asterisk users - May 2005 - My experience with our VS-1 Asterisk server

I own and operate a number of franchised Sylvan Learning Centers where 
I recently upgraded to an all VOIP phone system (Asterisk) with one 
VS-1 and about 25 extensions scattered around the country.   I had 
originally setup a Dell 420 SC but the Dell had incurable buss issues 
with single span and quad span T1 cards.  I wasted a LOT of time trying 
to get the Dell to work and finally gave up on it and bought a VS-1 
from thevoipconnection.com which has worked great right out of the box 
for about a month now . We connect to our T1 using Digium's T110TE 
which works great.  I would be happy to answer questions by email or 
phone about my experience with our VS-1.

Anthony Gagliardo
501-765-0229



Message: 21
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 22:37:08 -0400
From: "The VoIP Connection" <asterisk-biz@thevoipconnection.com>
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] * Server
To: "'snacktime'" <snacktime@gmail.com>,
"'Asterisk Users Mailing List
	- Non-Commercial Discussion'"	<asterisk-users@lists.digium.com>
Message-ID: <20050513023650.5A6E7FC0D3@lists.digium.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Chris,

Obviously we can't publish a list of our customers on this or any other 
news
group, but if you would like some references we would be happy to 
provide
them.  I know some of them are on the list, maybe they will be kind 
enough
to share their opinions.

The VS-1 has been performing flawlessly in production at numerous 
locations
for over a year now, and it should continue to do so for many more.  The
reason we don't specify an Asterisk version on our web site and data 
sheet
is that the "marketing hype" for the VS-1 pre-dates Version 1.0. The 
latest
VS-1 comes with two versions of Asterisk installed:  One is a "stable"
version (currently 1.0.7), the other is a "development" version which
is
built from CVS head and the occasional assorted patches. The management
interface allows the administrator to easily select which of the two
versions of Asterisk ("stable" or "development")they wish to
run.
Either
version can be updated or modified by the administrator should they 
choose
to.

Since the door has been opened, I'll offer up a little more
"hype":

Unlike some other "turn-key" products, the VS-1 is not an attempt to 
dumb
down or obfuscate Asterisk.  It is not impaired or restricted in any 
way.
Our web management interface is a layer on top of the standard 
configuration
file interface and it does not interfere with or overwrite direct edits 
to
the files. The system comes with most of the popular functionality
pre-configured: voicemail, festival, moh, meetme, FOP, etc. and also
includes a number of other tools and utilities that ease setup, phone
provisioning and remote administration.

Like a lot of good technology, the VS-1 is 1% inspiration and 99%
perspiration.  A significant amount of engineering has gone into this
unassuming little black box.  It is designed for stability and 
reliability
as opposed to ultra high performance, but with limited transcoding it 
can
easily handle a full T1 of PRI. It's also pre-configured for several 
popular
VoIP service providers and it gets along just fine with a TDM400P card. 
  We
stand behind it with a one year replacement warrantee and 30 day money 
back
guarantee.

Michael Crown
Managing Partner
www.thevoipconnection.com
321.989.6728 ext. 611
sip:611@voiceserver.thevoipconnection.com

-----Original Message-----
From: snacktime [mailto:snacktime@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 4:04 PM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] * Server

On 5/12/05, Montague, Clarence <Clarence.Montague@onstar.com>
wrote:
>
>
> Any reviews/comments out there on this server? Looks solid.. But would
> like to know if anyone has purchased one of these before. Any other
> companies out there offer pre-built * servers that someone would like 
> to
comment on?
>
> http://www.thevoipconnection.com/store/catalog/product_16214_VS1trade_
> Asterisk_Voice_Server.html
Personally I would want to see the full specifications and get some more
information about it's track record in production use.

If this unit was vouched for by some recognized names that have used it 
in
production, and if they stated what version of asterisk was used 
instead of
just saying it's their own 'certified' version, I might be inclined
to
say
it looks like a good deal for a small business or office environment.  
As is
it seems short on details and long on marketing hype.

Chris