Hi Y'all,
Coming back around to the Asterisk topic again.. Now that we're
looking at the possibility of expanding off-site operations, having a
completely-VoIP office telephony solution is seeming more and more
prudent. So I'm looking for some advice from folks who have deployed
whole-office systems using Asterisk (as well as input from folks that
have used non-Open-Source software). I've already thought of the
following points:
- Need a real butt-kicking server to handle as many as 24 inbound lines
(using a Digium TDM2400), plus however many inter-office calls may be
occurring (plus room for expansion). Right now I'm contemplating a Core
2 Extreme-based system.
- In the absence of intelligent managed switchgear, need separate
switchgear for 100bT for the phones. Possibly with PoE.
- Need to have all the features of our existing PBX. General
call-handling features are a cinch with * dialplan and applications, but
I'm finding, in particular, the "page" or "intercom" feature seems to be
more of a challenge in the VoIP world. Paging ability is essential.
- Phones need to be simple enough that our folks can use them, but
complex enough to handle things like paging. I've seen recommendations
for the Cisco 7960 set. Price is a consideration, as our initial
investment will be 30 phones.
I'm also all-ears for other options. It'd be fantastic in $boss's eyes,
I'm sure, if we didn't have to abandon the investment we've already made
in our current Nortel MICS system. Unfortunately, so far the only way
I've found to interface the PBX with an Asterisk system is via analog
adapters. Icky, because of course then you lose a lot of the PBX
features for the Asterisk users.
Also, if there's anyone that would like to come visit our facility,
evaluate our current system and our needs and make a quote, I'd be very
happy to entertain it.
Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
~Brian
--
----------------
Brian A. Henning
strutmasters.com
336.597.2397x238
----------------
--
TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
TriLUG Organizational FAQ : http://trilug.org/faq/
TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/
