New Install -Suggested method

[bennuss]

I am about to spin up a new install of 3cx for about 50 users. I have never used it before. I did spin up an instance in azure to play with. My sip trunk provider is suggesting I host it locally.
Should I just use the azure instance or I would be better to host it locally. We will have actual ip phones -yealinks. We also have remote users - around 10 .
If I leave it in the cloud, do i need to setup a sbc locally or can should i use stun ? I saw somewhere it isnt recommended on so many phones.

 

[AWS2P]

SBC or VPN if your PBX is on cloud are both options
To do your install on cloud choose a supported host from 3CX and use pbxperss to do complete install for you using 3CX iso on debian9.

 

[bennuss]

I have now a hosted provider and the phones work anywhere . We dont have a vpn or sbc locally. Anywhere I plug in a phone it provisions.
Is this possible with 3cx?
I setup an install on azure with pbxexpress. The question is , is a local install preferable for quality purposes or it doesnt matter ? Anyway to calculate the azure cost of the vm ? Anyone know from experience?

 

[AWS2P]

No experience with azure and their costs. It surely depends on which size of VM you subscribe.
on Amazon lightsail or OVH cost for a VM use like you need is maximum 12€/month
For PBX cloud the best option is a SBC if you have more than 2 phones on location.

Having PBX on cloud can give you added security if your site is out of internet or power, in that case your cloud pbx in datacenter is always up and with app on smartphones you can call and be called, if on premise this is not the case. other point if your company move on, then with cloud pbx your company stay available during moving and this is really easy to set phones for new location.

For sure on premise you have no hoster cost, no need for an SBC, phones are local. so it's up to you to choose what's best for you .

 

[kent3]

I have now a hosted provider and the phones work anywhere . We dont have a vpn or sbc locally. Anywhere I plug in a phone it provisions.
Is this possible with 3cx?
I setup an install on azure with pbxexpress. The question is , is a local install preferable for quality purposes or it doesnt matter ? Anyway to calculate the azure cost of the vm ? Anyone know from experience?

See: https://www.3cx.com/docs/recommended-hardware-specifications-for-3cx/#h.tu59vqsfxiy for hardware spec, this will help you estimate Azure costings.

If you are going to host in the cloud, you must use an SBC at each location. Remote STUN would be messy and hard to maintain.

If you are not loyal to Azure, take a look at: https://www.vultr.com/promo/try50/?...YlPtrI5IcXO8c5suW80NshLOZIj9gLhoaAtwAEALw_wcB best prices around and reliable

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Whether you choose local or cloud should not matter if it is setup correctly.

Cloud will be more reliable (as it will not be affected by your office connection or power outages)

The phones can be plug and play (like your current hosted provider) but this will not always work as you expect it. If you take your phones elsewhere behind a different provider or firewall you might get different results.

This is why we recommend SBC or STUN with manually assigned ports to pretty much guarantee a solid connection regardless of who your provider is or what firewall you happen to own.

 

[Alphabetic]

I suppose it depends.

If youre the inhouse IT guy for the company then I'd go for an internal PBX on a VM or an inexpensive bit of kit. That way there's no ongoing cost for rental. But, if youre 3rd party then having it off-site in the cloud may benefit you as you have full access to it and can manage the network side of it too and you're not having to to-and-fro with customer IT.

VPS's are inexpensive anyway, im sure OVH do some starting at a few euros. But, like suggested above I would recommend the SBC too because I started with STUN for cloud installs and its such a pain in the ass when something's not going right and you have to troubleshoot that, and then you cant touch the network and their IT isnt playing ball blah blah. Do yourself a favour and use SBCs.

 

[Gramms]

I have the same problems. Which VPN server do you use in this case?

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hi Gramms,

I guess you meant to say VPS ? If so take a look at the list below:
https://www.3cx.com/partners/hosted-pbx-providers/

Other VPS providers may also work fine, but you might have to do some extra work to get it going. There are also some VPS platforms that cannot be supported due to the hypervisors/network environment they use.

 

[Gramms]

I have the same problems. Which VPN server do you use in this case?

Thanks