PIAF Confusion

[PhoneBug]

Hi Guys:

I’ve been a long time user of PIAF though I have not been involved in the last 2 years. My PBX has been running very stable which is a testament to PIAF! I would now like to upgrade PIAF to the latest supported PIAF Version. I also know that Asterisk 1.4 has reached it’s End of Life.

My Current PBX is listed as:
Status Version 1.2.9 released on Date 042310
CentOS release 5.4 (Final) :32 Bit Kernel: 2.6.18-164.15.1.el5

Running Asterisk Version : Asterisk 1.4.21.2
Asterisk Source Version : 1.4.21.2
Zaptel Source Version : 1.4.12.1
Libpri Source Version : 1.4.7
Addons Source Version : 1.4.7

Since I’ve been gone for awhile, I have a couple of questions:

1. What is the current website for the latest information?
   The following websites all appear to be different:
   pbxinaflash.net / pbxinaflash.com – Slightly Different?
   pbxinaflash.org - Outdated?
   nerdvittles.com – Blog relating to PIAF and other developments
   
   
2. What is the Incredible PBX and how does it relate to PBX in a Flash?
   Is this just "Scripts" added to a PIAF System or something more? When I go to incrediblepbx.com and click downloads, it takes me to the regular PIAF Download?
   
   
3. Where can I get additional scripts?
   pbxinaflash-scripts.com – Domain Expired?
   pbxinaflash.org - Outdated?
   bestof.nerdvittles.com/scripts/ - Outdated?
   
   
4. Of the PIAF Versions, what is recommended for a production server?
   Should I wait for PIAF 2 to leave beta and use that?
   
   
5. 32Bit or 64Bit Versions?
   I notice on my test machine, it says Asterisk is 32bit software and may have problems when installing on a 64bit version.
   
   
6. Is it worth the hassle of setting PIAF up in a Virtual Box environment in a production environment?
   Especially if I have PCI Telephony hardware? Am I just asking for trouble?

Thanks guys! I appreciate your help and clarifications. I’m just a little confused on how things are organized now with the different versions.

Scott

 

[wardmundy]

Not an easy way to catch you up on 2 years worth of developments. For openers, you might want to read the most recent dozen articles on Nerd Vittles. I think you'll find answers to all of your questions except whether to wait on the new CentOS 6 releases. There are betas available now, and the full versions should be available before the end of this year. Unless you're using bleeding edge hardware, CentOS 6 shouldn't make that much of a difference. Digium & Friends don't support 64-bit releases so I'd steer clear of those if you contemplate using add-on hardware.

 

[darmock]

1. In process of a redo also piaf-scripts.com is shutdown. Just use the .org site instead.
3. All additional programs are included in the current vintage of PIAF 175X and 206X (There are more coming for 206X)

6. Use real hardware.

You are using an early version of status I am afraid and the version and date does NOT relate to PIAF rather it relates to the VERSION of status. One of the reasons on modern installs we have removed these things is to avoid confusion.

Also under PIAF 206X any version of asterisk prior to 1.8 is NOT supported nor will you be able to install it from the 206X iso. If you want earlier then use PIAF 17571 ISO. Earlier versions of the ISO should NOT be used as certain asterisk versions just wont install from these disks anymore.

The only difference between the beta and final release iso for PIAF 206X is the SIZE of the ISO. So if you install using the beta ISO is there any difference between it and the final in actual fact? NO!


We have dropped support of earlier versions of Asterisk prior to 1.8 as Digium no longer does any active development except for security patches (until april 2012) on the 1.4 and 1.6 tree.

Also all of the PIAF Dev Team's resources will be going to improve the 206X version of PIAF so you decide which would be best for you.

Because people sometimes are touchy 175X will be around for a while!

Tom

 

[blanchae]

Virtual machines and legacy hardware doesn't work well together without a lot of hair pulling.

 

[dghundt]

Because people sometimes are touchy 175X will be around for a while!

Tom

Thanks for keeping the old stuff around.

 

[PhoneBug]

Thank you guys! I'm going to spend some time going through the last blog posts.

If I'm a little confused, I'm sure some even newer newbies would be even more confused.

 

[darmock]

pbxinaflash.org is now updated with all current stuff.


Tom

 

[cjkeeme]

I too have been away for some time now and I'm getting caught up. I'm running PBXIAF 1.4 and have no plans on touching that install. It just runs.

I am setting up a new install right now and I'm deciding on using 1.7.5.7.1 or 2.0.6.0.1.

From this comment:

The only difference between the beta and final release iso for PIAF 206X is the SIZE of the ISO. So if you install using the beta ISO is there any difference between it and the final in actual fact? NO!

My thought is to go with 2.0.6.0.1 as it seems the only reason it is 'Beta' is that the ISO has not been optimized to be smaller. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[darmock]

Yes you are. There have been a few updates to centos which need to be rolled into the final release of the ISO and of course it is smaller. Beyond that there are no significant differences between beta and final.

Also 175x will be shifted to maintenance status as soon as 206X is released.

Tom

 

[PhoneBug]

Incredible PBX Compatibility

Is the 206X version compatible with all of the Incredible PBX scripts? I thought I read somewhere that this was not the case?

 

[wardmundy]

PIAF 2 will have its own Incredible PBX version (2.9), and it will be available tomorrow.