I'm sure most (if not every single one) of your don't know what the hell I'm talking about or what an li box is for that matter.
Maybe some of you might find the telephone system to be interesting. I know I do.
Heres a description of the li box from their website (
http//www.asterisk.com[]http//www.asterisk.com)
[quotef50b067cd1]Asterisk is a complete PBX in software. It runs on Linux, BSD and MacOSX and provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX and more. Asterisk does voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware.[/quotef50b067cd1]
Didn't get that?
Lets start of a description of what a PBX is...
In loose terms, its your very own telephone CO (central office)/switch
A description from Wikipedia
[quotef50b067cd1]A Private Branch eXchange (also called PBX or Private Business eXchange) is a telephone exchange that is owned by a private business, as opposed to one owned by a common carrier or by a telephone company.[/quotef50b067cd1]
[quotef50b067cd1]Originally an organization's manual switchboard (operated by a person plugging cables into sockets) was known as a PMBX (Private Manual Branch eXchange). These were gradually replaced by automated electromechanical and then electronic switching systems, called PABXs (Private Automatic Branch eXchange). As PMBXes are almost unheard of, the terms PABX and PBX have become synonymous.
Using a PBX saves connecting all of a business's telephone sets separately to the public telephone network (PSTN or ISDN). Such a set-up would require every set to have its own line (usually with a monthly recurring line charge), and "internal" calls would have to be routed out of the building to a central switch, only to come back in again.
As well as telephone sets, fax machines, modems and many other communication devices can be connected to a PBX (although the PBX may degrade line quality for modems). For this reason, all such devices are generally referred to as extensions.
The PBX equipment is typically installed at a business's premises, and connects calls between the telephones installed there. In addition, a limited number of outside lines (called trunk lines) are usually available for making and receiving calls external to the site (i.e. to the public telephone network). Companies with multiple sites can connect their PBXs together with trunk lines. PBX-like services can also be provided by equipment located off site at a central provider, delivering services over the public telephone network. This is known as a hosted PBX. For example, most local phone companies offer a Centrex service in which each extension has a trunk line connected to the telephone company's Central Office. Other companies offer similar services.
PBXs are distinguished from smaller "key systems" by the fact that external lines are not normally indicated or selectable at an individual extension. From a user's point of view calls on a key system are made by selecting a specific outgoing line and dialing the external number; calls on a PBX are made by dialing 9 (or 0 in some systems) followed by the external number; an outgoing trunk line is automatically selected upon which to complete the call.[/quotef50b067cd1]
I hope you understood the description, if not.. You probably shouldn't roll your own PBX until you find some interest in the telephone system.
Now what would be the benefit of the li
- Public Conferences Have a public conference where anyone can call in and chat on your PBX. (For those in the 'phreak scene'; great examples include 'Bell's Mind' (
http//bellsmind.net/[]http//bellsmind.net/, 'Phreak Phactor'
http//www.phreakphactor.net/[]http//www.phreakphactor.net/, and 'The PLA'
http//phonelosers.org/[]http//phonelosers.org/).. Basically a chat line.
- Voice Mail System (VMS) Self-explainatory.
- Incoming/Outgoing calls on VoIP services (i.e. FWD, GoIAX, IAXComm, etc.)
- Get the time and weather, traffic conditions, etc. simply by dialing in your number.
- and numerous features that I could list on and on..
In the most basic layman's terms.. When you dial in a number (1-888-EARTHLINK) for example.. The li Box is your very own PBX that you can completely customize from the ground up).
Minimum Requirements
- At least a Pentium 2 (Pentium 3 or higher is suggested)
- 256 MB RAM (400+ MB RAM is suggested)
- 8 GB HDD (20-40 GB recommended)
- CD-ROM Drive (for installing Asterisk)
- 10/100 NIC Ethernet Card (PCI)
- Modem
Now that you got the bare bones going.. I suggest you download Asterisk@Home (
http//asteriskathome.sourceforge.net/[]http//asteriskathome.sourceforge.net/
This is the easiest route to take if you want to get a PBX up and running.. Its simply an installation disc that formats, automatically partitions, and install everything need to run an Asterisk box).. or if your a hardcore linux user (such as myself).. You can install the distribution of your choice, download all the dependents, install/compile and build from the ground up. But I won't get into detail on how to take the harder route as this tutorial would be pages long..
Going back to Asterisk@Home.. You must keep in mind that Asterisk@Home will robinson... It will wipe out the hard drive and rebuild the partitions and begin installation. Only install on a box dedicated to your PBX.
After Installation, Connect to your Asterisk box from another PC using the provided IP address for your box. Then customize it the way you want (check out
asteriskathome.sourceforge.net[]asteriskathome.sourceforge.net and your VoIP providers on setting up extensions, trunks and so on).. or you can drop me a PM.. I'll be more than happy to help.
That should cover the base of PBXes and Asterisk. I hope this inspired some people to take a closer look at 'The Phone System'