How to Block VoIP Traffic
By Jason Gillikin
Voice-over-IP services allow users to place and receive telephone calls using special hardware or software, with the signal using the Internet instead of traditional copper phone wire. VoIP services have gained in popularity because they are easy to deploy and can significantly reduce costs for some consumers. However, some network administrators (or even some cautious parents) may seek to restrict VoIP services on their networks, either to reduce bandwidth consumption, or to deliberately restrict users' access. Blocking many VoIP services is a straightforward matter.
Step 1
Identify which VoIP applications are in use and identify the TCP/UDP ports that each application uses. Port information is available in the product documentation, or check a list of standard ports through IANA or another authority.
Step 2
Log into your router's administrative control panel. Each router model has a different procedure for accessing the control panel, so check the manufacturer's documentation for the specific procedure.
Step 3
Block the ports that the VoIP software in question uses, through the router's control panel. This is often completed on an "Applications" tab--type in the name of the VoIP software and the port numbers it uses, then click "Save."
Step 4
The router should block all traffic on the specified ports immediately, but reset the router by turning off the power and turning it back on again, to make sure that the process completes.
References
Writer Bio
Jason Gillikin is a copy editor and writer who specializes in health care, finance and consumer technology. His various degrees in the liberal arts have helped him craft narratives within corporate white papers, novellas and even encyclopedias.