TIPS Hardware Recommendations

edisoninfo

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I'm trying to standardize what hardware I use. I am using the Dell 210 server for larger installs but the smaller ones I have not found something to standardize on. I have been using the MitxPC M300 units that are great. They have 1 pci slot but the problem is, if I use the slot, then I have to drill holes in the case and custom mount the laptop hard drive. The drive hangs from the lid right where the pci card is. Dumb design but otherwise a great unit. It pretty much has the same guts as the Asus Revo 1600 which I use for pure voip installs.

So I guess what I'm asking is, what have you all settled on for the middle units? Something with at least 1 pci slot and wall mountable, professional looking, etc. The Rhino Ceros-160 looks great, but I have a hard time paying almost $1000 when I can get the MitxPC box for $300 and they have comparable processing power.
 

Linetux

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I don't know about wall-mounting... I rack-mount all of my installs. I ALWAYS buy one of these Supermicros for anything less than about 50 users:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101262

or for a little more CPU, go with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101332

Both have Atom CPU's, both allow for a single PCIe (PCI if you find the right riser), and you can easily fit 2x 2.5" drives in it (mounted properly!).

I've been buying these since they became available, and I've never had a single problem with any of them.
 

golfnut

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If an appropriate case is found to used with one of the Supermicro m-itx atom boards are there any issues using a Sangoma A200D card with one or two expansion boards? I'm able to put together a Atom 510 setup for about $450 from newegg. This would be running about 25 extenstions and about 10-12 calls.
 

jmullinix

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Any chance you would tell me which riser card you are using for PCIe or PCI?
 

Linetux

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Part numbers for reference:

2x 2.5" HDD mount:

Supermicro Part # MCP-220-00044-0N
( http://www.provantage.com/supermicro-mcp-220-00044-0n~7SUP9019.htm )

PCIe Riser:

Supermicro Part # CSE-RR1U-E8
( http://www.provantage.com/supermicro-cse-rr1u-e8~7SUP91UE.htm or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101331 )

PCI Riser:

This one is a little more tricky. The Atom 510D does NOT have PCI slots. The Atom 330 does... but they are offset just a bit from where you'd need them to be. So what you really need to have is a 'flexible' PCI riser. Google is your friend:

http://www.google.com/products?q=flexible+pci+riser

But you'll have to pick something there. Be careful here - there's a fair amount of voltage going over that bus, and some of these parts are pretty cheap using basically IDE ribbon cables... I had one go up in smoke on me upon firing it up! So if possible, I avoid using PCI on these setups.

Happy shopping....
 

marlonbaez

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I use to buy same Supermicro servers from www.gopcn.com
They got very good prices and you can configure your server as you need for PIAF installation.
 

Speedy2k

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I use to buy same Supermicro servers from www.gopcn.com
They got very good prices and you can configure your server as you need for PIAF installation.

I have buy 10 box from them and really good service and i really love those supermicro case! But you need to use PCIe, because the analog trunk card are too much thick they get really thight between the flexibl riser and the top cover! If you go with the supermicro server, go with a PCIe card!
 

atsak

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I used this:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107043

on the recommendation of someone else here. It has two PCI slots, so handy if you need a couple Sangoma cards in there to handle 8 trunks or something like that. All the needed parts (hard drives / CDROM are available on Newegg as well).

I also for smaller installs build a clone myself using an inwin case and ASUS motherboard with dual core atom, but you need a custom mounting bracket for that. It's cheaper though all in. Once PCI slot only.
 

Braxus

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Thought I'd put down another vote the Supermicro hardware.

Been using a 5015A-H with a Sangoma A102DE here at a local goverment agency for the past 1.5yrs on a PRI. It also acts as the PBX server for two other remote offices.

Currently have 102 nodes using G711 with no transcoding so CPU barely takes a hit even during our busiest hours.
 

drmurdoch

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JetwayHBJC110C91-330BooksizeBareboneSystemneweggca.jpg


This Jetway is huge versus an Acer Revo.
I want an Acer Revo that is just big enough to fit a PCIe slot so I can fit my Sangoma A2000D card with 4 FXO.
 

drmurdoch

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Would these be good motherboards for a small form factor PIAF install ?

http://www.liantec.com/product/tbm/TBM-X2000PE.htm

Unrelated but ....

Lavatronics PBX-1 Micro IP-PBX
handheld.jpg

Probably the Worlds smallest IP-PBX - Available pre-installed with your choice of trixbox CE or PBX in a Flash
Code:
http://www.pbx-shop.co.uk/

Someone tell them to make this ... but with enough space for a TDM card.

Does Sangoma have any suggestions ?
 

Venio

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Is it possible to fit an OpenVox A400P PCI card in a Supermicro 5015A-H?
 

wardmundy

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Just Getting Started and Prefer Off-the-Shelf

Here's our latest and greatest advice for those just getting started with PBX in a Flash that aren't sure about hardware and would prefer a prebuilt retail system. If you can't afford Dell, visit your neighborhood Best Buy and pick out a machine. If it doesn't have a CD/DVD drive, you'll either need an external one or your can do a USB flash install of PIAF 1.7.5.7.

THERE IS A 14-DAY RETURN POLICY ON COMPUTERS! BE SURE TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS NO RESTOCKING FEE!

When you get the machine home, be sure there is a way to reinstall Windows on the machine, i.e. a disk in the box. Once you're sure, load PIAF on the box and see if it works. If it does, great! If not, reinstall Windows and take the machine back to Best Buy for a refund within 14 days.

Sorry, but we have no way to test every new piece of hardware that hits the street. If you can get a refund of your purchase price without a restocking fee, that's your best bet. Please report results here for the benefit of everyone else. Thanks.
 

kenewto

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For what it's worth, I just installed a ZOTAC ZBOXHD-ID40-PLUS Atom Dual-Core D525 Mini PC. At the time is was $280 now about $310 on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NBZ95S/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details

The only thing that I had to adjust for was the NIC.
The CentOS was smooth, and after reboot, it see's the NIC as active but can't get a DHCP address. To get past this, I unplugged the cable while it is hanging while determining the IP addres and plug it back in after it starts back up again. The automatic install will fail and when you get to the point to log in, log in as root, type piafxtras-menu and set up the NIC then reboot. I installed the Realteck 8111. Second boot, Same process but then I set the static IP. It's a little cumbersome but it can run both 64 bit and 32 bit package.
 

awair

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Which Hardware option would you recommend?

I have 2 identical Atom 230 (dual core) computers purchased specifically for running PBX in a Flash. One is intended as the primary (remote location), the other as backup (local). Both have 1 GB RAM & a single 120 GB HDD.

Would it be better to run each as a physical machine, including use as my primary (family) mail server -or- with Proxmox hosting 2 VMs on each, one for mail and the other for PBX in a Flash? [10 PBX extensions, max 2 calls & 10 mailboxes.]

Considerations include:
Performance
Security
Data Integrity & Recovery
Replication & Migration for upgrade/hardware replacement.

I understand that there are trade-offs, but thanks for the input.
 

wardmundy

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In our labs, we're actually experimenting with using a redundant, failover system. Sooner or later, it will be made available. If that is of interest, then you need to be using stock PIAF2 installs. We strongly recommend running these systems behind a secure, hardware-based firewall with no port exposure to the Internet. In that configuration, most of your security woes are minimized without separating components onto separate boxes.
 

Huckda

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Over a year later...
Wondering if anyone has any suggestions for small business hardware... say less than 75 extensions and 4 POTS lines from the teleco?
 

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