Greetings- I'm about to dive into the process of virtualizing some of my Asterisk (primarily 1.4.x) infrastructure. In the past, when looking at virt solutions, the primary issue preventing me from moving was the lack of proper timing. We do not need it for MeetMe but rather for IAX2 trunking. I'd like to use either OpenVZ or KVM, but each seem to have independent "issues" that need to be addressed: OpenVZ - Better resource usage, lower overhead. Primary issue is how to grant access to host node timing source (physical device, or dahdi_dummy in /dev/dahdi/) to the containerized Asterisk process. KVM - Higher overhead, easier installation, 'true virtualization'. Primary issue is not timing per se, but KVM scheduling. Timing source, while present from dahdi_dummy natively may still not get proper scheduling by KVM process. This could also affect general call quality (even non IAX2 trunked voice), DTMF, etc. I have to believe there are others running virtualized Asterisk installations with some degree of success on OpenVZ or KVM. Care to share your thoughts? --Tim
Nic Colledge
2011-Nov-01 18:32 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Have you thought about using LXC rather than OpenVZ.
There are a few references to allowing guest access to timing hardware online.
I've only been playing with it recently and haven't used it in
production yet but plan to soon.
As for general thoughts about virtualising asterisk, I tried it in the past
(about a year ago) on KVM and VMWare and it didn't work too well for me.
Regardless of whether you are using LXC / OpenVZ / KVM / Whatever, you should be
careful not to have too much other stuff running on the box. If asterisk has to
wait to get CPU time you will really notice it, this isn't a problem with
other applications like say a webserver.
Nic.
-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces
at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Tim Nelson
Sent: 01 November 2011 17:08
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: [asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Greetings-
I'm about to dive into the process of virtualizing some of my Asterisk
(primarily 1.4.x) infrastructure. In the past, when looking at virt solutions,
the primary issue preventing me from moving was the lack of proper timing. We do
not need it for MeetMe but rather for IAX2 trunking. I'd like to use either
OpenVZ or KVM, but each seem to have independent "issues" that need to
be addressed:
OpenVZ - Better resource usage, lower overhead. Primary issue is how to grant
access to host node timing source (physical device, or dahdi_dummy in
/dev/dahdi/) to the containerized Asterisk process.
KVM - Higher overhead, easier installation, 'true virtualization'.
Primary issue is not timing per se, but KVM scheduling. Timing source, while
present from dahdi_dummy natively may still not get proper scheduling by KVM
process. This could also affect general call quality (even non IAX2 trunked
voice), DTMF, etc.
I have to believe there are others running virtualized Asterisk installations
with some degree of success on OpenVZ or KVM. Care to share your thoughts?
--Tim
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Johan Wilfer
2011-Nov-01 21:46 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
2011-11-01 18:08, Tim Nelson skrev:> Greetings- > > I'm about to dive into the process of virtualizing some of my Asterisk (primarily 1.4.x) infrastructure. In the past, when looking at virt solutions, the primary issue preventing me from moving was the lack of proper timing. We do not need it for MeetMe but rather for IAX2 trunking. I'd like to use either OpenVZ or KVM, but each seem to have independent "issues" that need to be addressed: > > OpenVZ - Better resource usage, lower overhead. Primary issue is how to grant access to host node timing source (physical device, or dahdi_dummy in /dev/dahdi/) to the containerized Asterisk process. > > KVM - Higher overhead, easier installation, 'true virtualization'. Primary issue is not timing per se, but KVM scheduling. Timing source, while present from dahdi_dummy natively may still not get proper scheduling by KVM process. This could also affect general call quality (even non IAX2 trunked voice), DTMF, etc. > > I have to believe there are others running virtualized Asterisk installations with some degree of success on OpenVZ or KVM. Care to share your thoughts? >Hi Tim, I'm using OpenVZ, it works very well. Take a look at: http://wiki.openvz.org/Asterisk_from_source You will have to compile dahdi and install it on the HN, and then you compile and install asterisk in the containers. I've not done this with chan_iax, but with meetme. In the case with meetme you would have to move some files over to trick asterisk that dahdi is compiled on the machine. The wiki mentions copying user.h. I used this as a starting point, some years ago: http://www.telephreak.org/papers/vpa/ This paper covers vserver, so it's not exactly the same - but the steps with tonezone was the same when I built the current server running this configuration. I'm in the process of building another server with openvz, so I'll need to refresh my memory and try to document the procedure. -- Med v?nlig h?lsning Johan Wilfer email: johan at jttech.se JT Tech | Utvecklare webb: http://jttech.se direkt: +46 31 380 91 01 support: +46 31 380 91 00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/attachments/20111101/8a053c8e/attachment.htm>
