Asterisk PBX so many choices, where to begin?
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So while on vacation I will have some time to start "playing" with Asterisk based PBX options, more for my own education than anything. Being a linux Noob (thanks @scottalanmiller for your excellent education series, saved my butt a couple times) and coming from Lync/Skype4Business, I'm looking for the "best" direction of PBX software to broaden my horizons. Install will be a local VM on my test server@home with 2 or 3 Polycom Soundpoint IP hard phones and whatever softphone I can get to work. What dist would be a good starting point? I found a old thread comparing Elastix to FreePBX (https://mangolassi.it/topic/5151/elastix-or-freepbx-and-why) but definitely dated as Elastix 4 is out. I have also found things like Xvio/IncrediblePBX (care of the Nerd Vittles website). I am leaning towards FreePBX as that seems to be what everyone is running for production systems. Let me know your thoughts and thanks in advance for replying!
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I love my FreePBX
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FREEPBX!!!! We use this is most of our customer systems. We have a few customers still on Elastix from way back but are slowly moving them over to freepbx.
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Definitely FreePBX
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Someone asked this yesterday on SW.
This was my answer to the OP there.
I would never use Elastix any longer. They really dropped the ball on their distrobution.
For a new to Asterisk person, I recommend that you go with simple and straightforward by using FreePBX installed via ISO.
PBX in a Flash is a solid solution but they have their own agenda when it comes to how FOSS the FreePBX GUI is. They make and optionally include a large number of customizations that will honestly over complicate your install. For an experienced user, these are some really nice features, but they increase the learning curve.
Notes:
Asterisk is the PBX itself.
FreePBX is a GUI that goes on top of Asterisk. This GUI is used by distros such as Elastix, FreePBX, and PBX in a Flash.
Elastix is an Asterisk distro.
PBX in a Flash is an Asterisk distro.
FreePBX is also now (it did not used to be) a full Asterisk distro.
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Never got a chance to work on PBX, if i need to setup FreePBX what would be the basic requirements? Just a basic setup, connect some softphones and may be if possible get this softphone used to make outgoing calls other than to extensions. what would i need to setup this at home?
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@Ambarishrh said in Asterisk PBX so many choices, where to begin?:
Never got a chance to work on PBX, if i need to setup FreePBX what would be the basic requirements? Just a basic setup, connect some softphones and may be if possible get this softphone used to make outgoing calls other than to extensions. what would i need to setup this at home?
Do you want to do it just for inhouse calling? If you don't you would need to look at purchasing a SIP trunk from a provider. Or just using Google Voice like I had setup in the past.
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I would be interested to make calls outside. Here in the UAE they have pretty strict policies on VOIP. I use a voip service called Nymgo with PrivateInternetAccess VPN, but would be great if i can use a provider and try this from the PBX. Not sure if google voice works outside US
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@Ambarishrh said in Asterisk PBX so many choices, where to begin?:
I would be interested to make calls outside. Here in the UAE they have pretty strict policies on VOIP. I use a voip service called Nymgo with PrivateInternetAccess VPN, but would be great if i can use a provider and try this from the PBX. Not sure if google voice works outside US
Sorry, I keep forgetting about the outside the US thing.