[TriLUG] Re: voip

Ralph Blach rcblach at linserver1.raleigh.ibm.com
Thu Feb 19 11:47:49 EST 2004


Jon,

For right now I just want to run a sigle VOIP line, using my computers 
sound card.  I have a DSL line, 768 down, 128 up, and a +1 ghz computer 
with ata 133.  Woudl this be good enought for a simple install?

Chip
Jon Carnes wrote:
> On Thu, 2004-02-19 at 08:43, Ralph Blach wrote:
> 
>>Jon,
>>
>>I would really like to experiment with asterik.  Can asterik operate 
>>with just a sound card.  Are there any providers in the area who server 
>>chapel hill?
>>
>>thanks
>>
>>Chip
> 
> 
> Yes.  Asterisk is a complete PBX/VoiceMail/ACD server.  It can use any
> VoIP component without the addition of any special hardware - so it can
> use a SIP (or other protocol) connection to a Gateway provider like
> FeatureTel for it's trunking and can handle multiple VoIP phone
> connections (also via SIP).
> 
> With the addition of some hardware components, you can hook up ordinary
> trunks (POTs lines) or T1's to the server.  You can also add hardware
> that allows you to hook Analog telephones directly to the server - but
> why bother when the cost of VoIP phones is so cheap these days.
> 
> FeatureTel (as well as TWTC, Vonage, Packet 8, etc...) all service
> Chapel Hill.  For that matter, anyone in the world with a VoIP server
> can service Chapel Hill - its just that only those with a local gateway
> will have access to local telephone numbers.
> 
> In other words, if you get trunking (or phone service) from a provider
> in Washington DC, then your phone number will have the 212 area code and
> that will be your local dialing area.  So calling your neighbor in
> Chapel Hill will be long distance!  Still the cost of Long Distance is
> very small with most VoIP providers.
> 
> Don't be afraid to download, install, and play with Asterisk.  It's
> quite powerful.  Note though that Asterisk needs lots of CPU in order to
> function as a decent phone switch.  A 1Ghz box with lots of RAM and a
> SCSI HD could probably handle 5 phones, whereas a 2GHz box could
> probably handle 20 phones... It scales well, but does need CPU in order
> to function nicely under load.
> 
> The highest load, seems to be from VoiceMail/AutoAttendent activities;
> servicing these seems to need very fast CPU and a SCSI disk subsystem.
> The actual phone connections don't require very much processing power in
> order to sustain the connections.
> 
> Let me know if you have any other questions!
> 
> Jon Carnes
> 


-- 
Ralph "Chip" Blach
rcblach at us.ibm.com
rcblach at linserver1.raliegh.ibm.com
Linux Technology Center
Raleigh, NC 27514
outside 919-543-1207  tie 441-1207




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