[Asterisk-Users] Asterisk hardware for new office suggestion

[Tim Panton]

On 14 Apr 2006, at 11:29, Simone wrote:

> Hi list,
> I am in the process of setting up Asterisk for a new office and  
> since this is going to be my first "real" installation I'd  
> appreciate some advice on the hardware from the real world. We will  
> have 8 channels (still not sure if 4xISDN2 or ISDN30 8 channels,  
> but I will definitely go for a Digium card with echo hw  
> cancelation) and a DSL 2mbit line (QoS on the switch and  
> firewall?), to be configured for both traditional and VoIP usage .  
> I was looking at the Xorcom TS-1 server and I was wondering if you  
> would recommend it for a 30 employees office or if you'd rather  
> build it on a "normal" server (would a double PIII 1Ghz be enough),  
> and also if you could give a suggestion on the phones (we will get  
> an HP Gbit switch PoE).
> Thanks, any hint really appreciated
>
> Simone

I can only base my advice on what we have done for a smaller office.

If you want 8 lines it is probably as cheap to go for ISDN 30 as for  
4xBRI
at least it is here in the UK.

We have a single span E1 card from digium without echo can in a small  
1U rack mounted server
(spec: 1Ghz Via processor and  512Mb ram). The Via might be a bit  
underpowered for 30 users, but
unless you are transcoding, virtually any modern processor would be  
fine for 8 lines.

You need to look out on the DSL line if it is ADSL, since they have  
low upstream bandwidth.
Heavy outgoing mail messages (eg attachments sent to distribution  
lists) can easily fill the outgoing
(256kbit/s) pipe degrading the voice quality.

I'm very fond of the SNOM phones - elmeg are selling the old SNOM 190  
model
which is a decent office phone. For 30 you should be able to get them  
for less than £70 each.
I've got 6 - 4 SNOMs and 2 elmegs - No problems with any
of them, but they don't support PoE, so you may want to look at other  
models.

Don't underestimate how much training/doc you will need to provide to  
get people going on the new system.
They may have been using the old one for years and written little  
cribsheets about how to transfer etc.



Tim Panton
tim at mexuar.com