Opinions Needed
Submitted by fdstech on Tue, 06/17/2008 - 9:18am.
We are just getting into the IP Telephony sector and have so far setup one trixbox pro installation.
We used:
1 x Grandstream 2000 with sidecar for operator
19 x Grandstream 2010 phones
Sangoma A200DX Card with 12 FXO for Customers incoming analog lines
1 x HP DX2300 Core 2 2.0 and 2GB ram
1 x Linksys SRW224P 24 Port POE Switch - Managed
All computers are connected via data hub on phone
This was our first project and an emergency at that (Avaya System ate it)
What we would like to know is what your opinion is for the optimal setup (Equipment to use) for an operator plus 20 endpoint project. We are going forward with Aastra phones due to the problems we have had with the grandstreams, plus the aastras significantly reduce deployment time. I am a fan of Cisco switches but the linksys is such a difference in price although it doesnt put full 802.3af power on but 12 simultaneous ports the grandstreams (or Aastras) dont require even half the power.
Your Thoughts?
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I am a fan of Cisco
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 9:39am
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I am a fan of Cisco switches but the linksys is such a difference in price although it doesnt put full 802.3af power on but 12 simultaneous ports the grandstreams (or Aastras) dont require even half the power.
You are correct with regard to the power consumption. Unlike some of the low end switches the Linksys has power enabled on all ports.
The problem is there is no CLI on the Linksys switches. If you have a bunch of ports to configure you have to do each one by hand through a text menu or the web interface. Both are a royal pain.
You are a fan of the Cisco switches so I am making the assumption that you are also going to setup the voice system properly with a voice VLAN.
The only phones (other than Cisco and Linksys) that support CDP (the discovery process that automatically configures the switch port on the phone) are the Polycom's.
The Aastra phones integrate very well with Asterisk, they have many options tailored specifically for Asterisk. The Polycom's on the other hand support CDP and are extremely solid phones.
What is the growth potential on the prospect with 20 stations? Do they have two Ethernet drops per phone? Is the customer more interested in features or functionality.
We ended up using the 9133/43 Aastra's as our standard endpoint and the 55i's as Executive sets. On installs with Cisco/Dell/Foundry switches that support CDP we have resolved ourselves that the switchports for will have to be left in trunk mode for the phones.
Someday somebody will plug a computer into a phone port on the switch and we will get a service call because it did doesn't work. That is the only downside I can see.
Scott
--
Scott
aka "Skyking"
I am just using the 20 phone
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 9:56am
I am just using the 20 phone scenario to get a feel for what others may recommend. We have several projects down the line including one that involves 3 separate locations/servers and 30 phones and another that involves 2 operators and 40 phones. I want to make sure we dont run into the same problems with the next project as it is an extremely busy Commercial Real Estate Development and Management firm and our main client.
The installation we have in place now will probably never expand as it is a very old law firm and they are not planning expansion.
Are you familiar with my
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 10:05am
Are you familiar with my discussion on CDP for VLAN auto discovery?
The nice thing is all the phone manufacturers include a two port managed switch on the phones. This supports VLAN trunking so you can isolate the voice traffic.
Make sure all your servers are ordered with two NICS.
Scott
--
Scott
aka "Skyking"
CDP is a feature that
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 10:15am
Well this is in essence what
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 10:25am
Well this is in essence what the Aastras already do on Trixbox Pro 2. I just plug a 9133i in and it sets the phone config up then all I have to do is assign a person to it.
But, I am gathering from the fact this is switch based that it configures the protocols/QOS for the phone port?
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Well this is in
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 11:15am
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Well this is in essence what the Aastras already do on Trixbox Pro 2
From a phone feature perspective that is correct.
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But, I am gathering from the fact this is switch based that it configures the protocols/QOS for the phone port?
Correct, the switchport has to be manually configured as a voice or data port.
I am a huge advocate of VLAN's. All of the phones support it, why not deploy properly? No matter what the size of the install if you use best practices then you avoid problems later.
Scott
--
Scott
aka "Skyking"
For 20 seats, you can't go
Tue, 07/01/2008 - 4:54pm
For 20 seats, you can't go wrong with the following:
trixbox Pro Appliance (base model w/ whatever PSTN card you need)
Aastra phones (9133's or 53i's are great entry to mid level, 55i/57i are good for executives/receptionists)
trixbox Pro SE or EE depending on your needs. If you don't have any special requirements, SE should work. EE gives you DID routing, conference bridges, extension grouping, intercom/paging, and alerts (great for administration). The good news is that upgrading from SE to EE doesn't require a reinstall...it's done on Fonality's side.
The Trixbox Appliance is 3
Tue, 07/01/2008 - 5:19pm
The Trixbox Appliance is 3 times what we pay for the HP's and the one we have deployed out now is only running at about 10% cpu load/memory usage at peak. I personally use a 9133i and love it with the plantronics headset.
What brand/model of switches is everyone using? Separate switch or vlan?
We were getting the HP
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 10:57am
We were getting the HP DX2300's with 2.2 Ghz Core 2 duo processors, 1GB ram and a 160GB HD for slightly over that and they are running 12 pots lines 1 sip trunk and 20 phones only utilizing maybe 10-20% of system resources. We are an HP Partner and can still get the same pricing on the new DX2400 they have switched to.
$1500 for the base trixbox
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 11:07am
$1500 for the base trixbox appliance is crazy high for a 3.0 ghz P4 that's 2 technology cycles behind. The Intel Nehalem and Larrabee Core 3's will be out later this year. Also the Core 2 1.6 in the enterprise box only has 2MB L2. You have to go 2.0GHz at least to get 4MB L2. In my opinion you are basically paying for a tricked out rack case with an LCD display.
Base trixbox Appliance is
Thu, 07/10/2008 - 8:41am
Base trixbox Appliance is $1099.00, not $1500. And while yes, you do get a great looking rack-mountable case and an LCD display, you're also getting 100% Platinum certified hardware, which lowers support pricing, and therefore TCO.
To each his own though...if you get great pricing from HP, that's great. The DX2300 is on our Platinum certified hardware list, and as long as you're also sticking to Sangoma cards, you'll still be able to receive discounted Platinum support.
I am not the only one that
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 7:06am
I am not the only one that can get low prices on HP's. Any VAR HP Partner with a Tech Data account can get the same deal. As you said in your previous post both are on the Platinum Certified list. The HP's just run 4 times faster and use significantly less resources while having an extensive channel to support them should any hardware fail. Maybe instead of arguing the point for old technology it might be time to bring the trixbox appliance up to at least last years technology unless trixbox is just in the appliance business for margins and sell through of inventory.
On the HP note the 2300's are all but phased out so its time to get the 2400 series Platinum Approved.
Member Since:
2007-10-09