Hello, I am new to this and i am planning to setup a linux phone-server but i have a few questions. Sorry if they sound very newbie but i have to start somewhere, right ? :) 1) if i setup asterisk, do i need additional hardware if other computers via internet want to talk to me ? 2) How do you call somewhone else ? If someone is at the other side of the world and he has a softphone on his computer installed, does he just has to enter the number (IP) of my server ? 3) What softphones are good ? Any links to opensource/free softphones for linux and windows ? 4) is someone calls me from somewhere, let's say a hotel and he is after a firewall and got on the net via a router so he is in a private ip domain, will the communcation work or is it a client-client communcation one the connection is made ? 5) If my phone server has an ip address that changes every day, is there a solution for this ? Can i install such a free ip-domain-linker and let my softphone connect to that name instead of directly the ip address ? Thnx! Phil. Disclaimer : This e-mail is intended for the exclusive use by the person(s) mentioned as recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately. This e-mail does not constitute any commitment for Sea-Ro Terminal N.V. or its subsidiaries except when expressly otherwise agreed in a written agreement between the intended recipient and the originating subsidiaries of Sea-Ro Terminal N.V. Sea-Ro Terminal and each of its subsidiaries each reserve the right to monitor all e-mail communications through its networks. This mail has been checked for viruses by Symantec and Trend Micro.
Benjamin on Asterisk Mailing Lists
2004-Oct-22 02:33 UTC
[Asterisk-Users] Newbie General questions
On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:46:22 +0200, Philippe Dhont (Sea-ro) <philippe.dhont@searo.be> wrote:> 1) if i setup asterisk, do i need additional hardware if other computers > via internet want to talk to me ?if all you want is IP based telephony only, then all you need is ethernet, LAN wiring, hub, router, ADSL or Cable modem or FTTH media converter, in other words stuff you probably already have.> 2) How do you call somewhone else ? If someone is at the other side of > the world and he has a softphone on his computer installed, does he just > has to enter the number (IP) of my server ?in theory yes, but in practise there are obstacles you have to overcome with various workarounds. The most popular such obstacle is NAT. the easiest way to get connected to other IP phones is to join a free directory service, like for example Free World Dialup aka FWD at http://www.freeworddialup.com. You can sign up online, get an FWD number and anybody who is also signed up with FWD or who is signed up with a service that has peering with FWD will be able to call you via your FWD number.> 3) What softphones are good ?none, whatsoever. softphones are a compromise. softphones are bait. they are ok for testing before you are ready to commit yourself to buying real IP phones and they are handy in travel situations. other than that one should stay away from softphones.> Any links to opensource/free softphones for linux and windows ?search the Wiki at http://www.voip-info.org> 4) is someone calls me from somewhere, let's say a hotel and he is after > a firewall and got on the net via a router so he is in a private ip > domain, will the communcation work or is it a client-client communcation > one the connection is made ?Depends on the protocol you use. If you use one of the we-are-telephone-people-how-are-we-supposed-to-know-how-tcpip-is-meant-to-work VoIP protocols like H.323 and SIP etc, then you will need one or more hacks to get things working behind NAT. All of those hacks have serious drawbacks, most of them compromise network security. If you use a designed-by-people-who-actually-understand-tcpip VoIP protocol, like IAX, then all you need is have your client register periodically with your server and things will work like magic. the following is your recommended check list ... - if you have to use SIP, don't use NAT - if you have to use NAT, use IAX - if you have to use both SIP and NAT, use VPN to build a tunnel anything outside of those recommendations is the equivalent of using duct tape to build a house.> 5) If my phone server has an ip address that changes every day, is there > a solution for this ?http://www.dyndns.org> Can i install such a free ip-domain-linker and let my softphone connect > to that name instead of directly the ip address ?yes, but you may experience short outages from time to time depending on how fast the dynamic DNS service you are using can keep up with your address changes. rgds benjk -- Sunrise Telephone Systems, 9F Shibuya Daikyo Bldg., 1-13-5 Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. NB: Spam filters in place. Messages unrelated to the * mailing lists may get trashed.