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Q: What do we need the telco's for? ( No Answer,   5 Comments )
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Subject: What do we need the telco's for?
Category: Computers > Internet
Asked by: projmgrdude-ga
List Price: $150.00
Posted: 25 Mar 2006 23:41 PST
Expires: 25 Apr 2006 00:41 PDT
Question ID: 712007
If you had:

a) a dry/hard line (ISDN?, fractioned T1's?) from your local telco
(less than $50/mo?) with 1-800 phone number termination
b) a moderate server box (fast workstation) with hardware to connect to telco
c) linux software to setup LDAP security and domain management
d) client applications to answer/route incoming calls

Then you should be able to:

1) Provide a central 1-800 call-in number and route calls via ext. (or
even use DID to route calls) using PBX *software* as opposed to
hardware (search Asterix Linux)
   * using LDAP to route to OBJECT "John Doe"'s vMail box, cell phone,
VoIP or IM connection
   * providing rollover for calls so the 1-800 is open for more calls
   * detect fax calls and route accordingly (even save to image file
for emailing/storage - see faximum link in "starting points" below)
2) Provide access to highspeed internet access for LAN through 2nd eth
interface (firewalled of course)
3) Web server, mail server

Leading me to my question <grin>

What would be the hardware and software requirements to setup a linux
based server to use a raw (dry, hard, ISDN, T1 - whatever) line to
access the fibre backbone and connect to SIP or other VOIP gateways? 
(Presumably the answer will likely point to server/client software to
handle the rest of the requirements noted above)

This might be too in-depth for one question, but my hopes are that
there is already a project or product in place for such an animal. 
Otherwise, I'll take general summarization and a point in the right
direction for a roadmap to installation/integration.  (is it me, or
did that sound like haiku?)

**Specifics**
Obviously reliability is of importance, hence the need for linux -
server hardware is not a concern (excepting telco interface equipment)
Cost is another factor (as always) and I'd like to stick to as much
open public GNU software and free/small fee services as possible

**Starting points are**
http://community.inin.com/  AND 
http://www.inin.com/products/communite/communite.asp
** above taken from http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=381488
Linux distros: sipX, Asterix, ASTLinux
fax messaging system: http://www.faximum.com/fms/monograph/
fax DID (Direct Inward Dialing):
http://www.hylafax.org/archive/1998-04/msg00133.html
VoIP stuff: http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/DID
This may be the closest thing to what I'm talking about here:
http://www.vera-tel.com/index.html
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: What do we need the telco's for?
From: probonopublico-ga on 25 Mar 2006 23:46 PST
 
It's not that easy!

Telcos provide and maintain the switches. the lines and the DSL stuff.
They also have some very sophisticated fault detection equipment and
an army of engineers in the field.
Subject: Re: What do we need the telco's for?
From: projmgrdude-ga on 29 Mar 2006 21:15 PST
 
Ah, but reselling their service and charging the end-user less than
they do gives you market advantage and you're still using their
switches, lines, and army of engineers.

I think the point is missed here though - it *is* possible with
existing technology.  The question is, how do we integrate it?
Subject: Re: What do we need the telco's for?
From: tivoslave2-ga on 15 Apr 2006 10:36 PDT
 
The PhoneGnome looks like it does integrate the two.  PSTN reliability
with the power of the net. Too good to be true?
Subject: Answer
From: drew_knows-ga on 22 Apr 2006 22:52 PDT
 
Software and Hardware requirements for PBX server
http://drew.bisson.googlepages.com/Answer712007.doc

I think for the most part you already have your answer.
But let me help fill in the holes:

Note:  I know you are specifically asking about Linux, so I'll start there.
At the end of this I will also share some information about a Windows
Server based equivalent to Asterix (if you would rather spend "some"
money and be guarenteed to set it up and have in working in 2 hours,
as opposed to writing it all yourself to make each piece work together
which could/would take serious time... especially to work all the bugs
out.  If this is a commercial venture, Asterix may not be the best way
to go...  I'll present all the info and leave it to you to decide.
Subject: Answer clarification?
From: drew_knows-ga on 22 Apr 2006 22:53 PDT
 
Let me know if you have any more specific questions about anything
I've mentioned in that .doc file.

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