virtual pbx

[bytes]

On second thought....some of you guys are making Asterisk sound like a piece of cake. So, maybe i will take another crack at it. I can install it, but GV, sip trucks is my issue...I have no real telecom experience.

I guess what it comes down to is do I want to pay for phone service or suck it up and build this box.

 

[SAG]

On second thought....some of you guys are making Asterisk sound like a piece of cake. So, maybe i will take another crack at it. I can install it, but GV, sip trucks is my issue...I have no real telecom experience.

I guess what it comes down to is do I want to pay for phone service or suck it up and build this box.

The installation is cake thanks to projects like PbxInAFlash and the like.
It's when there are problems that the cake turns into mud.

If you're wanting to play with a GV trunk, look into the IncredbilePBX project. Step-by-step instructions, or just download a pre-built VM.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

to jump into this convo....

does incredible and the likes support multiple lines? for instance I want 3 lines per store and one system to call into (the first question will be which store they want). currently I just run multiple obihai devices and run standard lines, but the pbx functionalities are slightly lacking as I want a que and auto attendant to help out when our call volume is extreme.

 

[SAG]

to jump into this convo....

does incredible and the likes support multiple lines? for instance I want 3 lines per store and one system to call into (the first question will be which store they want). currently I just run multiple obihai devices and run standard lines, but the pbx functionalities are slightly lacking as I want a que and auto attendant to help out when our call volume is extreme.

Of course it supports 3 lines, it's a full featured PBX.
I think FreePBX has supported what you are looking for since Day 1.

 

[drpcfix]

I second the reco for Incredible PBX - we use them in production all over the place.

They are only as good as your SIP trunk IMO - and for those of you stuck with analog lines, or want the analog quality - you can get an ATA PCI card for it like a sangoma a200 - works well.

Things to keep in mind;

1. Do not have the pbx face the internet, put it behind a NAT
2. Dont go for the cheapest sip provider, look for good testimonials from installers
3. Configure the internal backup thingy
4. Be sure to check out the super caller id addon thingy(built in extension), one of the lookup sources can be RepairShopr

People like all kinds of clients for the PBX, we like Polycom 320, aastra 6731, and never really found a softphone I could deal with compared to having a real phone on my desk.

 

[DocGreen]

This is a really great thread! I'm excited to try some of this stuff!

 

[krtechsolutions]

I run a pbx in a flash install for my ISP and resell voip to my end users, I have now started to sell outside my network as well. I love pbx in a flash it is great for what I am doing.

I also have sold many setups to local business using pbx in a flash, it just works, they down part is finding a setup/phones that will work for your client needs. I also sell them SIP trunks, I normally try to keep at least 1 copper line just in case the Internet goes down and also for fax as I am unable to get t.38 in my area, so doing faxing over a sip trunk and ulaw/g711 doesn't have a perfect science and doesn't work all the time.

If I just need 1 copper line I use a obi110 for my fxo port for my PaiF setups.

Just like SAG said if you need help just like me know, I like to teach and share. Also could provide you remote support if you need it as well.

 

[DocGreen]

I normally try to keep at least 1 copper line just in case the Internet goes down and also for fax...

That was my thinking as well... I read somewhere that fax machines don't play well with VoIP. Desktop fax is great and all... but there's something comforting about hearing the fax machine sing the song of it's people.

 

[Magic Miguel]

Just signed up for RingCentral for a single line for my home office. It can follow me at all times so if I'm not here it'l ring my cell phone. Currently I have a virtual number from my local telcom company that forwarded to my cell. Unfortunately where I live the cell service isn't the greatest so I often times have to ask clients to repeat themselves. I opted to just go with a VOIP line from RingCentral. So far so good. Their support is in the Phillipines though so no US based support, that's my only con, I wish their support was based out of the US.

 

[krtechsolutions]

Just signed up for RingCentral for a single line for my home office. It can follow me at all times so if I'm not here it'l ring my cell phone. Currently I have a virtual number from my local telcom company that forwarded to my cell. Unfortunately where I live the cell service isn't the greatest so I often times have to ask clients to repeat themselves. I opted to just go with a VOIP line from RingCentral. So far so good. Their support is in the Phillipines though so no US based support, that's my only con, I wish their support was based out of the US.

