Will my preferred hardware support QOS / Traffic Shaping?

[01pfsensefan]

Hi,

I have posted this else where but did not get any responses so now I am at the source!

I am an IT consultant and I usually get my small clients to use these:

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=60_85&products_id=311&osCsid=cc243ea6fccce5e567e4e576e998881b

However today I got my first client that will be using VOIP phones. So I will need to provide QOS services to them. I consulted 16.3 or page 335 in the pFsense handbook and it lists all of the NICS that support that. However all I know is the little ALIX board has three Via VT6105M 10/100 cards. Wll those support QOS?

Here is the boards info:

Here's the URL on the board:
http://store.netgate.com/ALIX2D13-P40C85.aspx

Here's the PC Engines system board manual:
http://www.pcengines.ch/pdf/alix2.pdf

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[mrbostn]

Can't directly help you with your question about the NICs, but consider this.  QOS is only as good as the network it's on. If you're client is getting/making calls over the interet, then QOS will not help since you won't be able to apply QOS to your internet connection unless the ISP is able to apply QOS also.

You lose all control over the calls after they leave your gateway. (your pfsense box with QOS)

If you're using an asterisk based distro, then checkout the forums on www.pbxinaflash.com
They're really helpful there. Search there for QOS.

Depending on the the amount of users, internal vlans may help you more.

Just my $.02.

Good luck

I

[valnar]

@mrbostn:

If you're client is getting/making calls over the interet, then QOS will not help since you won't be able to apply QOS to your internet connection unless the ISP is able to apply QOS also.

Not necessarily.  You can control TCP flows with buffering and randomly drop inbound TCP packets to make room for UDP flows.  This uses TCP's slow-start mechanism to your advantage.  This can all be done at the remote site without any cooperation at the head-end or Internet in general.

[chpalmer]

QOS is only as good as the network it's on.

And to add-  VOIP is only as good as the network its on. Ive seen a few VOIP implementations fail due to the fact that companies thought they could just add a layer to their network without considering overall the realistic needs of their VOIP infrastructure.

[rugby]

I've run on of those with 4 IP Phones and the QoS was fine, the connection speed was 16/2 and there were no issues.

[01pfsensefan]

Thanks for everyones help. I understand the outside QOS issue. The vendor of the phones recommends DSL lines for its dedicated bandwidth. The QOS is there to stop video, email downloads, or computer updates from plugging up the internet pipe. I went ahead and ordered four of them so I will know in the next few weeks how it goes. I have never setup pFsense to work with a ppoe connection, but I know its supported and I will learn. The book details it out.

Thanks again!