A Gentle Introduction to Asterisk:
Taking Back Your Phone
Sean Reifschneider
Other Alternatives
Trixbox http://www.trixbox.com/
OpenPBX.org http://www.openpbx.org/
YATE http://yate.null.ro/pmwiki/
FreeSwitch http://www.freeswitch.org/
Bayonne (IVR-only): http://www.gnu.org/software/bayonne/
SipX http://www.sipfoundry.org/sipX
Live CDs: http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk+Bootable+CDROM
Example uses:
"If you are a telemarketer, put this number on your do not
call list and hang up, otherwise press 1 to speak to Sean
or 2 to speak to Evelyn."
Answering machine with web interface and e-mailed messages.
Auto-attendant
Conference call bridge
If Bob calls, try the home phone then my cell phone then voicemail.
Cell phone voice mail to e-mail.
Run scripts from phone calls.
E-mail notification of voicemail.
Free calls over the Internet.
What is an Asterisk System?
Connection to the phone system.
Connection to extensions.
FXS POTS, SIP hard or soft phones, Bluetooth.
Routing calls between the above.
Attendant, extensions, time-based, DID.
Applications
Voicemail, music on hold, call forwarding, conference...
http://www.asterisk.org/support/features
Phone system connections
Another PBX (IAX, SIP)
FXO POTS (Digium X100, $30 on ebay)
A very special modem card.
A VoIP provider (particularly IAX)
We use nestegg.com, contact me for details.
ISDN BRI/PRI
Channelized T1/E1
Digium TDM410 4-port ($550+)
Xorcom USB channelbank 8-port ($850+)
Extensions: Hard phones
Normal POTS phones.
Via: ATA, TDM410, IAXy
Digium TDM410 4-port ($550+)
Xorcom...
VoIP phone ($50-$150+)
Extensions: Soft phones
Turns your computer into a cell phone
Many protocols (SIP, IAX, Skype)
kiax, kphone, gnophone, twinkle, shtoom, linphone, cornfed...
Configuration: Home Starter
Answering machine.
Cost: $30
Configuration: Home Next Step
FXO and FXS
Intercept calls.
One external line, one internal.
Cost: $100
Configuration: NAT/Gateway
Internal phones (POTS or SIP)
Asterisk
External line(s) (POTS or SIP)
Star wiring or Ethernet
Digium 4-port PCI card with FXO/FXS modules?
Cost: $300-$700
Gotchas:
Configuration can be subtle and quick to anger.
Test your changes.
Cheap cards are worth their weight in crap.
Sometimes I've had weirdness with calls not going through.
Usually pretty reliable