Everex gPC2 for $119 with Free Shipping

[wardmundy]

We've still got two of them chugging along with no problems. Not sure you can blame WalMart for a bad drive. I think I'd call the Everex toll-free number and at least get a free replacement. Just send it to me.

 

[mtennant]

we dropped a dual span t1 and looped it up as PRI

So James, does that mean you can simulate 24 simultaneous calls on the system and tell us if it works?

That would be nice to know.

 

[james]

We have had some huge test going in the lab taking priority over play time but I will test 23 calls (46 channels) Unfortunately we broke the warranty seal so not sure we can get new drive..

 

[james]

Everex PC (aka The WalMart Special) $199

Ok I have a system up pushing 24 analog/24 digital channels. Stress tester on pushing 5700 calls per Hour We will see how she holds up... goal is to have this go till Friday so I am guessing somewhere around 684,000 calls.

Ill let you know...

 

[james]

Locked hard @ 1440 calls.

restarting....

 

[wardmundy]

Thanks, James. How many simultaneous calls does it run?? Was this with the default 512MB of RAM??

 

[james]

Only difference is we are using our drive as their ide kinda pooped

I am pushing it up to 48 calls all pushing MOH (wavs)


load average is sitting about .53

 

[james]

10:53-11:08 seems to be a trend... 15 mins she is dead....

Note: I doubt you will push one of these this far... Realistically your system could take a week to see 1400 calls.

 

[mtennant]

How many calls simultaneously? What does the 1440 number represent?

 

[wardmundy]

Good question. I'd like to find the sweet spot if there is one. If it is stable at 30 simultaneous calls, most small businesses would be happy campers. And most VARs would be...

 

[james]

Heres the math

48 Channels

2 Channels up per second
once all 48 are up ( 24 seconds) we pause 5 seconds then tear all calls down

this nets around 96 calls per minute.

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I would never recommend using s low end system like this in the manner that I am but from what I am seeing having 24 channels in here under normal load seems realistic. I had to dremel the case a little to get a 24port card in as the drive mounts were in the way. We are not overly concerned with the warranty. Unfortunately I have to get the tester on a box that can hold the load. I was hoping this box would so I could kill two birds... I will devise a less stressful test later for this. Anyone who wants to see a certain channel or call count let me know again I will see what I can make happen..

 

[wardmundy]

With automatic failover to a second, identical box, this could be a Dream Couple ($398 total) even though you might never deploy a single machine on a standalone basis.

Here's a little more info. Note the power consumption number in particular...

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]At the heart of the gPC TC2502 is an energy-efficient 1.5GHz, VIA C7-D processor. This CPU draws less than 2W on average (with a maximum of 20W). Operating at a mere 28dB, the gPC also ranks as the quietest Everex desktop computer ever produced. It also includes 512MB of system memory, 80GB hard disk drive and DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive. The system also comes with six USB 2.0 ports; an RJ45 Ethernet port; an RJ11 port; and a serial and parallel port. The package, which doesn't include a monitor, does include a keyboard, mouse and stereo speakers. For graphics, it uses a VIA UniChrome Pro chipset on the motherboard. This, in turn, uses 64MB of system memory.

[/FONT]And the Google Shopping link.

 

[mtennant]

Ok James, I did the math. Setup and teardown 96 calls a minute for 15 minutes (1440 calls in 15 minutes) and then the system locks up on you.

To ask Ward's question again, are you still using the stock 512MB of RAM or have you added more?

I have no experience with stress testing Asterisk systems, but I'm wondering why the 15 minutes seems to be the magic breakdown moment? Is this a memory leak issue? It doesn't seem from the numbers that the concurrent call numbers (48 calls at a time) are a problem.

 

[jehowe]

......To ask Ward's question again, are you still using the stock 512MB of RAM or have you added more?....

James inferred in a previous post that he only swapped the drive, so presumably the box has the original 512MB. It would be great to see if more memory would help. With limited cooling though, I wonder if heat is coming into play.

I'm also not sure how James is measuring load, but one thing I have noticed is http spikes the cpu resources when handling requests. Running top within a terminal session is a much quieter way to get realtime resource measurements.

 

[merlyn]

Now the real question is can we still find any of these computers since walmart officially said they are no longer going to sell them.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hVyPFIJPx8NKAzElk21Isx-zQxvgD8VAQTSG0

Anyone have the Everex in stock?

Merlyn

 

[mtennant]

http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A4842001

As I stated in the first post that started this thread, I made my own using the same motherboard bought using the link above. It is $60 - delivered! Heck, put it in a huge case on the wall and call it a PBX. Seriously, the underlying technology is easy to assemble. My box has a green power supply from Antec that I'd trust more than whatever Everex put into the Walmart boxes. Roll your own!

 

[wardmundy]

NewEgg has some open box machines for $169 each (Limit: 2). Everyone else seems to be sold out. Better hurry.

On second thought, maybe Marty will start building some of these IN A SMALL CASE and reselling to all us Flashers.

 

[mtennant]

NewEgg is out of stock. Small case? Hmm? I'll see what I can do.

 

[jroper]

Ward, I'm not sure that I want to be known as a Flasher . This has some undesirable connotations in the UK, and for all I know, may have in the USA.

 

[wardmundy]

NewEgg is out of stock. Small case? Hmm? I'll see what I can do.

Tom says NewEgg still has new ones for $199. And, yes, Flashers were a big deal in the U.S. about 30 years ago. Always seemed to be guys though. Ooops. Correction. Those were streakers. We still have lots of Flashers (aka Perverts in Raincoats).