VerCom carries a full line of standard switches and managed switches that can be purchased to provide the bandwidth and traffic management needed to support voice and data on a converged network.

What a switch does?
Network switches look nearly identical to hubs, but a switch generally contains more "intelligence" than a hub. Unlike hubs, network switches are capable of inspecting the data packets as they are received, determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding that packet appropriately. By delivering messages only to the connected device that it was intended for, network switches conserve network bandwidth and offer generally better performance than hubs.

What a managed switch does?
A managed switch takes the above intelligence a step further by not only inspecting the data packets for source and destination and then forwarding, but it also supports QoS and can prioritize packet delivery based on importance. For instance, if an employee is printing a large file and another is initiating a call, the call voice packets and the print packets may hit the switch at the same time. With a managed switch the voice packets will receive priority and will be directed on by the switch while the print packets wait briefly before moving on. This creates an environment where voice quality is high.

VerCom carries a full line of routers that can be purchased to improve your network performance.

What a router does?
Routers are physical devices that join networks together. Routers also have the ability to filter traffic, either incoming or outgoing, based on the IP addresses of senders and receivers. They are the crucial devices that let messages flow between networks, rather than within networks

• The router ensures that information doesn't go where it's not needed. This is crucial for keeping large volumes of data from clogging the connections of "innocent bystanders."
• The router makes sure that information does make it to the intended destination

Your network is one of the most critical assets in your business. With the additional of voice to your network, it is imperative that your network be protected. VerCom provides a full range of services that not only include providing firewalls and security devices, but provide a full range of on-going support features that continuously monitor your network and keep it safe from outside and inside attacks. Read below for basic information on how firewalls work.

A firewall is simply a program or hardware device that filters the information coming through the Internet connection into your private network or computer system. If an incoming packet of information is flagged by the filters, it is not allowed through. Firewalls use one or more of three methods to control traffic flowing in and out of the network:

• Packet filtering - Packets (small chunks of data) are analyzed against a set of filters. Packets that make it through the filters are sent to the requesting system and all others are discarded.
• Proxy service - Information from the Internet is retrieved by the firewall and then sent to the requesting system and vice versa.
• Stateful inspection - A newer method that doesn't examine the contents of each packet but instead compares certain key parts of the packet to a database of trusted information. Information traveling from inside the firewall to the outside is monitored for specific defining characteristics, then incoming information is compared to these characteristics. If the comparison yields a reasonable match, the information is allowed through. Otherwise it is discarded.

If you are in need of cabling for your project, VerCom can provide assistance in choosing the right cable, planning the runs, providing the cable and installation. Please read below for a short explanation of the current types of cable used in the industry.

CAT5 cable contains four pairs of copper wire. CAT5 supports Fast (100 Mbps) Ethernet and comparable alternatives such as ATM. As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT5 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).

Although CAT5 cable usually contains four pairs of copper wire, Fast Ethernet communications only utilize two pairs. A new specification for CAT5 cable, CAT5 enhanced (CAT5e), supports short-run Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) networking by utilizing all four wire pairs and is backward-compatible with ordinary CAT5.

Twisted pair cable like CAT5 comes in two main varieties, solid and stranded. Solid CAT5 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT5 cable, on the other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable cabling such as on-the-fly "patch" cabling.

CAT6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and unlike CAT5, utilizes all four pairs. CAT6 supports Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet and supports communications at more than twice the speed of CAT5e, the other popular standard for Gigabit Ethernet cabling.

As with all other types of twisted pair EIA/TIA cabling, CAT6 cable runs are limited to a maximum recommended run rate of 100m (328 feet).

Twisted pair cable like CAT6 comes in two main varieties, solid and stranded. Solid CAT6 cable supports longer runs and works best in fixed wiring configurations like office buildings. Stranded CAT6 cable, on the other hand, is more pliable and better suited for shorter-distance, movable cabling such as "patch" cables.