PCI over Ethernet?
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Hey Guys and Gals,
In our environment, we have ONE physical server left. This is because it is a specialized IVR system that interfaces with one of our databases (allows people to call in and check on status, postpone things, as well as update some information), and it utilizes these PCI voice cards. Ironically, we take the output of these cards and connect them to ATAs to interface with our VoIP system.
The system I am talking about is an IVR interface for our Jury Management System (I work for a court). It interfaces with said JMS system and allows Jurors to check when they need to report for jury duty and submit any responses requested based on the Juror Summons they received in the mail. They key in their badge number, their last name, and then based on their jury duty history are then presented with various options (check whether or not they need to report for jury duty, request an excuse from jury service if they are eligible for exclusion based on their jury duty history, update their juror information, respond to supplemental juror questions if there are any, etc.).
In the world of VMware, last I recall you can do PCI bus passthrough. Unfortunately, we are a XenServer shop and last I checked this feature does not exist with Xen.
So, this has me wondering...is there such a device that'll allow you to encapsulate the PCI bus over Ethernet? The idea being that we put these PCI cards in this magical box that is then IPed. On the IVR server, we install the magical drivers that allows the OS to interface with the box and essencially extend the PCI bus via IP.
Does such a thing exist?
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Your VoIP systems doesn't do IVR?
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hate to suggest it - why not do VMWare for that one box? You could use the free version, and if you have a client based Backup solution you can do backups.
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@aaronstuder It does, but this is not just IVR. It's an IVR interface for one of our databases. People can call in and get status on stuff along with submit responses (like to postpone and/or update their information).
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@anthonyh that makes more sense now
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I've never seen a PCIoE device. Possible, but I've not seen it done.
I'm with Aaron here, why not have the PBX do IVR?
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What happens when the physical server shits the bed? This seems like a big business risk.
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@scottalanmiller Updated my OP to explain why this isn't done on the PBX.
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@anthonyh What VoIP solution are you using?
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@aaronstuder said in PCI over Ethernet?:
What happens when the physical server shits the bed? This seems like a big business risk.
This is why I'm asking this question. I'd like to incorporate it into our virtual environment if I can so that 1) it's included in our VM backups, and 2) it's covered under our HA pool in the event of some sort of hardware issue.
As of right now, if it took a shit I'd be shitting too.
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@aaronstuder said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@anthonyh What VoIP solution are you using?
PBX In A Flash.
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Who wrote the IVR interface? Do they offer other non PCI options in light of PBX IVR solutions these days?
20 years ago, Nuance sold hardware solution IVR cards, today they sell IVR software that does the same thing and ditches the hardware requirement.
Of course management says - hey why do I have to spend money replacing something that works perfectly well - so good luck with that.
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@anthonyh said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@aaronstuder said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@anthonyh What VoIP solution are you using?
PBX In A Flash.
That definitely has its own IVR functionality.
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@aaronstuder said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@anthonyh said:
PBX In A Flash.
Why?
Why not? Except for this very specialized scenario, PIAF has worked beautifully and has saved us a shit ton of $$$$.
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@anthonyh said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@aaronstuder said in PCI over Ethernet?:
@anthonyh said:
PBX In A Flash.
Why?
Why not? Except for this very specialized scenario, PIAF has worked beautifully and has saved us a shit ton of $$$$.
Saved you money compared to the standard alternatives of FreePBX or Elastix which are also free and their IVRs are very simple to use?
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@anthonyh I am a FreePBX fan myself. I think others here are too
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Sure their IVRs are easy to use for the functionality of the switch they were built for (PIAF or FreePBX, etc) but what about extending them? can it done? I'm sure it can, the question is at what cost?
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Which brings up a great question - how much did that old hardware solution cost you?
