asterix?

jayo2004

Hi I have just noticed a lot of ye guys are using asterix.
Just wondering
1.What hardware is required for a very small office maybe 4 to 5 phones.
2.What spec of a PC is required to run it.
3.Do I need to sign up to a service or can I use my eircom 2mb broadband?

fonetek

If you're setting up an Office PBX you're better to use a Server such as a Dell SC440 costing about 300 Euro (plus VAT) with no Operating System but you don't need an OS since Asterisk will install Linux and will wipe out any OS that's already there.
You can instal Cards to connect to PSTN and ISDN Lines or just use your Broadband Connection.Consider contacting Magnet Broadband for your VoIP Lines or use Eircom Broadband and Blueface but try to check the Quality of Service of your VoIP before you sign up.Blueface will allow you some Credit to make some calls to check out their Service.
What Distro of Asterisk had you in mind?
There are so many out there.
Build your Server and try it with just 2 Phones.Make sure it does all you want it to do.It probably will,unless you're using a Key Telephone System now,in which case the migration can be painful.What Phones had you in mind?

jayo2004

Dell SC440 costing about 300 Euro (plus VAT) with no Operating System

I didnt know you could buy dell without an Operating System??

You can instal Cards to connect to PSTN and ISDN Lines or just use your Broadband Connection

Sorry for newbie questions but what cards would I need?

What Distro of Asterisk had you in mind?

Haven't a clue what do you recommend. Bare in mind its only for maybe 4 to 5 phones so I can put people on hold and forward to another phone?

or use Eircom Broadband and Blueface

So I have to use a VOIP provider too?

unless you're using a Key Telephone System now

TBH dont know what that is I have only one phone with one phone line??


This is new to me have not heard of asterix until today. What happens if your broadband goes down does your phones go aswell?

rmacm

jayo2004 wrote: »

I didnt know you could buy dell without an Operating System??

Yes you can indeed buy servers with no OS on them off Dell.

jayo2004 wrote: »

Sorry for newbie questions but what cards would I need?

It depends on what you want to do. If you plan on having your Asterisk box terminate ISDN or POTS lines then you'll need to buy add on hardware cards that will terminate these connections.

http://www.digium.com/en/products/analog/tdm410.php something like this would be used for terminating POTS lines.

jayo2004 wrote: »

So I have to use a VOIP provider too?

Yes if you want to use a VoIP service then you'll need a VoIP provider e.g. Blueface.

jayo2004 wrote: »

What happens if your broadband goes down does your phones go aswell?

If you're relying on VoIP for your phone service and you lose IP connectivity i.e. broadband then yes your phones will go down too.

johnnyasterisk

Some Asterisk Options:

1) Raw Asterisk - No GUI

2) Trixbox - Easy to use GUI with reporting features (Open Source)

3) Asterisk NOW - Easy to use GUI

4) PBXware - The first ever asterisk GUI (IMO - The best, we actually use it in our call centre)

Options 3/4/5 all have iso version that will instal the OS also.

Option 1 you will need to install your own OS first....

Suggest if you are new to linux installing centos and following this HOW TO

jayo2004

If I wanted to install Asterisk for testing and just use a simple setup using POTS what exactly would I need. No VOIP just regular phone...

wexfordman

If you want to use a POTS telephone, you would need an ATA, but if you are just playing around and testing it, just use a softfone like x-lite on a pc to get it working, and using a voip provider for your trunks.

If you want to put analog trunks on to the system, then you will need a gateway. This can be an internal card on your pc, or an external device like a grandstream gxw4004 which will give you 4 trunks for example.

I used a version of freepbx eventually (tried asterisknow but went to freepbx in the end).
Wexfordman