New elastix? How can i create similar pabx & efax?

[ericmachine]

Hi everyone,

I am new to elastix. Like to get your recommendation where to start. I saw the wiki on installation, but like to get your recommended computer so I can setup elastix up and running soon. Not sure to get a PSTN/T1 or etc.

My plans:-
- have a similar pabx system using elastix for 5 employees, like extension numbers. But leveraged on elastix to make this happen.
- efax (receive incoming fax, then digitized it and save into PC or email)
- IVR enabled for my office phone line, e.g. press 1 for english, press 2 for XXX language, then press 1 to talk to sales personnel, etc.
- other elastix features that suit my company

Note: I am planning to get an isdn line which can support more than 1 number for efax, but will only do that when i see some results of elastix.

Questions:-
a) any recommended computer specs to install elastix and the above requirements (similar pabx and efax thing)? I am based in Malaysia, so I will probably find similar hardware based on your recommendation.
b) I assume this computer aka server should be located at my office where it is connected to a telephone line or something right? and not hosted at datacenter? which one?
c) i notice when i download elastix it is in an iso image. So is elastix a software running on a linux OS, or elastix is an OS itself? which one?
d) any guide

 

[Bob1]

ericmachine,

Hopefully this will answer your questions

My plans:-
- have a similar pabx system using elastix for 5 employees, like extension numbers. But leveraged on elastix to make this happen.
- efax (receive incoming fax, then digitized it and save into PC or email)
- IVR enabled for my office phone line, e.g. press 1 for english, press 2 for XXX language, then press 1 to talk to sales personnel, etc.
- other elastix features that suit my company

All the above is no issue for Elastix

In response to your choice of PSTN or T1, I recommend that you aim for a T1 if the business can handle the cost. The reason is that the T1 is a digital line that will provide you with more features, less trouble than PSTN lines. I also recommend it as you want to do inbound faxing. Likewise, you mention having support for more than 1 fax number, then with a T1 with a number range, you can setup as many as you want, whereas PSTN will require another line, possible card upgrades as you increase the number of lines. So if you need possible scalability then go the T1 route.

Your other questions

a) any recommended computer specs to install elastix and the above requirements (similar pabx and efax thing)? I am based in Malaysia, so I will probably find similar hardware based on your recommendation.

For the size that you have, any Pentium 4 and upwards machine with say 1Gb (512k will also do) upwards. If you are going new, then a HP ML110 will do the job well.

b) I assume this computer aka server should be located at my office where it is connected to a telephone line or something right? and not hosted at datacenter? which one?

I personally prefer in-house not in a datacentre, but this will very much depend on your environment, business needs. Where ever you install it, you need your telephone lines to terminate there. If you install in a datacentre then a server with ILO/DRAC/RSM (with remote console) lights out feature will serve you well.

c) i notice when i download elastix it is in an iso image. So is elastix a software running on a linux OS, or elastix is an OS itself? which one?

Yes Elastix is a collection of of software running on a Centos Linux system. The ISO is complete, install and the system will boot up with everything installed, ready to configure and add your telephony hardware

d) any guide

there are several now. I recommend purchasing the Unified Communications with Elastix Vol. 1 with Vol2 coming sometime soon. Its a great way of supporting Elastix, and seriously a great book from the Elastix developers. It is very well priced and worth the money.

Otherwise, you could look at Elastix Without Tears. It is aging, and is not at Elastix 2.2 level (which has some reasonable changes, but it is freely available and provide you with some basics

There are a number of other publications from others, which are very well written as well.

Regards

Bob

 

[ericmachine]

Thanks Bob. Appreciate your kind response.

i am reading the guide vol 1 interesting, but few unclear questions.

a) the way i see it, the server can be a normal computer with 4GB RAM, intel core 2 duo processor and 1TB sata hard disk will do? I don't need a server to handle 5 people in the company right?

plus i am still on r&d for this one, so no point getting a big powerful server.

b) I doubt T1 is available in Malaysia. Not sure about pstn, any idea? can a normal telephone line do the job? after all i am still in r&d to make sure i am familiar with elastix.

c) Probably I go with the basic option. 1 telephone line which acts as a fax line. Somehow plug into a fax PCI-express card into my PC? Probably test with the fax software part of elastix?

d) relating to point c, can i use the telephony thing at the same time with fax? will this be an issue?

e) If I don't get the elastix recommended hardware and an unbranded ones, will there be an issue for elastix to detect the hardware? just worry, it may be an issue getting those in malaysia though. Hmm...

e.i) any recommended & cheap fax card for PC which may work with elastix?
e.ii) any recommended card (if any) for the telephony and pabx thing? or i don't need any hardware for this one?

f) just one noob question, if i use the softphone via the telephony module.. say 1 of my employee via the extension 1001 calls someone outside on a normal local line phone, will this has to go through my office local phone too? what i want to do is like skype on PC able to call on someone office's local phone?

any help, bob? thanks so much