Hardware Requirement Help Please

[rajivtech22]

Hello,

I am going to setup a Call Center with 10 Agents and will expand it to 30 Agents very soon.
I need information regarding Hardware / Server Requirement.

I will be dialing Survey Campaign with Dial Level 3-5 Avg.
I need recording of each calls.
I am using Voice Minutes terminating in ISP | NO PSTN Lines
I might use USB Timer if required
I will use G729 Codec or better
Bandwidth - 2 Mbps Leased Line for Voice and 2 Mbps DSL for Data

Previously i have faced lots of issue with voice. I don't want to face the same thing again.
Please suggest me.. what should be done for proper implementation so it can run smoothly.

I heard there is a way to separate voice and data communication i also want to implement that.

Please suggest me what would be the best Server / Hardware.
Also suggest me what would be the best Router and Switch for Networking.

My Setup will be like this
i40*tinypic*com/j9x6s3.jpg

Thanks and Regards,
Rajiv

[williamconley]

for clarity: when you say 2Mbps ... is that upload speed or download speed? (or both?) The lower of the two (upload or download) is all the matters and is the real number. You should consider making sure you have 100k available per Live Call is using ulaw or 50k if using g729. Beware: g729 is a processor hog and may well reduce your per server capacity to 15 or less agents (thus requiring more servers). Your best bet, really, would be to get your first server online and begin seeing how it all works and plan to immediately add a second server as soon as possible. Usually any advice regarding capacity is pointless ... test it yourself and get a 2nd/3rd/4th server as you reach capacity on the one(s) you have.

[rajivtech22]

Hello william.

Thanks for the reply.
I will be using two connection
1. 2 mbps up down for voice
2. 2 mbps down for data

[williamconley]

you will likely need a 2nd voice connection for 30 agents. and g729.

we have many call centers who use our colo specifically because they do not have enough bandwidth locally at their office.

the concept is that with a colo, you only need enough bandwidth to connect your agent to the Vicidial server. All other connections happen at the colo which has lots of bandwidth available.

i would recommend getting a 2nd connection and installing g729 to try to fit this into your existing setup. but note that g729 is not free (sold per channel) unless you violate the copyright and download the version from .nl

If you load your first server up with 20 agents and measure your usage ... remember that the usage is for the number of calls being placed and the number of calls active. each takes up a specific amount of data bandwidth. measuring it on a live system is more accurate than anyone's estimates will ever be. if you have a router that will actually tell you how much bandwidth is in use, that's cool. if your vicidial servers have direct internet access (external IP, no router), "iftop" will show you usage.