Reply Sidekick Guide

replycloud.io
Pre-Installation Design Guide for the Reply Sidekick
August 2019
The Reply Sidekick is not an in-line device.
The Sidekick WAN port connects to the Ethernet switch and operates on the LAN in the same manner as
an IP Phone.
The Sidekick MIRROR port (optional, but recommended) connects to the port on the Ethernet switch
configured to mirror(monitor) all, or all VoIP VLAN packets to the mirror port.
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Overview
The Reply Sidekick requires 1 or 2 open ports on your switch.
1 x 100Mbps Full Duplex RJ-45 Ethernet -- WAN Port connection (required)
1 x 100Mbps Full Duplex RJ-45 Ethernet -- Mirror Port connection (optional, but recommended)
If the Ethernet topology for the VoIP or native VLAN supporting the IP Phones has more than 1 Ethernet
switch, the Reply Sidekick must be connected to the Ethernet switch connected to the Router/Gateway
(ie: up-stream of all other switches on the VLAN).
1. What are the Connectivity Requirements for the Reply Sidekick?
The Reply Sidekick has been designed to be installed directly into a customer local network switch, with
no complex requirements or network settings to be made in advance for the Sidekick to function.
Network environements can vary drastically, this document reviews how to answer the following
questions when implementing the Reply Sidekick:
1. What are the connectivity requirements for the Sidekick?
2. What type of Sidekick is required?
3. How many Sidekicks are needed?
4. Where in the network should the Sidekick be installed?
5. Does the Sidekick need to be installed on the VoIP VLAN?
6. What should the installer be aware of?
If an access-list is desired or required at a location’s edge router, an example ACL is provided with the IP
addresses of the servers accessed by the Reply Sidekick for testing and auto-provisioning.
Object-group network Reply-Sidekick
100 permit any object-group Reply-Sidekick any
18.233.142.154 255.255.255.255 tcp/udp 0-65535
34.234.245.213 255.255.255.255 tcp 443
34.237.115.221 255.255.255.255 tcp/udp 5060, tcp 443, udp
10000-20000
34.237.134.227 255.255.255.255 tcp 443
52.70.49.68 255.255.255.255 tcp 443
54.175.45.185 255.255.255.255 tcp 443

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There are two Sidekick models available, the Sidekick 1 and the Sidekick 2.
A Sidekick 1 is deployed when the location meets the following criteria:
Monitoring 300 endpoints or less in a single Layer 2 network domain
The network switch where the Sidekick will be installed supports 100Mbps Full Duplex RJ-45
A Sidekick 2 is deployed when the location meets the following criteria:
Monitoring up to 1,000 endpoints in a single Layer 2 network domain
The network switch where the Sidekick will be installed supports 1GigE Full Duplex RJ-45
Prefer or require power over ethernet (POE) to power the Sidekick unit
2. What type of Sidekick is Required?
The general rule for deploying Sidekicks is that there should be one Sidekick per o!ce or retail location,
however, there are exceptions to the rule.
If there is more than one Sidekick deployed at a single location, they will report as seperate locations in
the Reply Portal and can be designated by a unique name (ex: Floor 2).
There should be one Sidekick per Layer 2 Network Domain.
If a single corporate o!ce, branch o!ce, or retail location has multiple Layer 3 switches peforming
network routing, then there should be one Sidekick per Layer 3 switch/router (or Layer 2 Network
Domain)
3. How Many Sidekicks are Needed?
CPE Router / Firewall
Layer 2 Network Domain Layer 2 Network Domain
IP Phones
Layer 3 Ethernet Switch
Reply Sidekick
GREEN = WAN Connection
BLUE = Mirror Connection
Layer 3 Ethernet Switch
IP Phones
Reply Sidekick
GREEN = WAN Connection
BLUE = Mirror Connection

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4. Where should the Sidekick be installed?
CPE Router / FW
IP Phones LAN Ethernet Switch
If there is only 1 Ethernet Switch on the network:
Reply Sidekick
GREEN = WAN Connection
BLUE = Mirror Connection
If there is more than 1 Ethernet Switch on the newtork:
CPE Router / FW
IP Phones LAN Ethernet Switch
LAN Ethernet Switch
Trunk
Trunk
Reply Sidekick
GREEN = WAN Connection
BLUE = Mirror Connection
Reply Sidekick
GREEN = WAN Connection
BLUE = Mirror Connection
What are the trunk ports between the Ethernet switches for the VoIP or native VLAN supporting the IP
Phones?
Which Ethernet switch has the connection to the Router/Gateway to the Internet?
DETERMINE:
On all Ethernet switches without the Router/Gateway connect to it, no mirror action is necessary.
On the Ethernet switch with the Router/Gateway connected to it, configure the switch to mirror all
Received (RX) packets on all ports (or including all ports with IP Phones, all Trunk ports from other
switches, all the port to the Router/Gateway) to the Reply Mirror Port
ACTIONS:
IP Phones
IP Phones
LAN Ethernet
Switch

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6. What should the installer be aware of before installation?
This should act as a checklist for any Sidekick installation.
The installer knows which port number on the network switch will support the WAN connection for
the Sidekick.
The installer has been given the port number on the network switch that has been configured to
mirror the VoIP VLAN tra!c for the Layer 2 domain per the instructions found on the MIrror Port
Configration Guide.
Ensure that the installer has a copy of the Installation Guide to complete the Sidekick installation
via the Reply portal or the Mobile App.
5. Does the Sidekick need to be installed on the VoIP VLAN?
If the Sidekick is installed without a mirror port, then it can support device visibility and registration from
one VLAN only, and must be installed on the VoIP VLAN.
If the Sidekick is installed with a mirror port, then it can support device visibility and registration from
multiple VLAN’s, and does not need to be installed on the VoIP VLAN.