Asterisk 1st review

DarKnesS_WolF's picture
Submitted by DarKnesS_WolF on Sat, 11/11/2006 - 6:57pm.
::
URL: 
http://www.asterisk.org
Screenshot: 
442.png
version: 
1.2.x
What is different about this package: 
  1. There is another alternatives, like openSER which works only as a SIP server , no IAX supports as far as i know and not a PBX.
  2. There is also openPBX which is a fork of Asterisk due to some license issue related to that Asterisk is a dual license " GPL, Digium License] AFAIK, but i didn't give both a real try and time.
Why I like this package: 

it's a full package, very computable with each application within.

pros: 
  1. Free/Open source.
  2. Supports many VOIP protocols.
  3. Very powerful PBX.
  4. Cheap since it's Free as free of charge.
  5. Can work as a FAX machine with fax/voice detection, Fax to mail Gateway.
  6. Video and text chat.
  7. Audio Conferencing.
  8. Voicemail , and can be attached to the email.
  9. much more.
Conclusion: 

Give it a try or u can get Asterisk@home " TrixBox " and give it a try..

cons: 
  1. Not easy to configure.
  2. Most of GUIs dose not support all the configurations configurations.
  3. AFAIK dose not support Video conferencing till now "1.2.x stable release"
Description: 

Asterisk is an Free/Open Source Virtual IP PBX and VOIP server which supports lots of VOIP protocols like SIP,H323,IAX,IAX 2 and more protocols also it support using analog and digital likes like T1/E1 via using special hardware produced by many vendors including the sponsor for the Asterisk project Digium which founded by Mark Spencer the original author of Asterisk.

Also Asterisk considers a very powerful and very cheap PBX system, since it support amazing features like call recording,IVR menus,call transfer, call picking up, park calls, music on hold, passing caller ID,caller ID name look up" in case your PSTN is a SIP provider and supports Name ID " or you can use it locally by creating a lookup database, blocked numbers, voice conference, video , text chat and it supports having SQL databases as a backend for configurations and CDR. This is not everything. Also it can be the only PBX you use, you can integrate asterisk to any analog PBX system.

Project Name: 
Asterisk

Asterisk@home

Submitted by ezabi on Mon, 13/11/2006 - 3:45pm.

Does it still require its own (partition/hard disk/workstation)?

Last time I checked it required that dedicated kind of resource, so be careful on installation.

Nice work Sherif, who's next to run the Asterisk mini course online or maybe off?

So long and thanks for all the fish.

ezabi's picture

It's a distro

Submitted by YoussefAssad on Mon, 13/11/2006 - 4:55pm.

Distros need disk space.

-- Panem et *burp* circenses

YoussefAssad's picture

Sure!!

Submitted by ezabi on Mon, 13/11/2006 - 5:11pm.

But it doesn't sit nicely on the same harddisk with its fellow distros.

  • Minimum CPU of 500mhz PIII or equivalent.
  • 256Mb of RAM minimum.
  • At least a 4gb hard disk drive that you don't mind overwriting with the Asterisk@Home install
  • A cdrom and a network card.
  • Internet Access for downloading updates.

So long and thanks for all the fish.
ezabi's picture

Overwriting

Submitted by YoussefAssad on Mon, 13/11/2006 - 5:13pm.

That certainly changes matters, especially since they don't plaster a warning across the top of their site.

-- Panem et *burp* circenses

YoussefAssad's picture

Asterisk Course ?

Submitted by SeeKeR on Fri, 17/11/2006 - 5:03pm.

There is any plans for Asterisk or VOIP course (Online or Offline) ? thanks

SeeKeR's picture

Asterisk

Submitted by kareemhamdy on Sat, 26/01/2008 - 8:20pm.

Salaam everyone..

Just a quick note:

Pros: 1. Free/Open source 2. Supports many VOIP protocols. -- Most popular are SIP and IAX2. If anyone needs more info about it, lemme know..

3. Very powerful PBX. -- That it is.. There are some limitations with /BRI/ in terms of channels.. I think it's like 72... In terms of SIP, the sky's the limit. You're only limitation would be your max open files on Linux.

4. Cheap since it's Free as free of charge. 5. Can work as a FAX machine with fax/voice detection, Fax to mail Gateway. -- Yeah but keep in mind.. VoIP and Faxing don't mesh too well. Trixbox CE has the ability. Generally it's recommended to use an analog line for faxing.. Not all faxes are standard, so incomming faxing on VoIP isn't 100% perfect, but it's getting htere.

6. Video and text chat. -- This isn't native.. It does have hooks for jabber and there are video coferencing apps you can add on to it.

7. Audio Conferencing. -- That and conference bridges.. You'd if you can install app_conference.. you'd be set.. MeetMe stinks cause you need to use a zaptel driver for timing.. but it should be getting better. You don't need a zaptel card.. Just install ztdummy if you're gonna run a pure voip connection.

8. Voicemail , and can be attached to the email. -- yup.. really easily.

9. much more.

Cons:

1. Not easy to configure. -- There's a learning curve.. but you can install trixbox ce or trixbox pro and play around..

2. Most of GUIs dose not support all the configurations configurations. -- Trixbox is pretty cool.

3. AFAIK dose not support Video conferencing till now "1.2.x stable release"

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Salaamat, Kareem

kareemhamdy's picture

Asterisk @ Home aka TrixBox

Submitted by kareemhamdy on Sat, 26/01/2008 - 8:22pm.

The answer is no..

You can install a VMWare Player and download the image and just run it virtually on linux or windows.

Kareem

kareemhamdy's picture

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