[Asterisk-Users] New to asterisk? RUN... don't walk.

[Peter Kao]

Well said.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "SW" <sathyaw at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Asterisk-Users at Lists. Digium. Com" <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 2:13 PM
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] New to asterisk? RUN... don't walk.


> Hello,
>
> I am not a veteran here, but would like to share my thoughts on this
> subject.
>
> True, * is opensource and freely available, but it is not a computer
program
> that you download and run. It is a very versatile telecommunication
product
> you would otherwise pay at least 100 K to buy from a telecom vendor, if
not
> more based on modules and usage, license hash-codes etc.
>
> Even to try * one would need some pre requisite knowledge in telecom, if
not
> many years in the field. I work for a large telecom company and my
specialty
> is voice over broadband (or xDSL). I worked with asterisk for couple of
> months now and I am amazed to see areas of telecom that * touch upon with.
> Starting from Linux, to SIP, H323, DSL technologies (PPP, PPPoE, PPPoA,
> DHCP, NAT), Call routing(Dial Plan), IVR, Transcoding, STUN are few areas
> that one would have to master even thinking about *.
>
> True one would know the syntax, and howtos etc, but also would have to
have
> the ability to troubleshoot. For last two-three months in this list, I
have
> not seen any newbi posting a sip trace (from a ethereal or a TCP dump) and
> asking a question about it. I have seen many question for instance, asking
> syntax of h.323 dial, but never seen a question asked on a h323 trace.
>
> I think, having * openly available is like keeping an airplane openly
> available in a airfield, so that anybody can try flying. Tell me how many
of
> us would go try and fly that airplane if we do not know how to fly :)
>
> Point that I want to make here is simple, please try to understand what *
is
> all about. If you like it's features and would like it to run in a
> production environment try to get some professional help. If you are
> learning these technologies for fun then get educated, use tools available
> to troubleshoot. Hooking up couple of phones and making a call is far from
> knowing *.
>
> Asterisk is a great product (thanks Mark and many others) and if you know
> what you are doing, you can do wonders with it. Don't put it down, because
> you do not have the background to understand it or work with it.
>
> Cheers
>
> SW
>
>
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 12:37:24 -0800 (PST)
> From: Me <two_shoes_2002 at yahoo.com>
> To: Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> Subject: [Asterisk-Users] New to asterisk?  RUN... don't walk.
> Reply-To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
>
> As a newcomer to Asterisk, you will not be welcomed
> with open arms.  First, you will find almost no
> documentation on it's features.  Second, if you try to
> ask questions, you will be flamed and pointed to
> worthless how-tos and 'the wiki'.  These worthless
> documents can only be useful for explaining how things
> work to those already in-the-know.  Lastly, Asterisk
> is so bug ridden, expect frequent segmentation faults.
>  With a community so 'anti-n00b', don't expect your
> problems to be fixed anytime soon.
>
> RUN!!! Don't walk... away from Aterisk.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
>