Warren Selby
2011-Nov-01 22:52 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Look at upgrading to at least 1.6.2 or 1.8, these both have newer timing sources that don't rely on dahdi. Also, if conferencing is a big deal, look at 10, this contains a complete rewrite of ConfBridge which doesn't require dahdi for mixing at all. Thanks, --Warren Selby, dCAP On Nov 1, 2011, at 12:08 PM, Tim Nelson <tnelson at rockbochs.com> wrote:> Greetings- > > I'm about to dive into the process of virtualizing some of my Asterisk (primarily 1.4.x) infrastructure. In the past, when looking at virt solutions, the primary issue preventing me from moving was the lack of proper timing. We do not need it for MeetMe but rather for IAX2 trunking. I'd like to use either OpenVZ or KVM, but each seem to have independent "issues" that need to be addressed: > > OpenVZ - Better resource usage, lower overhead. Primary issue is how to grant access to host node timing source (physical device, or dahdi_dummy in /dev/dahdi/) to the containerized Asterisk process. > > KVM - Higher overhead, easier installation, 'true virtualization'. Primary issue is not timing per se, but KVM scheduling. Timing source, while present from dahdi_dummy natively may still not get proper scheduling by KVM process. This could also affect general call quality (even non IAX2 trunked voice), DTMF, etc. > > I have to believe there are others running virtualized Asterisk installations with some degree of success on OpenVZ or KVM. Care to share your thoughts? > > --Tim > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Hans Witvliet
2011-Nov-03 08:23 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
On Tue, 2011-11-01 at 12:08 -0500, Tim Nelson wrote:> Greetings- > > I'm about to dive into the process of virtualizing some of my Asterisk (primarily 1.4.x) infrastructure. In the past, when looking at virt solutions, the primary issue preventing me from moving was the lack of proper timing. We do not need it for MeetMe but rather for IAX2 trunking. I'd like to use either OpenVZ or KVM, but each seem to have independent "issues" that need to be addressed: > > OpenVZ - Better resource usage, lower overhead. Primary issue is how to grant access to host node timing source (physical device, or dahdi_dummy in /dev/dahdi/) to the containerized Asterisk process. > > KVM - Higher overhead, easier installation, 'true virtualization'. Primary issue is not timing per se, but KVM scheduling. Timing source, while present from dahdi_dummy natively may still not get proper scheduling by KVM process. This could also affect general call quality (even non IAX2 trunked voice), DTMF, etc. > > I have to believe there are others running virtualized Asterisk installations with some degree of success on OpenVZ or KVM. Care to share your thoughts? >You mist out one more mature virtualization technique: XEN Virtual machines can use both hardware- or paravirtualization. I have used both asterisk (1.4, 1.6.x and now 1.8) to separate machines where people should do their sip-registration (internet / intranet / pstn-gateway) and the actual dial-beast. Main advantage for virtualization is (besides easy scaling) that you can perform an upgrade in no-time (one VM-machine down, other up) Don't like it: back in seconds! Migration with an asterisk on real hardware takes much more resources. Both in iron and in time. hw
Hans Witvliet
2011-Nov-08 23:11 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
On Mon, 2011-11-07 at 11:45 -0500, Nick Khamis wrote:> That sucks! What about KVM or XEN? > > Nick.No problems here with XEN. (Perhaps i should mention, that i use paravirtualsisation to get the best performance. Distro: mix of SLES11sp1 /open_11.4) hw
Nick Khamis
2011-Nov-08 23:13 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Hans, Thank you so much for your response. We will be moving everything to VM soon. Cheers, Nick. On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 6:11 PM, Hans Witvliet <asterisk at a-domani.nl> wrote:> On Mon, 2011-11-07 at 11:45 -0500, Nick Khamis wrote: >> That sucks! What about KVM or XEN? >> >> Nick. > > No problems here with XEN. > (Perhaps i should mention, that i use paravirtualsisation to get the > best performance. > Distro: mix of SLES11sp1 /open_11.4) > > hw > > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > ? http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users >
