[VoIP] Is anyone out there?

[John Novack]

Mad Mark wrote:
> I just bought one and it's mainly administered via a web interface like a router. However, FTP and SSH (PuTTY) also work. The web interface doesn't allow you to set up extensions and other Asterisk configs, but allows you to edit all the config files (there are many) including rc.conf
>   
One can set up via editing the Asterisk config files from the web 
interface, though the php script has a problem or two. Kirt Stanfield 
fixed the most serious one, and Mark was going to look at the others, as 
time permits.
> The hda1 device (hard-drive) is a 64Mb compact-flash card mounted in read-only mode to extend the life of the card. It can be remounted to read/write via the web interface to edit rc.conf. Typically, there is 10Mb left on the CF card after AstLinux is installed.
>   
And the machines I have set up have a total 256 M flash, with the rest 
as hda2 and used as the "key disk"  All of the Asterisk files, sound 
files and log file go there.
Thin clients with a smaller flash can have an external USB pen drive of 
a size of your choosing for the "key disk"

> One great thing is, no moving parts - AT ALL. Completely silent.
>
> The device itself looks like a modem - it's not a square box, but a device with a molded case you can either lay down or attach the stand to have it vertical.
>   
Vertical is suggested for better ventilation, though in a comfortable 
environment should be OK regardless.
> It has Mic in, Stereo out, printer port, serial port, 4 USB ports, a 100BaseT network port, power connector. The plugpack, if you get one, has an American plug on it, but any standard computer power cable plugs into it. It has an on/off button on the front.
>   
And the power supply, if one comes with it, is 100-240 VAC 50/60 Hz 
switcher. Output of 12VDC 3.3 amps.
AstLinux isn't set up to use the sound card or serial and parallel 
ports, but someone well versed in the Knoppix version of Linux can 
probably make use of them.

> The IP, I don't think can be set via the web interface (John, correct me if I am wrong?) 
Edit RC.conf and then reboot the machine to change the IP address.
> it must be set via SSH. Or you can use DHCP if you have the service running on your network to auto-assign an IP. Careful using DHCP though, as it does not *guarantee* the box will get the same IP every time, which can break any port-forwarding you set up if it changes. The device does contain a built-in firewall, if I remember correctly.
>   
The AstLinux was built to support that, but if one only has one ethernet 
port that doesn't apply, so no, not in this configuration. AstLinux can 
be installed on most any Intel based PC though it's real beauty is on 
these lightweight machines.

> As for internal system specs, John will have to answer that one.
>   
Depends on the specific machine, but the ones I have put out so far are 
1 or 1.2 Ghz CPU, 256 Meg RAM and 256 Meg flash memory

Look up the HP T5000 series of thin clients.

JN

-- 
Dog is my co-pilot