> The data-only cards for DS3 seem to be in the "reasonable" price> JTrange, though I have _no_ idea if they could be turned into TDM-capable cards. Examples that were shown to me:
http://oem.imagestream.com/PCI_720.html http://www.ace-electronics.com/Hardware/T1E1J1/wanPCI-1T3.html
A little more time with Google perhaps would discover other solutions. These are, from what I gather, very inexpensive devices in the grand scheme of things, and I believe some already offer Linux drivers (though no mention of open source that I could find, I imagine that these companies will be all over opening up more markets for their cards.)
Of course, Digium could keep it's leadership and our (collective) money by starting to poke around at such a driver or card. It's really a chicken-egg situation: nobody will want to muck with driver authorship or card production until there are buyers, and there won't be any buyers of such "experimental" technology unless it's cheap to experiment with, just like the T100P cards are. Open source is still scary to bell-heads, and they will resist until they actually see (with their own eyes) a working system that replaces their $100k CisNorSiemAvaytelensaco boxes with a $7k PC/card combination. Even then, it's still an uphill battle, but at least it's a battle, whereas right now it's a complete non-starter to open one's mouth about open source telephony gatewaying at truly large scale installations. And, to be honest, the telco guys are correct at this moment.
I have been mulling over what it would take to get drivers done for ImageStream's products. They have a component architecture that is supposed to reduce development time/cost. The component stuff is open source. The part of the driver that you have to write can be open source or proprietary. I am not much of a coder, but someone more knowledgeable may be able to do it without too much trouble. I am an ImageStream reseller - if you need hardware I'll give you good pricing. ;)
Andy
Shoot, set me up with <takes off shoes for counting> 42 2u servers with dual TE410P boards, and then 12 M13 muxes, and then 1 12-port DS3-to-OC12 mux (or 3 DS3-to-OC3 muxes, and one 3 port OC3-to-OC12 mux) and we can even test one of those OC12 boards that ImageStream sells!
Why don't you ping someone at ImageStream and see if they're willing to offer a DS3 developer kit for some interval (6 months? 8 months?) to a developer if they show appropriate interest and expertise. Anyone want to volunteer?
Actually, I'd ask a senior developer at ImageStream to see if they think it's even possible first; they'll at least be able to say if it's in the realm of sanity. You have the inside track; let us know what you hear.
JT _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
