[Asterisk-Users] Re: Organization wide

[Jason Kawakami]

----- Original Message ----- 
> After our department went to using *, I've had several inquiries about
> doing VoIP for my entire organization (Small county). We have ~10
> locations with various links in between (Mostly p2p T1s, some Frame
> (1.544mbps commit), some ISDN, some VPN over 768kbit internet) Right now
> we're using several NEC Electra Elite systems, and 2 Nortel Meridian
> systems. In one of the main locations we have 29 POTS lines going into
> the NEC system. At another location we have a single PRI, and at a lot
> of the other locations we have just analog phones. Cisco has approached
> us about using all Cisco equipment, but their idea is going to be
> costly. Is it wise to use Asterisk on something this big? I am not a
> PBX/Voice guy, I just do IP up here right now. Any tips, pointers,
> design guides, or advice to give?

as with any wholescale deployment there is going to be a cost and risks
associated with doing this.  you will be required to scrap all of the
handsets you currently have in place and put some kind of ip telephone on
everyone's desk.  cisco phones would be a good option.  they work very well
with * and there are large quantities of them available on the 'grey' market
(read ebay et al) so the cost is pretty good.  Call Manager software isn't
too expensive especially now that they have put a CM feature set into IOS
and you can run it on a 2600 or above class router but * gives you
flexibility and scalability that NO other system will give, so it is really
unfair to compare it to CM or any other system for that matter.

my advice on a project like this would be to just go in with your eyes open.
Managing a pure VoIP network is different than the norm.  you have to think
about stuff like QoS etc.  (you may need to upgrade some of those old hubs
you have out in the maintenance facility right?).  remember that most people
look at the phone on their desk just like they look at the faucet in the
bathroom and when they turn it to the left they expect hot water to flow and
when they turn it to the right they expect cool water to flow and when it
doesn't they scream bloody murder.

if you are currently managing the * system your dept is using then you
probably have at least the basic skills required to do this.  just look at
this deployment like the one you have already done with more phones sitting
on it.  your environment (govt.=no money/heavy requirements) is a fantastic
use case for the rest of us.  if you deploy this, make sure you post to the
list your successes/pitfalls.  it will give us all a stronger leg to stand
on with our endevours.

alternatively, go into the wiki and look for outside help, there are a lot
of us out here trying to make a living doing this and we are all listed as
consultants in there.

Feel free to contact me off list for any more advice.  or to tell me to piss
off.

Jason Kawakami
www.optellabs.com