[asterisk-users] Looking for starting point?

[jacobso1]

hi,

hi, i did wrote (assembler) programs for cp/m!

if your experience is more on telephony', i think you will find trixbox
easier. in one cd you will have a ready system.
if your hardware is fully recognized, great !
do not use a too old machine nor a too new one.
mind that the install will erase your hd. so buy a new cd if you would want to
go back to windows.

a 'normal' distribution will allow for dual-boot (not trixbox).
mandrake, suse, fedora, red-hat & centeos are good candidate.
(k)ubuntu, debian, ... are also nice one
but then you would have to download, compile, setup all.

this could be harder to learn. but you learn a deeper way

maybe go to a linux group in your neighborhood most people there are happy to
welcome a newbie. buy some books about linux and stick with one distribution
(you can change later)

my 2c from a young chap of nearly 48

t. jacobson

---------- Initial header -----------

>From      : asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
To          : asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
CC          : 
Date      : Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:05:15 -0500
Subject : [asterisk-users] Looking for starting point?

> Hi,
> 
> I am a retired telephone tech/manager who recently had a bad experience with
a local company offering digital phone service (VoIP). I have spent the last
thirty years in the PSTN network, switching, PBX and key system field and am
interested in learning more about VoIP. My background also includes
programming, mostly specialized applications to interact with the PSTN
network. Most of my experience in this field have been with Borland products,
specifically Delphi. I also have been involved with database programming, same
platform as the communications.
> 
> My computer experience started with the operating system CPM (I'm not really
that old, only 56). The best platform now seems to be Linux so now since I am
retired now, it seems a good time to learn something new. I also have been
looking at Asterisk which most companies seem to be using for a PBX platform.
I found out by accident that the local company I had the problem with uses
this PBX software.
> 
> Could someone steer me in the right direction as to where to start? I spent
most of my career in the telephone industry in a 'bush' area of Alaska so
pretty much had to teach myself what I needed to know about computers but I
can learn almost anything from a book and by asking questions when I get
stuck. Most of my experience was before the Internet so I plan on using this
avenue to advance my knowledge. 
> 
> I understand what a broad scope I am asking about so would appreciate any
tips to help me get started. Since there are many 'brands' of Linux what is
the best one to start with? Which Linux will be better when I get to the point
of working with Asterisk? Any tips or ideas on books, online tutors,
discussions or anything of this nature would be much appreciated.
> 
> I hope to add to this group if I can be any assistance from the 'other
side', the PSTN network.
> 
> Thank You,
> 
> Gary H. Thompson
> 
> 
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