ICE helps VoIP traverse firewalls

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
08/01/05

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* The Interactive Connectivity Establishment helps SIP-based
  VoIP clients successfully traverse firewalls
* Links related to Networking Technology Update
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avocent
Network World Executive Guide: Reviewing Trends and Insights for
SMB Executives

Life is different for IT professionals at small and mid-sized
businesses, which don't have the luxury of hiring legions of
network experts. Read how network executives are keeping a firm
footing on an ever-shifting product landscape. Learn about
trends and insights surrounding VoIP and VPNs; plus get
commentaries from leading experts on storage strategies for
smaller businesses.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=109157
_______________________________________________________________
WIRELESS LANS BUYER'S GUIDE: THE GOODS ON 185 PRODUCTS

We've compiled the largest buyer's guide ever on wireless LAN
equipment. Whether you're looking for an access point, PC Card
or trying to decide between 802.11a, b or g, take a look at the
information that vendors have provided us. We've got the goods
on 185 products. Click here for more:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=109030
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus:

ICE helps VoIP traverse firewalls

By Michael Ward

One of the biggest benefits of VoIP is the ability to supply
remote workers with cost-effective telecom access anywhere a
broadband connection exists. But ensuring VoIP connectivity
often proves challenging because of the number and variety of
network address translation firewalls that might exist between a
user and a corporate network.

A number of solutions have been proposed to allow SIP-based VoIP
calls to cross firewalls, but each class of NAT firewall
requires a different technique. To further complicate matters,
the various NAT traversal solutions proposed address only one
class of NAT device - as an example, the Simple Traversal of UDP
through NAT (STUN) technique will not work with symmetric NATs,
which are most often deployed in enterprise environments.

The Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) draft,
developed by the IETF's MMUSIC working group, provides a
framework to unify the various NAT traversal techniques. This
enables SIP-based VoIP clients to successfully traverse the
variety of firewalls that may exist between a remote user and a
network.

ICE defines a standardized method for SIP-enabled clients (or
clients based on other multimedia session protocols) to
determine what type of NAT firewall(s) exist between clients and
determine a set of IP addresses by which clients can establish
contact. Using a number of protocols and network connectivity
mechanisms, such as STUN, Traversal Using Relay NAT (TURN) and
Realm Specific IP (RSIP), ICE learns about the network topology
in which the clients exist and the various sets of network
addresses by which these devices can communicate.

When an ICE-enabled client (the initiator) wishes to communicate
with another device (the responder), it first collects as many
sets of IP addresses as possible from sources such as STUN,
TURN, RSIP and locally configured addresses that can provide
information on addresses where the client can receive IP
traffic. A key benefit that ICE provides is the ability to unify
the information provided by these various sources of IP address
information to create as many paths as possible by which the
endpoints can be reached.

To read more, please go to:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate4115>

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Furor over Cisco IOS router exploit erupts at Black Hat
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate4116>

2. Cisco, ISS, Michael Lynn and Black Hat sign legal accord
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate4117>

3. Researcher at center of Cisco router-exploit controversy
speaks out <http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate4118>

4. 2005 Salary Survey
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate3918>

5. Cisco nixes conference session on hacking IOS router code
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate4119>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Michael Ward

Ward is director of product line management for Trinity
Convergence. He can be reached at mward@trinityconvergence.com
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avocent
Network World Executive Guide: Reviewing Trends and Insights for
SMB Executives

Life is different for IT professionals at small and mid-sized
businesses, which don't have the luxury of hiring legions of
network experts. Read how network executives are keeping a firm
footing on an ever-shifting product landscape. Learn about
trends and insights surrounding VoIP and VPNs; plus get
commentaries from leading experts on storage strategies for
smaller businesses.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=109156
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Technology Update archive:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
SIX TIPS FOR GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE

Before you go in for your next annual review or promotion
interview, you would be wise to consider these tips for ensuring
you've got the right stuff to move ahead. Network executives
offer advice to help you gun for that next promotion and fatten
up your paycheck. Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/you/2005/072505-salary-side2.html>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005