP foundation learning. This book provides you with the knowledge and skills required to plan, design, and deploy a Cisco voice-over-IP (VoIP) network and to integrate gateways and gatekeepers into an enterprise VoIP network. By reading this book, you will gain a thorough understanding of converged voice and data networks and also the challenges you will face implementing various network technologies. Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE) presents you with information on the foundational elements of VoIP calls, the description of dial plans, and the implementation of gateways, gatekeepers, and Cisco Unified Border Elements (Cisco UBEs). The book gives you the information needed to implement and support data and voice integration solutions at the network-access level. Whether you are preparing for CCVP certification or simply want to gain a better understanding of VoIP fundamentals, you will benefit from the foundation information presented in this book. Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE), Third Edition, is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit http://www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining. Kevin Wallace, CCIE No. 7945, is a certified Cisco instructor, and he teaches courses in the Cisco CCSP, CCVP, and CCNP® tracks. With 19 years of Cisco networking experience, Kevin has been a network design specialist for the Walt Disney World Resort and a network manager for Eastern Kentucky University. Integrate VoIP into an existing data network Design a VoIP network for optimal voice quality Examine the various call types in a VoIP network Configure analog voice interfaces and dial peers Perform call signaling over digital voice ports Implement H.323, MGCP, and SIP protocols on Cisco IOS® gateways Identify dial plan characteristics Configure advanced dial plans Deploy H.323 gatekeepers Implement a Cisco UBE router to provide protocol interworking