Remote site survivability

[netswork]

I have a new system to quote for a customer with multiple locations. Each location will have a PSTN gateway. I would really prefer not to have to sell/install a 3cx system at each site. The locations are connected via a meshed MPLS network, so no connectivity or NAT issues.

Is there a PSTN gateway available that will allow the phones to register to it and make/receive basic calls in case the link to the 3cx system at the home office was down?

Having to install a system at each location turns 3cx into a standard PBX rather than an IP phone solution. Some customers are willing to risk the site going down and having no available phone service but others are not. And having to sell a system for each site and then bridge them together is not cost effective and you loose out on the presence features (I know a fix to this is coming in version 11).

 

[countrycomp]

How many phones at each site and how many PSTN lines at each site?

 

[leejor]

The SPA-3102 will give each FXS port, power failure direct connection to the FXO port. It still means someone would have to kill the power to the units. A gateway would have to be pretty sophisticated to be able to change around and accept registration from sets (they'd have to have some fancy options too), if it lost connection with the host 3CX switch.

 

[willow]

You may want to think about using the free version on 3cx as a backup, pick phones and gateways that support a secondary or back sip server. They will register to the primary sip server and if unavailable wikk fail over to the backup.

 

[RichardCrabb1]

Hi,
There are a number of options I think depending on the size/importance of the site:-

1. Basic backup. Use a standard analogue phone connected to a phone line otherwise connected to the FXS. Have a facility to divert inbound calls to this number from the central 3CX or from the provider. Maybe have a phone with programmable memory buttons to call regular numbers in case the main infrastructure fails
2. Use a gateway such as a SPA3102. These can be used as fallback if both FXS and FXO are enabled. Calls can be answered internally on the FXS line as an extension, and if the system fails then the FXS line will still receive calls, as long as calls can be diverted. Similarly, outbound calls can be made. This will provide a simple phone service
3. Use a secondary VPN route for resilience to the main 3CX - such as an IPSEC based VPN. This would provide minimal connectivity without good call quality. At least they would have some service. At the main site, provide a backup server. This might work if the costs are right.

Richard