[asterisk-users] Realtime: Should I say or should I go (now) ?

[Terry Wilson]

> I'm working on a 500 seats Asterisk project.
> I'm wondering whether or not I should consider using Asterisk  
> Realtime and a database to manage phones registrations.

As far as stability goes, I've had no problem with realtime.  In fact  
I've run a nationwide VoIP provider with asterisk using realtime.  The  
main consideration I would make for using/not using it is how dynamic  
the system is.  If you have 500 seats that aren't likely to change and  
aren't designing an interface to actually manage those users, then go  
static.  Less complexity, less chance for failure (you don't have to  
worry about db servers, etc.).  On the other hand, if it is for a  
situation where you are constantly adding phones, changing caller-ids,  
swapping phones and their extensions, etc.  Realtime is the only way  
to go.

And a free hint: if you are going to have to do anything that  
resembles number porting, swapping extensions, etc.--don't use  
extensions/phone numbers as SIP usernames.  You have to regenerate  
config files, etc.  Make your SIP usernames meaningless and use  
func_odbc to look up what extension is tied to which device.

Terry