In article <480ca10a.13863187@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jose <go.spam@somewhere.else> wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>In the case of home-office routers using 2 Internet connections, with
>load balancing capacbilities, would the router normally:

It's no-use asking us - we don't know what router you have. Far better
to read the routers manual...

>a) assign the VoIP call to the connection it judges better suited for
>the purpose,

And how would it gauge that metric?

>b) assign the VoIP call to one of the connections randomly, as long as
>they're both working, or
>c) distribuite one call's data packets by the 2 connections,
>considering their momentary actual speeds and availability??

Read the fine manual?

I'd suggest that the router would keep the same ADSL line going once a
connection starts and not migrate it to the other line - that would have
the effect of changing the source IP address which remote sites might
not like too much (not to mention the ISP passing the data), so once a
VoIP call starts, the router will keep data for that call down the same
ADSL line for the duration of that call.

I also suspect that handling SIP and NAT over a load balancing router
might be "intersting" too ...

>As for bonding, from what I've read so far, to start with you need 2
>conections with the same ISP, both with the same username... (If your
>ISP does not supply the bonding already)

You need an ISP that supports it, and usually much more sophisticated
ADSL modem/router(s) at your end...

>And then, - again if your ISP does not supply bonding - apparently
>most "common" and "afordable" routers can't handle it... I stand to be
>correct as far as bonding's concerned, please.

They may be able to do load balancing, which isn't bonding. With
bonding, a single connection can run at double the speed, with load
balancing, a single connection can only run at the speed of one line,
but a 2nd connection can also run at line speed.

I have to say, that what I'd rather have in a SOHO environment is 2
separate router/modems, and put all the VoIP down one of them and all
office data down the other. Saves any fuss and you don't need expensive
load balancing routers either...

And if you need more capacity, then add in a 3rd and have (say) incoming
calls coming in one line, outgoing through the other, and general office
data (web/email) down the third.

I have one client setup this way. (3 ADSL connections) They're averaging
2-3 concurrent incoming calls and slightly more outgoing calls, which is
workable on a single good ADSL line, (830Kbps upload) but it's pushing
it a bit IMO.

Gordon