Re: [MLUG] Asterisk continued

[Shawn Parker <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

My Asterisk saga is now unfolding into a bit of a drama.  I got a call 
back from Integrated Solutions about ordering Cisco 7905G IP phones and 
they told me that they can't sell me just the phones.  I needed to have 
a Cisco phone system in place and Cisco hardware, like L3 switches.

Everyone I've talked to on the Asterisk mailing list says that is utter 
crap.  I agree, I think ISG is just pissed because I said I was going 
with an Open-Source solutions that obviously will undercut their 
business.  I can see the point of wanting a nice, L3 switch in place for 
the pure fact of better networking.  But, it's not "needed" to make the 
phones work.  Especially since I will be using SIP.

I talked to one guy using Cisco 7960 IP phones and an old Netgear fast 
ethernet switch and reported no problems with that set up.

It disappoints me to be haggled by someone I was nice enough to consider 
for business.

I still think we're moving forward with the Asterisk solution, I just 
don't know what to do phone wise now.

The basic gist of the call was that if my "ethernet isn't exactly to 
spec..." the phones will absolutely not work.  That is nearly verbatim 
what the Integrates Solutions Group rep and "tech" guy told me.  Then, 
they proceeded to offer me a Cisco phone system and a switch or router 
to "make" it work.

I'll see what happens, and report back when I have more info.

Cheers,

Russell Horn wrote:

>I've put a bit more work into this. Yesterday I added two FXO cards that
>cost me about $25 each - that's a Foreign Exchange Office which connects my
>asterisk box to two standard phone lines. I can now route calls at will. The
>asterisk box can spot if I am dialling the USA and route calls there through
>Broadvoice VOIP and if I'm dialling locally route them through the PSTN.
>
>Incoming calls can be moved between extensions and voicemail works.
>
>The configuration system is quite messy, but I think they are working on
>that. It has a system for passing call information to another program so you
>can run compiled C programs or even call a PHP script on the basis of
>telephone input.
>
>All in all, this is a neat system. For a few hundred quid of hardware you
>could easily have a PBX that would cost thousands from a big name vendor. Of
>course what you don't get is the support line and technicians. That,
>however, was where I was pointing in my initial thread. If someone wanted to
>make money through Linux, this has to be an opportunity. You can provide
>better, more flexible systems than almost any other vendor, and undercut
>them on cost every time because you have no licensing fees.
>
>On the other hand, you could just set things up at home so you have the
>geekiest house in MO. Is the university covered by Wi-Fi? If there was a way
>to get the phones to log in, you could even get a Wi-Fi phone and have an
>extension of your home PBX in your pocket anywhere on campus!
>
>Asterisk is definitely one to watch...
>
>Russell.
>
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>


-- 
Shawn Parker
Network Administrator
Cumulus Broadcasting, LLC.
Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri
1.573.449.4141
EMAIL:PROTECTED


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