Raspberry Pi Pre-installed with 3CX for Just $99

[accentlogic]

This is exactly what we've wanted to do some years ago with the SBC. If you have the dynamic DNS name configured, what are you using for 'some ET phone home remote access'?

We use ConnectWise Control for "ET phone home remote access". No firewall rules, no inbound traffic. It works great. Only issue we have seen is upgrades of the Control software on Rpi occasionally fail. We enable SSH access on them and use a remote session on another machine at the site to repair it - or a temporary firewall pinhole.

 

[Brandon L Livengood]

Would the

@ReneSipler Why such an extreme response??
a. The device is just put together by us and we actually subsidise the package to make it $99.
b. They pre install Debian 10 (previously called raspbian yes)
c. 3CX is installed when you install the device so you have the latest version and you can choose between SBC or PBX. Its done in minutes
e. This will all be possible remotely in a few months (because a version of Debian will be installed that contacts our PBXexpress tool)

This is all handled by Pimoroni / Canakit. No, we do not make any money out of marketing this.

will the (e) version of Debian be available to install on other hardware? We don’t use Raspbery PI units but custom appliances with a built in 16 port POE switch

 

[N_G]

@Brandon L Livengood No, only supported hardware. Iso and Raspberry PI. It involves a lot of testing and work to support custom devices and distributions.

 

[Securify]

Not sure if using an SD Card is a good idea. When using other PBX systems the constant writing of logs often wore the SD card out. Not sure if this is an issue with 3CX though

They should offer some low cost alt. to NUC:
Tofu, a carrier board from oratek is designed for industrial applications and it comes with features not found on the official Compute Module 4 IO board, including an M.2 socket for use with NVME SSDs and 4G network cards.(instead of using cloud SMS provider?)

Ethernet is a must for the PBX though, because you can never trust WiFi to retain a stable connection due to the nature of wireless technologies

There is huge demand for such modules without WiFi.
Available in 32 variants, with a range of RAM and eMMC Flash options, and with or without wireless connectivity.

Defiantly would want to use an external SSD in my opinion

custom case?

 

[pmterp]

FYI - Price increased to $117.95
https://www.canakit.com/3cx-raspberry-pi-kit-pbx.html

 

[New_Frontier]

Just a thought. Would be awesome if a larger version of the case could be designed to accommodate a PoE hat, and have it as an option for ordering. Seems like a large percentage of users of this device already have PoE switches and that makes installation even easier.

 

[CentrexJ]

Just a thought. Would be awesome if a larger version of the case could be designed to accommodate a PoE hat, and have it as an option for ordering. Seems like a large percentage of users of this device already have PoE switches and that makes installation even easier.

Not sure where you are located but Canakit is quite flexible. They might be able to offer you this as a special order.

 

[New_Frontier]

Not sure where you are located but Canakit is quite flexible. They might be able to offer you this as a special order.

You're right I'm sure. I've had nothing but good luck with them. But I'm just a little guy installing a phone system from time to time; it's not my main gig. So it doesn't really make sense for me. But it seems like an option a lot of others may be interested in so I wanted to put the idea out there.

 

[New_Frontier]

Also, some wall mount keyholes would be convenient for a lot of installations that would use this device.

 

[N_G]

You can choose any raspberry box but be sure to use one that dissipates heat. Any of the vendors that we work with can give you the pre burned card to go with your choice to make it easier to install

 

[Evolute IT]

@StefanW @Nick Galea Hey guys, I bought a 3CX-Certified Canakit on Monday. Got it today (Friday) and, well, it is NOT pre-installed for 3CX. It gave me a regular Raspian GUI.

Now I have to reflash everything (which means buying a microSD-to-SD adapter since I have none of these, thus the reason I bought the pre-built kit.)

Can you check with them and make sure this never happens again? It sets me back 1h-2h to reinstall everything (I never used a Pi before.)

 

[Evolute IT]

@StefanW @Nick Galea Hey guys, I bought a 3CX-Certified Canakit on Monday. Got it today (Friday) and, well, it is NOT pre-installed for 3CX. It gave me a regular Raspian GUI.

Now I have to reflash everything (which means buying a microSD-to-SD adapter since I have none of these, thus the reason I bought the pre-built kit.)

Can you check with them and make sure this never happens again? It sets me back 1h-2h to reinstall everything (I never used a Pi before.)

Also, the SD is 16GB and was supposed to be 32GB. I think Canakit messed up.

 

[complex1]

Next you can read on the Canakit website
"This 3CX kit contains a pre-assembled Raspberry Pi 4B 8GB inside a premium self-cooling aluminum case with soft-touch lid, 3.5A power supply, and pre-programmed 16 GB Class 10 SanDisk microSD card that is pre-installed with the Raspberry Pi OS."
No word about a 32GB microSD or pre-installed 3CX.

 

[Evolute IT]

Next you can read on the Canakit website
"This 3CX kit contains a pre-assembled Raspberry Pi 4B 8GB inside a premium self-cooling aluminum case with soft-touch lid, 3.5A power supply, and pre-programmed 16 GB Class 10 SanDisk microSD card that is pre-installed with the Raspberry Pi OS."
No word about a 32GB microSD or pre-installed 3CX.

The 3CX blog post says 32GB and it was 32GB originally as well. It changed and it should not.

The Canakit website should align with 3CX as this is a partnership product. It could be claimed as false advertising or misrepresentation.

Also, remember how those are supposed to be ready for 3CX... they're not. I had no 3CX setup built-in. I had to reflash Raspian and just install everything.

 

[CentrexJ]

Also, the SD is 16GB and was supposed to be 32GB. I think Canakit messed up.

I ordered one from Canakit on Thursday. It hasn’t shipped yet. Will let you know if it has an image on it. I normally get my 11 year old son to assemble and flash them. I ordered this more for the great price and the passive cooling compared to the normal pi4 bundles.

 

[Evolute IT]

I ordered one from Canakit on Thursday. It hasn’t shipped yet. Will let you know if it has an image on it. I normally get my 11 year old son to assemble and flash them. I ordered this more for the great price and the passive cooling compared to the normal pi4 bundles.

I'll be curious to see if yours will be correctly flashed. I ordered on Monday, got it on Friday.

 

[N_G]

Why don't you contact them.. It should have an image on it which then installs latest version. So best ask them what happened?

 

[Evolute IT]

Why don't you contact them.. It should have an image on it which then installs latest version. So best ask them what happened?

I asked them and they said "it comes as listed on our website" and I replied that it should be as 3CX listed it. Thus with a 32GB SD and yes the preloaded image.

There was Raspian (in GUI mode) on it, but no 3CX installer. Fortunately I needed the SBC so I just installed it.

 

[SteveITS]

they said "it comes as listed on our website" and I replied that it should be as 3CX listed it. Thus with a 32GB SD and yes the preloaded image.

Notably the 3CX hardware specs recommend 30 GB disk. The one we got 9 months ago was a Pi 4 with 16 GB but we're only using it as an SBC. Perhaps Canakit changed the storage when they changed to the 4. In which case 3CX should update their blog post. I understand it's not 3CX's product but that is potentially misleading.

 

[N_G]

I will check and revert...