Adventures in Asterisk: Update!
By Long on Jul 16, 2007 in Asterisk!
So I know there’s been a bit of a following on my Asterisk experience. Here’s the update.
In my last post, I decided to hire a consultant rather than try to figure it out own my own. I’m reasonably adept at navigating through html code and new software, but my spidey sense warned me that Asterisk was going to be a whole new challenge.
First off, it’s a Linux application (Linux is an operating system, like Windows XP, but much of it just looks like a throwback to DOS programming.) It’s best run on a standalone machine, so I was also facing a complete format of the hard drive on an old computer. And the kicker, I did a quick calculation of how much time I stood to lose if I ran into any hurdles. I do, after all , have a practice to run!
So I did a simple Google search and sure enough found the perfect consultant - Justin, a senior at the University of Florida here in Gainesville, who makes me feel completely computer illiterate. I’ll release his full name and contact info for the rest of you as soon as he’s completely done tweaking my system. For less than the cost of two of my AT&T/Bellsouth phone bills, he handled the entire install of the Trixbox package (which took about 24 hours!)
I had to ensure my office number was ported over to my new VOIP carrier, Teliax, as soon as possible. Teliax was FAST, handling the port in about 5 business days.
I quickly called Justin and told him I was ready to get it up and running. Since my IP phones hadn’t come in yet, we just used a softphone to test the connection. A bit of trial and error and handful of linux commands later, we got the softphone working! We did however, have a few hiccups with the softphone on my assistant’s machine, which was likely firewall or software related. I decided to wait until the IP phones came in because then there would be no limitations posed by anyone’s individual computer.
Once the IP phones arrived, both my phone and my assistant’s phone were fully activated working like a charm in about 30 minutes. The next question Justin asked me was “What features do you want?”
Like a kid in a candy store, I told him, I wanted:
To be able to transfer calls interoffice, or out to a cell phone;Intercom/paging for interoffice phonesAND the IP Phone I would bring home;Music on hold;A full IVR (auto attendant) system - custom designed with ability to adjust it myself;Unlimited lines incoming or outgoing;- Click to call web browser plugin;
- Automated appointment scheduling with email client integration (such as Outlook);
- Whatever else I can dream up!
There are Asterisk enthusiasts all over the world coming up with new plugins all the time, and it’s all open source (free)!
Justin’s on vacation for the moment, but once he returns, he’ll be setting up a VPN through a linksys router at my office, so that I can make calls from my laptop softphone, which are hosted by my new Asterisk PBX at the office (as though I’m sitting at my desk!) All I’ll need is an internet connection (wireless) and a cup of coffee!
We’ve had the system for a couple of weeks now and I’m on pace for about a $35-$45 phone bill, with all the features of a $15,000 phone system!
A few kinks:
It wasn’t all gravy. There were definitely a few functional hurdles that Justin had to overcome during the installation (which would have had me going insane.) Additionally, once in a blue moon, I’ll have a bad connection, but that’s the case with most VOIP service anyways … just a hiccup occassionally, attributable the measly 128mb of RAM that my old machine had. A simple upgrade to 256mb or higher should take care of that.
Finally, I’m in the process of porting over my fax line so that Teliax will handle INCOMING faxes ($5.00 a month for incoming faxes through Teliax.) Sending faxes is not yet guaranteed, so I signed up with MyFax.com. A small change in protocol for a huge overhead takedown! I’ll survive!
I’ll update this again when Justin returns to put the finishing touches on the system. Then I’ll cut him loose for the rest of you who are interested in his services. (Yes, this can be done remotely without his physical presence in your office - more details later.)
dan | Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
This sounds great and something I may want to do. What’s the cost of having something like this done (labor and parts)?
Also, how did you find you consultant?
dan | Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
oops, pass over how you found your consultant (google)
Long H. Duong, Esq. | Jul 19, 2007 | Reply
Well, I don’t want to engage in anything that amounts to price fixing. That said, if you wanted to buy a fully assembled Trixbox appliance, that is, a computer with Asterisk/Linux installed, you’d be paying anywhere from $700 to $1,000 plus the cost of the IP phones (a handful under $99). The inherent problem is the learning curve of having the whole thing set up. Again, Linux is no walk in the park. You could avoid buying the hardware if you had an older computer to spare (Asterisk has a very small footprint and doesn’t hog resources - and you’ll be using the machine exclusively for the Asterisk setup.
You could certainly search for an Asterisk consultant, but when I release my consultant, he says he’ll be able to setup much of this remotely or perhaps refer you to a local guru.
I would highly advise against trying this on your own unless you know Linux or have all the time in the world. It doesn’t take long for the gurus, but one little problem could have you pulling your hair out.