Customer Reviews

Configuring Cisco Voice Over IP (Syngress)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book would be better suited towards a manager's view where justification, ROI calculation and broad knowledge base is necessary. There is a lot of data on the H.323 standards in this book, which I found lacking in the another book like it.

I come from the technical/implementation standpoint and have found that ISBN 0-07-134777-1 was better written towards my view.

Networking is complex, details are everything, one error can cause the whole thing to fail. Technical detail should be of utmost importance in a book titled "Configuring Cisco VoIP"

The text appears to be a compilation of data from various sources. This is like many other technical books, but this book is compiled sloppily. There are many grammatical and technical errors, such as data missing from tables. This made it hard for me to read and trust the information presented.

One example, page 98, states that the E&M ports support all types of signalling. The chart on the next page clearly states (correctly) that type IV is not currently supported by Cisco products; a poorly-reviewed cut/paste error that a competent non-technical review should catch. There are other examples I could share.

Over 100 pages (over 20% of the book) are dedicated IPv6 Appendices, which not very relevant to configuring today's VoIP. Such depth would be better used in a book whose subject IS IPv6.

Additionally, the book seems to be "padded" with extraneous info such as how modem compression doesn't work with zip/gif/jpg files and predictions about the future path of the technology (good info, but this is a book about CONFIGURING VoIP).

As far as technical information authority, the author does not have the CCNP or CCIE certifications (yet?).

This book provides excellent technical examples on how to configure Cisco VoIP products.

The last chapter also includes information on the new AVVID IP phones. Information that I have been looking for.

Also, valuable information that I haven't been able to find elsewhere such as how WFQ is not optimal for VoIP QOS and how CBWFQ and IP RTP Priority solve this problem.

Good coverage of QOS concepts.

I own several VoIP titles and this is easily the best I own to date. It explains all the concepts quite clearly and the Case Studies make understanding configuring this technology very easy. I highly recommend this book!

I have a theory. My theory states that any book written with big fonts and big space between lines is not good. The logic behind this thought is that some people want to write thick books to impress the readers but due to the lack of content they end up putting everything in big fonts to fill the pages. This seems to be the case. This book tries to be somewhat actual by presenting relatively new hardware like the VWIC multiflex trunk cards, with tables listing hardware and software compatibility matrixes which is a waste of paper becase this can be found in the cisco webpage. Then it falls hard behind on treating important matters like getting deeper into H.323 or SIP. For instance, the book has only FOUR pages covering SIP (including the pictures) and TWO pages for MGCP. The kicker is the chapter treating QoS and TOS field marking. It slightly goes over IP precedence with very poor and quick explanations and does not even mention the existence of the DSCP interpretation of the TOS field! Definitely a book to forget if you want something actual for VoIP. What? Why I bought this book? Well... I'm still asking myself. Maybe because I trusted in the only one review saying it rocks.

This book is without a doubt the worst book on Cisco networking that I have ever read. It doesn't cover any of the VOIP protocols in any real detail, the information on fax is extremely sparse (this is what I work on, BTW) and the writing style gave me a headache after the first 20 pages.

I agree 100% with the reviewer who said that someone needs to write a good Cisco VOIP book. This book isn't it. I bought this book based on the earlier reviewers' glowing comments and was VERY disappointed ... maybe they were reviewing a different book. This is is absolute garbage.

While this isn't the end and be all book on VoIP it provides a good foundation for getting starting on the voice features in Cisco routers. For those of you that have to justify integrating VoIP into your network the first chapter covers some of the business reasons for doing so.

The coverage on the different QOS methods I found helpful. Understanding the difference between WFQ and CBWFQ and why one should use the latter helped. The configuration examples were great, I just wish that there were more included.

If you know nothing about VoIP before reading this book, you will not know much after reading it. This book does not go into detail regarding any of the protocols for VoIP nor does it give much detail regarding router configurations.

Skip this book.

I just passed the CVoice exam and this was one of the (few available) books that I used. I also used the Cisco Interactive Mentor for VOIP and found it to be FAR superior to this book, both in terms of general technical info and test preparation. I also recently picked up Integrating Voice and Data Networks (Cisco Press) and what I've read so far has convinced me that there is no reason on earth to buy this book anymore -- the long awaited "good Cisco VOIP book(s)" are here, and this is definitely not one of them.

Aside from the IPv6 padding (which I also objected to), I also had a real problem with the author's writing style -- it was almost like someone just typed up some random notes. I can't understand what the 5 star reviewers are talking about ... this book is definitely NOT going to be a classic. My only hope is that there isn't a second edition.

Save your money and buy the CIM or Cisco Press book.

I'm really glad I picked this title up. No, it's not an all encompassing guru level text on VOip, but for us folks who have some idea of the technology, but want some further information, it's really good. I can understand many of these 3 or 4 star reviews but these 1 star reviews are, in my opinion, missing the strong parts of the book.

The revolution of voice over data networking promises to lower costs, increase performance and transform companies' business communications strategies - and we all need to know about it. This book provides an indepth insightful presentation of both the big-picture strategic benefits and the down-dirty plumbing particulars. A truly valuable reference material.