[Asterisk-Users] RE: Call recorder based on *

[Jason Kawakami]

-----Original Message-----
<snip>
Based on the fact that the call center switch is connected to the PSTN with
2 E1s, and
only external incoming/outgoing calls are subject of recording, I thought
the Asterisk
could be a solution, in the following way:
- I set up an Asterisk-based switch with a TE405P, with its two ports
connected to the
call center telephone system and the other two to the telco company, 
- arrange the Asterisk to be a tandem switch, simply routing calls to/from
the call center
from/to PSTN,
- and this way have all calls going through the Asterisk available for
recording, through
its recording/monitoring features.

-Easy.  Done it for several clients.  With the CDR_ODBC/MYSQL/... you can
easily build an app that uses the CDR records as a backend for searching and
retrieval.  The magic isn't in the recording, but rather in finding the file
you need.
This setup is really good for a call logger where every call is being
recorded with out intervention from a human.  If you want to do something
flashier it would require a more sophisticated app. 

<snip>
my general question is whether the whole idea is worth considering and
starting more advanced work (means: investing time and money in the Digium
hardware)? 
What PC hardaware should be considered?

-with call recorders that are approximately 1500-2000 USD per port available
on the market, this application is one that I have used * extensively for my
clients.  Some advantages that you lose is the integration with the host PBX
(a lot of the better call loggers integrate with the PBXs at some level to
give recording of extension->extension calling as well as extension
origination on the PBX).  With * as a tandem, the setup is pretty simple.
As with any * implementation, buy as much hardware as the budget allows.  I
wouldn't do this in production without a hefty machine (p4+, lots of RAM,
obviously lots of HD space, and some kind of removable media i.e. DVD-Ram
for external archiving).