Switching to VoIP

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Chapter 3: Linux as a PBX

Key Issues: Linux as a PBX

• Asterisk is an open source PBX in software that runs on Linux, BSD, and Mac

OS X. It’s a great test environment for evaluating VoIP; it’s also a solid solution

for production systems.

• Because Asterisk was written in C on Linux from the ground up, with many

POSIX conventions at its heart, a duty-ready version of Asterisk for Windows

doesn’t exist.

• Digium, Quicknet, and others make interface cards that allow Linux softPBX

servers to connect to the PSTN using POTS and T1/E1 lines.

• The Asterisk CLI is an administrative interface that allows programming of

extensions and monitoring of system activity.

• The Asterisk Management socket API allows the Astman application to monitor

calls in progress on an Asterisk softPBX. It’s also possible to use the API to build

your own applications.

• Asterisk, like many softPBX systems, refers to each leg of a voice call as a

channel.

• Asterisk is commercially maintained by Digium, Inc., and supported by Digium

and other consulting firms.