Anton Kvashenkin
2011-Nov-09 13:10 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Is anybody using pci-passthrough? 2011/11/9 Nick Khamis <symack at gmail.com>> Hans, > > Thank you so much for your response. We will be moving everything to VM > soon. > > Cheers, > > Nick. > > On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 6:11 PM, Hans Witvliet <asterisk at a-domani.nl> > wrote: > > On Mon, 2011-11-07 at 11:45 -0500, Nick Khamis wrote: > >> That sucks! What about KVM or XEN? > >> > >> Nick. > > > > No problems here with XEN. > > (Perhaps i should mention, that i use paravirtualsisation to get the > > best performance. > > Distro: mix of SLES11sp1 /open_11.4) > > > > hw > > > > > > -- > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > > http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > > > asterisk-users mailing list > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > > > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users >-------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/attachments/20111109/099ad32b/attachment.htm>
Nick Khamis
2011-Nov-09 13:16 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Hahah... I was waiting on the sideline for this question. Nick. On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 8:10 AM, Anton Kvashenkin <anton.jugatsu at gmail.com> wrote:> Is anybody using pci-passthrough? > > 2011/11/9 Nick Khamis <symack at gmail.com> >> >> Hans, >> >> Thank you so much for your response. We will be moving everything to VM >> soon. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Nick. >> >> On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 6:11 PM, Hans Witvliet <asterisk at a-domani.nl> >> wrote: >> > On Mon, 2011-11-07 at 11:45 -0500, Nick Khamis wrote: >> >> That sucks! What about KVM or XEN? >> >> >> >> Nick. >> > >> > No problems here with XEN. >> > (Perhaps i should mention, that i use paravirtualsisation to get the >> > best performance. >> > Distro: mix of SLES11sp1 /open_11.4) >> > >> > hw >> > >> > >> > -- >> > _____________________________________________________________________ >> > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- >> > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: >> > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.asterisk.org/hello >> > >> > asterisk-users mailing list >> > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: >> > ? http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users >> > >> >> -- >> _____________________________________________________________________ >> -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- >> New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: >> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.asterisk.org/hello >> >> asterisk-users mailing list >> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: >> ? http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > ? http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users >
Hans Witvliet
2011-Nov-09 22:23 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
On Wed, 2011-11-09 at 16:10 +0300, Anton Kvashenkin wrote:> Is anybody using pci-passthrough? >Yes, though quite a while ago. About three years ago, i used pci-passthrough to give a dom-U access to a localy mounted smartcard. But i have a vague feeling that you are up to something else... I know that forwarding has been done for ethernet and even VGA-cards, the mere idea of forwarding a analogue or PRI card is quite something else: Timing is here essential.. hw
Nick Khamis
2011-Nov-09 22:38 UTC
[asterisk-users] State of Asterisk+Virtualization+Timing
Smart card? I think we should be leaning more towards the network devices? Cheers, Nick. On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 5:23 PM, Hans Witvliet <asterisk at a-domani.nl> wrote:> On Wed, 2011-11-09 at 16:10 +0300, Anton Kvashenkin wrote: >> Is anybody using pci-passthrough? >> > Yes, though quite a while ago. > About three years ago, i used pci-passthrough to give a dom-U access to > a localy mounted smartcard. > But i have a vague feeling that you are up to something else... > > I know that forwarding has been done for ethernet and even VGA-cards, > the mere idea of forwarding a analogue or PRI card is quite something > else: Timing is here essential.. > > hw > > -- > _____________________________________________________________________ > -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- > New to Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs: > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.asterisk.org/hello > > asterisk-users mailing list > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > ? http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users >