About Cisco IP SLA features in the WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor plug-in

VoIP and Network QoS Monitor plug-in is designed to help network managers monitor key VoIP performance metrics on their network. This is accomplished by using the Cisco IP SLA technology, embedded in many Cisco routers and switches, to monitor the VoIP network performance.

With at least two Cisco IP SLA compatible devices, a source and destination device, the devices generate simulated network data and IP service traffic to measure network performance between the two network devices in real time. The information collected includes data for response time, one-way latency, jitter (interpacket delay variance), packet loss, voice quality scoring (Mean Opinion Score), and Calculated Planning Impairment Factor (ICPIF). WhatsUp Gold then polls the data collected on the IP SLA device and provides this information in the form of dashboard reports, custom performance reports, and alert notifications.

As an example, routers or other IP SLA enabled devices are configured to support IP SLA measurement. The IP SLA source sends UDP traffic (blue dotted lines) in either a local network or across WAN links. A single IP SLA source device may send UDP traffic to multiple IP SLA destination devices to test VoIP performance along a variety of network paths. It then collects round trip and one way response time data, jitter, latency, and packet loss between the source and the destination. The destination device then provides the data to the IP SLA source and WhatsUp Gold polls the source data. The VoIP and Network QoS Monitor reports the IP SLA data in the WhatsUp Gold dashboard reports, custom performance reports, and via alert notifications.

IP SLA concept diagram

With VoIP performance data available in the WhatsUp Gold reports, you get the big picture view of VoIP performance on the network. You can monitor network performance to determine how existing networks with VoIP devices, such as an IP phone system, are performing. Or, you can also employ WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor to determine whether an existing network will support VoIP devices by simulating various VoIP data loads on the network.

The following VoIP performance and active monitors allow you to monitor the following VoIP metrics in WhatsUp Gold. For more information about the VoIP monitors, see Using VoIP Monitor features and reports:

Performance monitors

Active Monitor

To implement the WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor, perform the following tasks:

  1. Configure the Cisco source and destination devices for IP SLA UPS Jitter operations.
  2. Configure the WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor.
  3. Use the VoIP monitor features and reports to monitor and gather VoIP metrics.

See Also

About WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor