[Asterisk-Users] Hardware to build an Enterprise AsteriskUniversal Gateway

[Rich Adamson]

> Andrew Kohlsmith wrote:
> >>I would set the "Enterprise Class" bar at five 9's reliability
> >>(about 5.25 minutes per year of down time) the same
> >>as a Class 4/5 phone switch. This would require redundant
> >>design considerations in both hardware and software.
> > 
> 
> To turn around, let's discuss what we need to focus on to get
> Asterisk there:
> 
> Here's a few bullet points, there's certainly a lot more
> * Linux platform stability - how?
> ** Special demands when using Zaptel cards
> * Redundancy architecture
> * Development/stable release scheme
> 
> Then we have some channel demands, like
> * Better support for SRV records in the SIP channel
> 
> More?

Better sip phone support for primary/secondary proxy (and failover)
 (note: some phones don't support a second proxy at all; some say they
  do, but fail at it.)

Maybe some sort of HSRP (hot spare standby protocol, or whatever)

Some form of dynamic config sharing between pri/sec systems

Won't mention external pstn line failover as that's sort of a separate
  topic, or loss of calls in flight, etc.

I'd guess part of the five-9's discussion centers around how automated
must one be to be able to actually get close?  If one assumes the loss
of a SIMM the answer/effort certainly is different then assuming the 
loss of a single interface card (when multiples exist), etc.

I would doubt that anyone reading this list actually have a justifiable
business requirement for five-9's given the expontential cost/effort
involved to get there. But, setting some sort of reasonable goal
that would focus towards failover within xx number of seconds (and
maybe some other conditions) seems very practical.