[asterisk-biz] Grandstream GXP-2000, Asterisk 1.2.13 stability problems

[Steve Davies]

The only time I have seen such odd behaviour was when I had
(experimentally) built some applications with MMX enabled. This caused
some real trouble with both the compiled application, and with other
un-related applications on the box. This only caused a problem on VIA
and AMD chips.

A perhaps related problem, but in this case not with Asterisk was that
the newest FC5 kernel seemed to suffer from some odd issues (I seem to
remember IP packets going missing and such like) It prevented SSH
working properly, and downgrading the kernel one notch fixed it.

I am using FC6 and asterisk 1.2.14 very nicely here.

Cheers,
Steve

On 1/26/07, Bart Fisher <bhfisher at icpage.com> wrote:
> I do not believe the phones or configuration could cause any of the
> problems you describe.  My best guess
> would be the server.  You don't describe the server much, but I would
> look at the hardware. First, remove or delete
> from CMOS all ports and unnecessary parts such as COM, LPT,  USB ports
> and etc.  Make sure there is no IRQ sharing
> or conflicts.  Try disabling/enabling Hyper-Threading. Swap-out any
> plug-in cards with a different one such as NIC, VGA and memory. If
> none of this helps, I'd try a different server
>
> Bart
>
> chadd at codemunchers.com wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> >
> >
> > I was directed to this mailing list by a good friend of mine in our local LUG. I
> >
> > am going to try and provide as much information as possible and a full problem
> >
> > description. If you have had any problems similar to what I have here I would
> >
> > appreciate any feedback you can provide.
> >
> >
> >
> > About a month ago we did an installation of an asterisk server in a small office
> >
> > building. We deployed 8 Grandstream GXP-2000 phones, with firmware version
> >
> > 1.1.1.14. The phones have been configured to get addresses from the local DHCP
> >
> > server. The phones are configured to use the ulaw codec.
> >
> >
> >
> > The asterisk server is an AMD Athlon 3.2 Ghz machine with 1GB of system memory,
> >
> > running Fedora Core 5 and asterisk 1.2.13. I did not install libpri or zaptel
> >
> > drivers. Just compiled asterisk from source and installed.
> >
> >
> >
> > The phones connect to a D-Link DSS-16+ rack mounted switch. The asterisk server
> >
> > also plugs into the switch along with a Westel 611C modem provided by Verizon.
> >
> >
> >
> > The internet connection is a Verizon DSL line, with 3 Mb down and 768 Kbps
> >
> > upstream. The PC's use a seperate modem to get onto the internet through a
> >
> > differant DSL line. We are not using a spliiter, we have two seperate lines
> >
> > coming in from the street.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here are links to all the pertinant config files. If you require differant files
> >
> > please let me know, I am more than happy to upload them.
> >
> >
> >
> > http://codemunchers.com/PUB/JCA/features.conf
> >
> > http://codemunchers.com/PUB/JCA/sip.conf
> >
> > http://codemunchers.com/PUB/JCA/voicemail.conf
> >
> > http://codemunchers.com/PUB/JCA/extensions.conf
> >
> > http://codemunchers.com/PUB/JCA/iax.conf
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Now for the fun part, the list of problems. Again, any help would be welcome
> >
> > =============================================
> >
> >
> >
> > -A fairly common problem is calls get dropped completely when the duration
> >
> > reaches about 10 - 15 minutes. Calls do not always get dropped, kind of a random
> >
> > thing.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Time lag on calls, sometimes takes up to a second for my voice to go from my
> >
> > cell phone to the phone in the office.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Once in awhile a customer will be unable to hear us, but we can hear them clear
> >
> > as day.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Choppiness, sounds like caller is underwater.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Yesterday I got a call that the Welcome menu mysteriousely started playing
> >
> > during a conference call. In extensions.conf the main menu is located in the
> >
> > context incoming-main.
> >
> >
> >
> > ========================================================
> >
> >
> >
> > We found that restarting the asterisk server sometimes temporarily fixes some
> >
> > issues. But I am still new at using asterisk, I have been using the GNU/Linux
> >
> > operating system for years now, so don't be afraid to ask some technical
> >
> > questions if they will assist you in helping me.
> >
> > If there is any additional information you need please feel free to ask. Any
> >
> > insight, war stories, best practices you can send my way are more than welcome. I
> >
> > have a few ideas I would like to try, but I am not sure if they would do any good.
> >
> > here are a few ideas I have had so far;
> >
> > -Install a second NIC in the asterisk server, connectiong the modem directly to
> >
> > that interface. Then connecting the other interface to the switch that connects
> >
> > all the phones. Currently, asterisk has to go through the switch to get to the
> >
> > internet.
> >
> > -Assign static addresses to the phones, was thinking this would help with routing?
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Also, if you can point me in the direction of a good troubleshooting guide that
> >
> > would be additionally helpful.
> >