[Asterisk-Users] Re: Are there online forums instead of, this email

[Tore Hansen]

Having read a number of mailing list memos on this subject, there is 
much to be said for having a proper support forum BBS, rather than 
getting an awkward long memo with a string of messages every 3 to 5 hours.

Some of the advantages of a proper support forum BBS are:

  1. Support for message threads - replies to messages are shown right 
below the original message.

2. Support for subject matter sub forums - different message categories 
can be established.

3. Built in search engine - messages relevant to the problem you are 
working on can easily be located.

4. Moderated forums - postings and discussions can easily be supervised. 
Trouble makers can be banned from posting.


I have been involved in supporting another Linux based product for more 
than a year now via a proper web based support BBS setup, and it is a 
far superior approach to the Asterisk mailing list dump that this memo 
will end up in. Take a good look at:

http://www.astaro.org

This is the support BBS for Astaro Security Linux, a hardened Linux 
firewall distribution that delivers around 80% of the features of 
CheckPoint Software's Firewall-1, but at 20% of the cost. And they give 
away free licenses for non-commercial home use. Their support BBS 
currently has more than 9000 registered users.

It would do Digium well to establish a similar BBS, since it would 
dramatically ease the support issues for the membership. Running a web 
based BBS forum is not particularly load intensive, even if it ends up 
having many thousands of registered users.

Since Asterisk is here to stay, why not get serious about the support, 
and do it right?


Tore Hansen
Calgary, Alberta
Canada