VoIP PBX

[NetworkGuy101]

Anybody have any experiences purchasing a VoIP PBX? Like what you have to deal with as far as the Telco is concerned? I have never gotten to configure a PBX with VoIP before so I am curious as to how it all works. Any sites I could go to?

 

[NX01]

What size office and what type of business? I am partial to Avaya, but they may not be the best fit.

In the future everything will work...

 

[computerhighguy]

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/voicesw/ps556/index.html

What is your current skill set? That will more than likely determine which vendor you should be looking at.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[NetworkGuy101]

Well I am well versed in Cisco. (CCNA). I have experience with Redcom Voice Switch. I am looking to provide Service to about 100 users. I want to keep it to a decent price. I have a deicated PRI to our current switch which we rent now and pay a little to much for. I have seen some VoIP PBX starting @ 3000.00 and going up.

 

[computerhighguy]

The next question come down to features. If you know Cisco, I would probably stay with Cisco. I have a CCNA and consider myself a switch/router guy. It was realativly easy for me to transition to voice using Cisco Call Manager.

What kind of router do you have? Do you have any extra ones?

You may already have everything you need to run Call Manager.

There is a slightly stripped down version call Call Manager Express that runs on Cisco routers. It works pretty well but doesn't carry all the features of Call Manager. Call Manager runson HP and IBM servers and it pretty cool. The PRI is a plus.

If you decide to use Cisco, look at the MC3810 as a possability for terminating your PRI. They are a little old, but darn cheap and work well. You can buy an extra one off of ebay for little money as a backup.


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[NX01]

Cisco is very IT friendly, but is not the best box on the market. I am partial to Avaya's product line for two reasons...they have been doing telco longer and have a better support system of users. Look at the Wiring Closet and the list of vendors. The Avaya forums are full of techs ready to help. The Cisco forums are not that busy, two or three post a day. Now think back to the last time you called Cisco for router support? Avaya is Unix based and is easily navigated using remote software or at the Terminal. Look at the Avaya IP Office or the G700.

http://www.avaya.com/gcm/master-usa/en-us/products/offers/ipoffice.htm

My next question is why VoIP? Do you have a lot of remote offices? If so look into the S8300 from Avaya.


In the future everything will work...

 

[computerhighguy]

If you are looking for mega advanced features, then go with Avaya. However .....

You already know Cisco CLI and I am certain that you are familiar with thier website. Why learn a new vendor when you already know one that should be able to work for you. Cisco is also cheaper and a natural transition from LAN and WAN. One phone number, one vendor. No finger pointing either. Lots to be said for that. Cisco is gaining ground very fast on thier competition and new features are added almost monthly. Youy trust your LAN and WAN to cisco, why not your phone system?


It is what it is!!
__________________________________
A+, Net+, I-Net+, Certified Web Master, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, and few others (I got bored one day)

 

[NetworkGuy101]

Why VoIP? Remote Locations and Phone Bill. Also the rebtal fee for our PBX is to much. Does Cisco have much support for exisiting analog lines?

 

[rtfmdude]

this is an old thread, but I thought it might be worthwhile to throw this out there:

http://www.asterisk.org/

I am also a Cisco guy, but - this may be worth looking at/learning, at least for the home lab. I mean, an entire SIP/etc PBX for under $1K - to borrow from tonight's david letterman, "Are you @%%!!#$!# kidding me?!?

 

[NetworkGuy101]

Have you used this yet? Any luck getting it to work properly?

 

[rtfmdude]

I've screwed around with it and gotten it to run, but haven't had much time... I'll try to register some phones to it and place a few calls tonight in the hotel room.

If you want to play around with it, check out this primer:

http://www.automated.it/guidetoasterisk.htm

 

[janchundia]

check also

http://www.nortelnetworks.com

for VoIP solutions.

Javier

 

[ianuk1974]

well just to through a spanner into the works

I would hugely reccomend the Mitel 3300 ICP product it has been very well developed and has an abundance of features tried and tested for over 30 years. The speach quality is much better than the Cisco call manager. the Mitel handsets use the same seps protocol as the cisco phones so are very easy to work with your cisco layer 2/3 network and all mitel handsets support the CDP protcol.

Ian

 

[JOAMON]

Take a look at the following. We have their latest system and it works great.

 

[rtfmdude]

Ok guys, while you may not consider this 'enterprise' material, check out this site, and this particular article:

http://www.geekgazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=26

This writeup basically integrates a free, open-source voip pbx with a sip-based broadvoice account, which is something like 20 bucks a month for unlimited LD to the US, Canada, and 10+ other countries (but odd ones, like China and Chile but not Mexico). The only problem with using voip for pstn connectivity is 911 service, so just buy a cheap fxo card from digium.com for $133 bucks and route all 911/411/311 calls out that local pots connection. With the utter cheapness of PC hardware now, you could definitely have a working voip pbx up and running for under what, 3-400 bucks, with a 20+tax recurring bill each month? I'm definitely going to do this at my house, since I'm cellphone-only right now.

This would probably take a significant investment in time, blood, sweat and tears, but MAN is it cheap.

 

[JOAMON]

Sorry...forgot the link.....

http://www.inter-tel.com/portal/page?_pageid=474,751261&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

 

[NX01]

Joamon, you would happened to have admin guides on the Axxess stuff?

In the future everything will work...

 

[JOAMON]

Yes I have all manuals for this. Our version is the latest version 9.0.

 

[NX01]

would you be able to post a link to them or are they paperback?

In the future everything will work...