Hi, This might not be a very popular question, but I was just wondering if anyone have ever tried to run Asterisk on a Windows computer using Microsoft Virtual Server (microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx). I am told that you can run Linux on a virtual server using this software, so in theory it should be possible. I run a windows based domain, but am also keep run Asterisk. I could use a different computer, but that would use more electricity. So I was thinking on upgrading my server to the latest specs, and trying to run Asterisk on Windows 2003 using this software. If anyone has managed this, I would love to hear from you. Thanks, Paul.
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005, Paul Tyreman wrote:> Hi, > > This might not be a very popular question, but I was just wondering if > anyone have ever tried to run Asterisk on a Windows computer using Microsoft > Virtual Server > (microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx). > > [SNIP] > > If anyone has managed this, I would love to hear from you. > > Thanks, Paul.It "works", but you will have timing issues and very poor audio quality. I've run linux both under Vmware as well as running it under CoLinux directly on windows w/ no emulation neccessary. All emulation / virtualization layers have a problem whereby they are not able to keep up with the interrupt frequency that good quality audio requires, so you will hear pops, drops and buzzes in your conversation. That being said, I did run my Home PBX for several months on a Dual Opteron box running Windows XP and the AstWind package: digium.com/index.php?menu=astwind SIP to IAX2 was OK, and only had some minor glitches. However, when you start involving disk access, the audio falls apart almost entirely. When I asked on the CoLinux mailing list about the reasons for this, they explained that they have to "fake" interrupt timings for the CoLinux kernel, and as a result they can't gurantee anything consistent for latency between cycles. -- Vice President of N2Net, a New Age Consulting Service, Inc. Company n2net.net Where everything clicks into place! KP-216-121-ST
On 30 Jan 2005, at 14:02, Paul Tyreman wrote:> Hi, > > This might not be a very popular question, but I was just wondering if > anyone have ever tried to run Asterisk on a Windows computer using > Microsoft Virtual Server > (microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver > default.mspx). > > I am told that you can run Linux on a virtual server using this > software, so in theory it should be possible. > > I run a windows based domain, but am also keep run Asterisk. I could > use a different computer, but that would use more electricity. So I > was thinking on upgrading my server to the latest specs, and trying to > run Asterisk on Windows 2003 using this software.Another way to go would be to spend your upgrade money on one of these: rpanetwork.co.uk/catalogue/basket.rhtm? add=1&productID=180544&pi=1 It's a low powered server which runs asterisk quite nicely. Installed one with an E1 card last week and it seems fine so far. I had RPA load Suse instead of OpenBSD for better asterisk support. You _might_ get away with running Asterisk in a virtual server, but I bet you'd suffer poor voice quality. Extra layers are bound to introduce latency and Asterisk hates that :-)> > If anyone has managed this, I would love to hear from you. > > >westhawk.co.uk
digium.com/index.php?menu=astwind I think this may be worth a look, I'm downloading it as I type this e-mail... I didn't know Asterisk had the possibility of being run on a windows machine and while it's not as stable as a Linux implementation, it might just do for the moment, as I don't have many users. Is there any documentation on this windows based software, or if not, do you know where I can get more info on it ? Thanks, Paul. -----Original Message----- From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Greg Boehnlein Posted At: 30 January 2005 14:43 Posted To: Asterisk-Users Conversation: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk on MS Virtual Server Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk on MS Virtual Server It "works", but you will have timing issues and very poor audio quality. I've run linux both under Vmware as well as running it under CoLinux directly on windows w/ no emulation neccessary. All emulation / virtualization layers have a problem whereby they are not able to keep up with the interrupt frequency that good quality audio requires, so you will hear pops, drops and buzzes in your conversation. That being said, I did run my Home PBX for several months on a Dual Opteron box running Windows XP and the AstWind package: digium.com/index.php?menu=astwind SIP to IAX2 was OK, and only had some minor glitches. However, when you start involving disk access, the audio falls apart almost entirely. When I asked on the CoLinux mailing list about the reasons for this, they explained that they have to "fake" interrupt timings for the CoLinux kernel, and as a result they can't gurantee anything consistent for latency between cycles. -- Vice President of N2Net, a New Age Consulting Service, Inc. Company n2net.net Where everything clicks into place! KP-216-121-ST
On Sun, 2005-01-30 at 14:02 +0000, Paul Tyreman wrote:> Hi, > > This might not be a very popular question, but I was just wondering if > anyone have ever tried to run Asterisk on a Windows computer using Microsoft > Virtual Server > (microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx). > > I am told that you can run Linux on a virtual server using this software, so > in theory it should be possible. > > I run a windows based domain, but am also keep run Asterisk. I could use a > different computer, but that would use more electricity. So I was thinking > on upgrading my server to the latest specs, and trying to run Asterisk on > Windows 2003 using this software. > > If anyone has managed this, I would love to hear from you. > > Thanks, Paul.Maybe this is not something you would like to consider, but here is *my* 0.02c worth (please read to the end to get the full picture): * Dump windows, and install linux * Install vmware under linux * Install your windows 2003 inside vmware * Install asterisk under linux native * Make sure you start asterisk with -p and as user root This should (in theory) give you a decent asterisk system, and keep your fully functional (well, the same as what you have now) windows server. If your windows domain authentication request is delayed by 90ms, will your users notice? No. If your telephone conversation (audio) is delayed by random times between 10 and 200ms, will your caller's notice? Maybe... Some people report 'acceptable' telephone conversations under pretty bad conditions, but I would prefer the domain authentication stuff to get delayed rather than my call with a customer... Regards, Adam