Pre production test server

[kwatson]

Hi All, Quick question for some advice on a test server which I would then like to build into part of my production system. I've bought the manager manual and had a read of it. Also I've setup a ViciDialNow VM and am currently building a scratch install vm (for practice).

I am looking to setup a test server with E1 trunks (1 for testing but would like to get a 4 port card to scope for the future).

For the test box I want to have 10users all with call recordings with a 3:1 dial ratio. (or poss 15 with a lower dial ratio)...

Initally I will run all services off the test box.

I would prefer an HP server and guess it will need to have a full height PCI slot. Dual Core CPU or Quad.

Which Digium card should I go for I presume that some models have full DSP for echo cancellation.....

What is the memory recommendation for this, I was thinking 2GB but will that be enough?

I'm planning to run Debian lenny as from my readings of the forum there is a good performance boost to be had from this.

My real question is for the production enviroment which I would like to scope for up to 60 users predictive with call recording.....

I've got a rough idea of what i want to do but have no experaince with asterisk or vicidail (I have got a few years working with voip telephony)..

How I envisige the setup is as follows

server 1 dedicated TDM/SIP box translating 120 channels to SIP

server 2 dedicated TDM/SIP box translating 120 channels to SIP

server 3 mysql box for shared DB

server 4 dedicated apache web server to host the 60 gui clients

server 5 vicidial box with balanced dial plan to server 1/2 with overflow to server 6 -30 users

server 6 vicidial box with balanced dial plan to server 1/2 with overflow to server 5 - 30 users

server 7 low end box for call recording mixing and mp3 conversion with semi large storage for call recordings....


I would possibly like to have some blend with this in the future.

Does this plan sound ok or is it overkill with the number of servers?

Thanks in advance

Kenny

[mflorell]

What are the TDM -> SIP servers for?

As for the E1 cards, if you go with Sangoma they offer low profile quad E1 cards.

[kwatson]

Hi Matt, thanks for the reply

I thought that the load from the conversion from the E1 to sip would be quite heavy for that number of channels (I come from a mitel background and it is common place to have a dedicated switch to handle this)


Thanks

Kenny

[mflorell]

Why would you need to convert to SIP?

You can put TDM channels right into VICIDIAL agent sessions, and we use IAX to have calls go from Asterisk server to Asterisk server. If you want you can actually have a full VICIDIAL dialer system with multiple servers not using SIP at all.

[kwatson]

OK, so would i be best having the servers with the E1 cards as the vicidial servers?

Also is it recommended to use the last stable release or the svn trunk with new features and bug fixes?

Thanks
Kenny

[mflorell]

Yes, you can use the servers with E1 cards as VICIDIAL/Asterisk servers. that means you can have two less servers than your original post.

I must mention that you can do 60 outbound seats with only 2 servers, but if you want to have a very reliable and robust architecture built to ensure you will never be overloaded, what you have posted is a great setup.

As for VICIDIAL versions, we have only installed SVN trunk for production clients for several months now. It is very stable and has a lot more features than the last 2.0.4.1rc5 release.

[kwatson]

Hi Matt, stability will be my main focus and throwing a couple of extra servers to take load is worth it IMO.

Also I want to start building the setup with scale in mind so that it is easily extendable without making major changes once it is into production.


Ok Thanks Matt, its great to have find such an active open source with the developer at hand. I've been working with a closed source softdialler for a few years now and the flexibility of vicidial looks great!

I'm looking forward to getting this into test and production.

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon!

Thanks again.

Kenny

[kwatson]

I have a PROLIANT DL320 G5P XEON 3075 (2.66GHZ) with 2GB RAM and 2x160GB SATA disks using the onboard intel raid card to do a mirror.

The card I'm planning to purchase is the Digium TE420B (Four Port T1/E1/J1/PRI PCI-E x1 with Echo Cancellation).

Would this be suitable for the setup mentioned above as one of the vicidial servers or would a faster processor for this?

Thanks

Kenny

[mflorell]

That hardware should be fine, although I would recommend a Sangoma a104dX in place of the Digium TE420P card.