asterisk users - Nov 2005 - Multiple zaphfc cards (for ISDN BRI) in a single machine

Hello all,

I've just returned from a visit to a client site where their existing
incoming lines are in the form of 5 ISDN BRI connections (for 10 channels
total).

We have successfully deployed Asterisk boxes with 2 HFC-based cards in the
past, but I've no idea how well a standard PC will handle 5 or 6 cards -
i.e. every PCI slot has a BRI card in it.

Any thoughts from folks who've tried this in the past?

Regards,

Chris
-- 
C.M. Bagnall, Director, Minotaur I.T. Limited
Tel: (01604) 808408   Mobile: (07811) 332969   Skype: minotaur-uk
ICQ: 13350579   AIM: MinotaurUK   MSN: msn@minotaur.cc   Y!: Minotaur_Chris
This email is made from 100% recycled electrons

I would suggest using a pair of 4-port cards. The interrupts alone
from 5 PCI cards would kill most boxes. There is also an octo-card,
but I have no personal experience of that.

The manufacturer:
  http://www.junghanns.net/en/produkte.html
For an idea of UK prices:
  http://www.ipcortex.co.uk/catalogue/catalogue.rhtm/ID-300134.html

Cheers,
Steve

On 11/3/05, Chris Bagnall <chris@minotaur.it>
wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I've just returned from a visit to a client site where their existing
> incoming lines are in the form of 5 ISDN BRI connections (for 10 channels
> total).
>
> We have successfully deployed Asterisk boxes with 2 HFC-based cards in the
> past, but I've no idea how well a standard PC will handle 5 or 6 cards
-
> i.e. every PCI slot has a BRI card in it.
>
> Any thoughts from folks who've tried this in the past?
>
> Regards,
>
> Chris

Chris Bagnall wrote:
> I've just returned from a visit to a client site where their existing
> incoming lines are in the form of 5 ISDN BRI connections (for 10 channels
> total).
> 
> We have successfully deployed Asterisk boxes with 2 HFC-based cards in the
> past, but I've no idea how well a standard PC will handle 5 or 6 cards
-
> i.e. every PCI slot has a BRI card in it.
> 
> Any thoughts from folks who've tried this in the past?
I would not use multiple HFC-cards, but would either use the QuadBRI or 
OctoBRI cards available (and pointed out by a previous poster), or use 
an external ISDN gateway. It seems INALP has come across with some new 
pricing, something like 500-600 EUR for a 4-Port ISDN gateway (Inalp 
SN4638 Gateway/Router)

Let us know your final findings.
-- 
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005, Chris Bagnall wrote:
> We have successfully deployed Asterisk boxes with 2 HFC-based cards in the
> past, but I've no idea how well a standard PC will handle 5 or 6 cards
-
> i.e. every PCI slot has a BRI card in it.
> 
> Any thoughts from folks who've tried this in the past?
I'd guess that 5 hfc cards would really be pushing it.  Just use 
quad-boards.  Junghanns, Sirrix, Beronet are 3 I know about.

Steve