Reliability—a Requirement
With over a century of evolution, phone systems have become the gold standard for reliability. Universal need has required voice technology to achieve a performance level that matches the expectations of individual users and organizations for whom the phone is a primary communications tool. As IP-based voice systems gain dominance, they must meet the same expectations for performance and connectivity.

Ensuring High Availability
3Com® VCX™ hardware and software solutions are designed to ensure high availability and minimize system downtime. Redundant power supplies are available for VCX Connect 100 platforms and all VCX platforms can accommodate redundant RAID disks to ensure service continuity. System configuration options match business needs, providing for full redundancy if needed. A secondary server that functions as a hot standby, ready to deliver communications services in the event of a system failure, can be deployed. Similarly, 3Com phones are automatically configured with multiple server IP addresses. If one server fails to respond, another will be used to seamlessly and invisibly complete calls.

VCX applications, like VCX hardware, are designed to survive. Multiple instances of applications can run with database synchronization occurring in the background to ensure service delivery, even in a worst-case scenario. The telephony application can be configured to run simultaneously on the primary server and on a secondary server at another location. Whether a user is making a phone call, picking up a voice mail, or setting up a conference, WAN and LAN routing seeks the secondary server automatically if the primary server becomes unavailable. All of the devices and applications on the network continue to function without pause and all data, messages, and intelligence embedded in the primary server are available from the alternate source.

A third level of resiliency results from gateways deployed at each location. If both servers become unavailable, phone service is continued via the public telephone network via gateway functionality.