What does it cost you? Did you have to pay for your equipment? Did you have to buy a DID?

 

[bytes]

I have an old Dell XPS 400 with 3GB's. I am assuming this should be enough if dedicated?

 

[SAG]

I have an old Dell XPS 400 with 3GB's. I am assuming this should be enough if dedicated?

Way more than what can be defined as "enough", especially for a PBX toy (non-production).

 

[bytes]

Way more than what can be defined as "enough", especially for a PBX toy (non-production).

Alright thanks, hopefully I can get it working.

 

[minc3d]

My vote for Ringcentral all the way. I'm actually writing an article about how to leverage VOIP (using Ringcentral) for your own computer repair business.

It should be live on Technibble in a week or two.

RC has the best mix of pricing, features, and service of any of the big names.

 

[EmergencyCT]

About 7 years ago I deployed Trixbox (pre-Fonality) for a small business with about 10 extensions. At the time I knew NOTHING about VOIP systems or open source software for that matter, but was amazed with all the documentation available. To this day that same system is still up and running smoothly.

Over the years I have played with, used, or installed: RingCentral, Trixbox, PBX in a Flash, Elastix, FreePBX, and many others. Each having different advantages.

I used Ring Central when I first started out, and other then the bill I had no complaints. But wanting a free (or cheap) system for myself I opted to install FreePBX on an old Dell Optiplex.

FreePBX can be supper easy to install and setup. They have a downloadable distro complete with Linux that can be burned on a CD and ready to install just like any other program with no Linux coding. Once installed you might have to go into command line to update network settings, but everything else can be done through the GUI. FreePBX has all the bells & whistles anyone could ever need, plus it interfaces well with vTiger CRM.

If you're looking for a truly free system I would look a FreePBX. It seems 99% of anything you would need to do can be handled in the GUI, easy setup and very feature rich. Plus if you run into trouble there's plenty of help and documentation available!

 

[budsandbytes]

Self Hosting

If you want to play around with hosted asterisk, a good cheap way to do it is with a free-tier Amazon web services account. A micro instance can handle an impressive amount of traffic if you keep things clean. I've load tested them to 100 simultaneous calls without them skipping a beat.

The one lesson I learned the hard way though is to have several redundant voip providers. The callcentric downtime fiasco last year had me relying on only my backup provider for nearly a month, which also experienced issues intermittently. A good mix of providers and POTS lines hooked to ATA's seems to work wonders for my telecom costs.

Your mileage may vary, but I think the additional flexibility you can get from just editing the Asteisk .conf files is well worth staying away from the web configuration systems. The previous poster was correct when saying that the easy as cake turns to mud when there are problems. If you do have to throw in any hacks, they become downright unmanageable.

 

[DocGreen]

Installed PBX in a Flash (Purple) on an old Dell I had lying around... Also tried installing Incredible PBX, but I honestly don't even know if that worked or not, lol. At this point, I'm looking at the PIAF status program. I created a dedicated GV account to use for the DID... not sure how to configure it in PIAF though.

Anyone care to point me in the right direction? I'm not a complete Linux noob... I aced both classes I took on Linux, but that was a couple years ago, so I'm pretty rusty.

 

[krtechsolutions]

Start over download PiaF green once you have the base PaiF installed, install iPBX, if your will using this from remote end points (out of your office) install Travelin' Man 3. Once you have that done go to connectivity and look for google or motif add your google account there

I only recommend PiaF 2.0.6.3green because the developers recommend this version for business and production setups.

 

[DocGreen]

Well I've already gotten the purple install configured supposedly... we'll know for sure once I finish installing this softphone and make a test call.

I'll do a green install on another box (or VM) when I'm done with this so I can see what the differences are.

 

[SAG]

I run my business of a VM install of PIAF Purple... rock solid.

Doc, setting up a GV trunk takes all of about 15 seconds. Have a look at the Nerd Vittles article on it.