Dave,
Thanks for the advice.  

Regarding option 1 - why is the UPS required?  If messages where written to
a journal-ed file system, would a power failure negatively impact Asterisk? 

Desired configuration:
• one PC, one FXO card (or ATA device), no UPS.
• App and OS on read-only file-systems
• Greeting and incoming messages stored on a JFS file-system

Sequence
Event:          Asterisk is capturing an incoming message.  Message is
written to a JFS file-system
Next Event:     power drops half way through the message 
Next Event:     Power resumes
Next Event:     OS and App reload off read-only FS
Next Event:     Asterisks loads state information for answering machine off
JFS file-system. (Any issues?)
Next Event:     Remote user dials in and requests message playback.  Request
granted.  (Any issues?)

From: Dave Donovan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 5:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] Configuring an inexpensive answering machine

Brent,

I guess this hinges on what you mean by inexpensive, and how you want it to
handle power outages.  If you're willing to spend a couple hundred bucks,
then one of several Asterisk configurations would work.  

You could buy a cheap PC for $50, an FXO card for $30, a UPS for $70 and you
with a bit of work, you're in business.  That would only give you a short
amount (maybe 10 minutes) of runtime in a power outage.

You could get a WRT54GL, load Asterisk on it, and hook it up to an ATA and
that would use much less power.  You might do that for close to $200.

There are tonnes of other configs that can work.

As for non-asterisk solutions, you're looking at pretty basic features,
other than the long message length.  Still, I'm sure if you looked hard
enough you'd be able to find a consumer grade, solid state answering machine
to do what you want. 

Good luck.

Dave
On 6/6/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi.  I'm looking for advice on how to configure an inexpensive answering 
machine.

I would like a "turnkey" answering machine that can deliver a long greeting
(up to 20 minutes), capture messages for play back, and handle unexpected
power outages.  Remote greeting configuration and message play back is 
required.  Extensions are not needed.  The system will monitor one analog
phone line.

The ideal answering machine is inexpensive, low maintenance and unlikely to
make outbound calls (i.e. no dial-out.)

What's the best way to proceed?

Best Regards,
Brent


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