I would like to replace my office's ailing phone system with PBX in an Flash, and have some questions I'm having difficulty finding the answers to.
I've already installed and successfully tested PiaF, so I'm pretty comfortable with internal configuration. My issues are with external connectivity.
We are currently overpaying for two T1s from ATT, with far too many DIDs. I only need to keep a dozen numbers, and won't need to handle more than half a dozen simultaneous calls. I plan to order a new T1 so that I can set up our PiaF system in parallel with the current system.
I'm very familiar with Linux and networking in general, but I have little to no experience with telephony.
Non-PiaF questions:
- For the new line, do I need to request any features other than a "voice T1"? On data lines, it's often important to determine clock sync source, CRC4 framing, etc.
- What problems, if any, can I expect when transferring my phone numbers from old provider to new?
- What exactly is a PRI? Do I want a PRI circuit instead of a T1?
Hardware questions:
- I've installed PiaF on a Dell Dimension E520, and it seems to be working so far. Given my number of users (<20, <6 simultaneous calls) and my research on these forums and elsewhere, I believe this desktop should more than satisfy my needs. I see no posts on http://www.asteriskmotherboards.com/ or here regarding problems with this desktop. Please let me know if this is incorrect.
- On the strength of recommendations here, I have purchased a Sangoma A101D card. Is this the right card for my needs?
Configuration questions:
- What is the correct way to configure this card with PiaF? Should I follow the instructions at http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/sangoma-setup-script.299/#post-4331 or possibly http://www.asteriskmotherboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=87&sid=e8a4b1bb83c71d57f58ae46a0ddaf72f ? There is additional information here: http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/best-way-to-add-cards.685/
- Overall, I have found the PiaF documentation to be excellent. While there is a lot of extensive documentation on how to configure PiaF for use with a VoiP provider, I have been unable to find much information on setting up PiaF in my situation. Is there a comprehensive guide to setting up PiaF with a T1?
The Crazy Question
I also have an office in India with a couple of VOIP phones connected to our system. They have a direct line to our office, so the phones are effectively on our network. I would like to do this with PiaF as well.
- Can I do this? If so, do I need to configure anything to account for the latency from the States to India?
- Do I need to set up a second PiaF server for that office, or is routing from their phones into my network sufficient?
Whew! I just typed a novel! If you've made it this far, I look forward to your replies. If there are forum threads, wiki articles, FAQs, etc which answer any of my questions, and are still up-to-date, I will happily accept an "RTFM!" if you include a link.
I've already installed and successfully tested PiaF, so I'm pretty comfortable with internal configuration. My issues are with external connectivity.
We are currently overpaying for two T1s from ATT, with far too many DIDs. I only need to keep a dozen numbers, and won't need to handle more than half a dozen simultaneous calls. I plan to order a new T1 so that I can set up our PiaF system in parallel with the current system.
I'm very familiar with Linux and networking in general, but I have little to no experience with telephony.
Non-PiaF questions:
- For the new line, do I need to request any features other than a "voice T1"? On data lines, it's often important to determine clock sync source, CRC4 framing, etc.
- What problems, if any, can I expect when transferring my phone numbers from old provider to new?
- What exactly is a PRI? Do I want a PRI circuit instead of a T1?
Hardware questions:
- I've installed PiaF on a Dell Dimension E520, and it seems to be working so far. Given my number of users (<20, <6 simultaneous calls) and my research on these forums and elsewhere, I believe this desktop should more than satisfy my needs. I see no posts on http://www.asteriskmotherboards.com/ or here regarding problems with this desktop. Please let me know if this is incorrect.
- On the strength of recommendations here, I have purchased a Sangoma A101D card. Is this the right card for my needs?
Configuration questions:
- What is the correct way to configure this card with PiaF? Should I follow the instructions at http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/sangoma-setup-script.299/#post-4331 or possibly http://www.asteriskmotherboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=87&sid=e8a4b1bb83c71d57f58ae46a0ddaf72f ? There is additional information here: http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/best-way-to-add-cards.685/
- Overall, I have found the PiaF documentation to be excellent. While there is a lot of extensive documentation on how to configure PiaF for use with a VoiP provider, I have been unable to find much information on setting up PiaF in my situation. Is there a comprehensive guide to setting up PiaF with a T1?
The Crazy Question
I also have an office in India with a couple of VOIP phones connected to our system. They have a direct line to our office, so the phones are effectively on our network. I would like to do this with PiaF as well.
- Can I do this? If so, do I need to configure anything to account for the latency from the States to India?
- Do I need to set up a second PiaF server for that office, or is routing from their phones into my network sufficient?
Whew! I just typed a novel! If you've made it this far, I look forward to your replies. If there are forum threads, wiki articles, FAQs, etc which answer any of my questions, and are still up-to-date, I will happily accept an "RTFM!" if you include a link.
Last edited by a moderator:
Phone System 