Andrew makes some excellent points. I'd like to ask if anyone else has any info on what sort of device can be used to switch a T1 connection if a T1 alarm is detected.
Also, is it possible to have a mixed setup where you have a T1 and several POTS lines all feeding into the same Asterisk server? Thanks, P. On 02/02/04, Andrew Kohlsmith wrote: > > I'm trying to set up an Asterisk system for a small office, and one thing > > I haven't figured out yet is how to best provide reliability. One way > > to go seems to be a T1 for all my incoming phone lines. What if that T1 > > goes down? Can I use mutiple POTS lines in conjuction with a T1, all > > connecting to my Asterisk server? > > As far as a PRI going down -- it's as likely as your POTS lines going down, > IMO. Perhaps a little more so but in the end I have been in telephony > (dial-up internet) for close to 6 years now and on anything from single T1 > PRIs to multiple DS3s, I have never had their end go down once it was > provisioned. > > I _did_ have the very unlucky experience of having a double-controller > failure on an M13 with no controllers handy once... And to add insult to > injury UPS had lost the package from CAC not once, but twice. > > > What if my Asterisk server fails? Should I use two Asterisk servers, one > > connected to the T1 and one to the POTS lines? > > What I am doing (equipment is ordered, just waiting on it now) > two * servers running identical hardware: > - Dual power supplies > - Linux software RAID1 on hot-swappable SCA drives > - Single-proc P4 (dual proc mobo for expansion) > - TE410P > > We're talking CDN$3800-4200 systems. The dual power supplies really adds a > lot to the cost, and the TE410Ps aren't cheap, either. These are > SuperMicro 4U systems. I looked at Dell and yes with warranty and > everything the systems were nice, but I couldn't justify purchasing > proprietary PC hardware in the end. > > Both these systems are online all the time, but in a hot-failover instead of > load balancing configuration. My telco's PRI (one right now) plugs in to a > little black box which has three T1 ports on it. PRI goes in one side, and > two * servers to the other two ports. The box monitors the T1 for alarms > and will physically route the T1 to the other port should any alarms come > up. I saw this box on ebay once and have not been able to remember the > name of it. If anyone has a name for a manufacturer, I would certainly > appreciate it. It's my missing link at this time. > > Each power supply plugs in to a UPS which is connected to alternate sides of > the incoming 240VAC. (remember electricty 101? North American power comes > in as two 120VAC lines and a neutral and are 180 degrees out of phase. If > you're lucky enough to get three phase it's three hots 120 degrees apart, > but we don't have that at the colo, just at the plant. :-) -- that way if > we lose a phase (it's happened before) we're covered, and if we lose both > phases the UPSes are there. > > I do not have redundant internet links but will have two network switches, > one on each UPS -- I don't care if VOIP calls don't go through, but I need > the closet to be able to communicate. :-) > > Anyway yes if a * box goes down you lose all your current calls, but that > isn't a (big) issue for me. The bigger issue is that when I go to place a > call that it gets through. > > I will have one POTS line at the office, but it won't be hooked up to a > computer. It will be wired to a regular phone with no bells and whistles, > and will be for emergencies. It won't be equivalent to any of the DIDs. > > The advantage to this setup is that while it breaks the hot-failover, I can > definitely test things on one box without causing hassles on the other, and > upgrades are trivial. > > Regards, > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > Asterisk-Users mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users -- Philip J. Hollenback [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.hollenback.net _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
