asterisk users - Apr 2004 - Interfacing with an existing phone system

We want to use asterisk to extend our current phone system. It is a
regular plain old system. Has anyone done this before? We would be
adding about 4 SIP (probably Cisco) phones to use with asterisk. What
kind of card will I need to use for this, FXS or FXO.

Also does anyone have any ideas what the best way to go about this is,
should I just forward existing lines to specific phones (just to save on
running new telephone cabling) or would there be any simple ways to make
a small menu and just put one more layer before they get through?

Thanks
 
Joel Duffield
Near North Business Machines
www.NearNorthBusiness.com

On Thursday 22 April 2004 07:05 pm, Joel Duffield wrote:
> We want to use asterisk to extend our current phone system. It is a
> regular plain old system. Has anyone done this before?
Absolutely - in a lot of different ways.
> We would be 
> adding about 4 SIP (probably Cisco) phones to use with asterisk. What
> kind of card will I need to use for this, FXS or FXO.
Neither of those types of cards.  You will need an ethernet card/connection to 
use a SIP phone.  Also, before you pay all that money for new phones, you 
could test/learn using asterisk with free softphones.
> Also does anyone have any ideas what the best way to go about this is,
> should I just forward existing lines to specific phones (just to save on
> running new telephone cabling)
Many of the SIP phone have a built-in ethernet switch.  Plug the phone's 
ethernet port into your network, then plug the computer at that station into 
the phone's ethernet port.  You would not need any new/more cabling.
> or would there be any simple ways to make 
> a small menu and just put one more layer before they get through?
Asterisk is very flexible.  Chances are you can do whatever you need - with 
some learning.  ;)

Anon

On Thursday 22 April 2004 07:05 pm, Joel Duffield wrote:
> We want to use asterisk to extend our current phone system. It is a
> regular plain old system. Has anyone done this before?
Absolutely - in a lot of different ways.
> We would be 
> adding about 4 SIP (probably Cisco) phones to use with asterisk. What
> kind of card will I need to use for this, FXS or FXO.
Neither of those types of cards.  You will need an ethernet
card/connection to 
use a SIP phone.  Also, before you pay all that money for new phones,
you 
could test/learn using asterisk with free softphones.

****
- Sorry I didn't ask this question very well, I meant how will I
interface with the existing phone system, It is an old system so really
the only way I have to connect to it is through putting asterisk in
place of a phone at an extension. Can I use the four port card? The
whole thing is a trial to convince the powers that be to switch the
whole system over to VOIP as the old system is on its last legs.
****

Anon


Thanks
 
Joel Duffield
Near North Business Machines
705-787-0517 Phone
705-787-0554 Fax
J.Duffield@NearNorthBusiness.com
www.NearNorthBusiness.com