Solutions: Unified Communications Integrated Branch
Designed to address challenges associated with branch office consolidation and extend
unified communications to the branch, the Nortel Integrated Branch solution is built
upon the
Nortel Secure Router 4134 (SR 4134), a multipurpose router and hybrid gateway
that integrates support for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 mediation
server role and media gateway capabilities, with a variety of network technologies
including WAN, routing, switching, VPN, voice over IP (VoIP), power over ethernet
(PoE), and security into a single device. By consolidating multiple network functions,
it can generate substantial operational cost savings for enterprises while delivering
a high quality user experience.
This combination is ideal for enterprises considering deploying Microsoft Office
Communicator 2007 at their branch. The Secure Router 4134 can deliver local gateway
services to Office Communicator 2007 either to the PSTN or to other non Office Communicator
2007 clients. The SR4134 has been qualified by Microsoft as a “hybrid gateway” (see
Microsoft Unified
Communications Open Interoperability Program) and enables desk phones and
Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 users in the branch to locally connect to the
PSTN. This eliminates the need to route all voice traffic back to a central site
for outbound calls, saving both bandwidth and energy.
Nortel Secure Network Access Solution (SNA) augments the Microsoft NAP solution
to provide customers with more flexibility, choice and investment protection. Specific
highlights of the solution, as detailed in the paper, include:
- Support for both Windows and non-Windows PCs including Linux and Mac OS X as well
as printers and IP phones
- NAP can be deployed using the Nortel Secure Network Access Switch before a customer
upgrades to Windows Server 2008
- Broad range of enforcement support including 802.1X, HTTPS, SNMP and DHCP
- Support for both employee and guest devices through installed single sign-on client
and Web captive portal configurations
- Enterprise-class scalability and clustering
- The Nortel Health Agent (integrated with Windows System Health Agent) acts as a
single unified security agent supporting hundreds of endpoint security applications
- Utilizing the Nortel Layered Defense architecture, compliant users engaged in malicious
activities will automatically be kicked off the network