asterisk users - Aug 2004 - Using a TE405P to connect to an existing PBX

We originally purchased a TE405P so we could connect our Asterisk server
directly to the T1 PRI from our provider, however due to all the
problems reported with T1 PRI's interacting directly with Asterisk, we
scrapped that idea and decided to stick with our Cisco router making the
conversion to SIP. 

Anyways, we found a new potential use for it. We have an old location
with an existing PBX, and they want to be able to "share" our
PRI's here
and make calls to our location without tying up phone lines. Their
existing PBX system has 2 PRI's from some telco running into it. If I
put 1 or 2 TE405P's inside a decent machine, can it "trick" their
PBX
system into thinking it's talking to a standard PRI? Essentially be a
FXS port instead of an FXO port? Looking at the zaptel.conf file and it
seems as simple as using fxoks vs fxsks? And then using a T1 crossover
cable to get a link?

So then as far as their PBX is concerned, it's talking to a real PRI,
but then the Asterisk server would take it and convert it to IAX
(possibly with trunking to save bandwidth) and send it off to our
Asterisk server here. 

The documentation I've found on configuring a TE405P isn't very
detailed, does anybody have a link to some more in depth instructions
with lots of examples? Do you recommend 2 cards in one server, or 2
different servers?

On Fri, 13 Aug 2004, drodden wrote:
> We originally purchased a TE405P so we could connect our Asterisk server
> directly to the T1 PRI from our provider, however due to all the
> problems reported with T1 PRI's interacting directly with Asterisk, we
> scrapped that idea and decided to stick with our Cisco router making the
> conversion to SIP. 
We use a pri without any real problems. YMMV.
> Anyways, we found a new potential use for it. We have an old location
> with an existing PBX, and they want to be able to "share" our
PRI's here
> and make calls to our location without tying up phone lines. Their
> existing PBX system has 2 PRI's from some telco running into it. If I
> put 1 or 2 TE405P's inside a decent machine, can it "trick"
their PBX
> system into thinking it's talking to a standard PRI? Essentially be a
> FXS port instead of an FXO port? Looking at the zaptel.conf file and it
> seems as simple as using fxoks vs fxsks? And then using a T1 crossover
> cable to get a link?
I think you have confused a digital trunk line and a PRI. A PRI runs isdn 
signalling (pri_cpe or pri_net depending on which end of the link it is 
on). If your equipment is pri then you will probably be able to connect it 
to a te405p. Configure one port for pri_net and one for pri_cpe and 
connect appropriatly. A crossover cable will be needed somewhere.
> The documentation I've found on configuring a TE405P isn't very
> detailed, does anybody have a link to some more in depth instructions
> with lots of examples? Do you recommend 2 cards in one server, or 2
> different servers?
One te405p handles 4 t1/e1 links, giving 92/120 B channels. If you need 
more than that (it does not sound like that from your description) you 
will probably need more than one machine. At least that seems to be the 
concensus on this mailing list.

Peter