The game I really like (don't play now) is Fighter Ace https://fighterace.ketsujin.com/. You fly WWII planes with good physics in WWII scenes. The cool part was that you could fly alone or join sqauds. Having spend time in the military, a place where you really learn how to make and be a friend, most of the players in a good squad approximate some of that bonding. Oh, and when you work as a team it is easy to domonate the skys.
Anyway, I would give that one a shot. It is likely I'll take it up again.
Robert
Double R, Thanks. I am aware of this. Hence the statement in my original post "One thing to keep in mind is that E911 is priority one for any brand or type. No exceptions."
That being said, I still will have an analog line available, cell phones, bus radios and anything else I can think of. I take emergency communication very seriously. In a previous incarnation I was a very proficient law enforcement officer. In my current incarnation I work at this place and have three children attending.
The Fire and Police departments have been all through our facilities and E911 truly is a high priority for us.
I'd like the ability to force open an intercom from the location the E911 call was made for remote listening.
I'd also like to see an easier way to keep the DB updated and forwarded to the Call Center.
Robert
Very funny Wedge! However, I like to try things. So, I have ZoIP running. Took about 15 minutes.
I have a Trixbox 2.0 beta running on a spare box and just for fun I upgraded to FreePBX2.2Beta1 and there was Zork as a Module just waiting to be installed thus creating ZoIP. Voice command navigation of a virtual environment.
I can think of some security and/or directory applications that might be real cool with this as a front end.
How about handsfree callback? Or DISA style functions?
Robert
That is the rub isn't it. Other than cost, you can't go wrong with a Cisco solution.
Macdaddy, just so you know - We have a GREAT Cisco VAR, At the very least, our network is Cisco based on a professionally installed structured cabling system.
I have a few issues with Cisco when is comes to VoIP: 1) It is a very closed system. PC/VoIP Integration appears only on Windows and we are an Apple based district and 2) They are latecomers to SIP.
Also, while I am not positive about this. I may be stuck with Verizon for dialtone. I don't know if the Cisco product can interface with multiple VoIP providers. I would imagine that it can, but this just occurs to me.
In closing I can't shoot too many holes in your point.
Robert
What I meant was Zimbra is available on OS X. The Zimbra Network Additional on RHEL has a few more features than the OS X version. So, we run it on RHEL.
Robert
Yes, handsets are part of the equation. I agree that the phones are held to a higher level of expectation.
The reason Cisco and Shoretel are mentioned with budgets is for exactly that reason. So, I know I have to be careful here.
Robert.
Chris, where did I say that I was? But, since you asked.... The phrase "I don't know" is the pathway to knowledge.
That being said, I am no slouch when it comes to technology. This is part of my process. Also, having several production Asterisk based systems running almost two years now does give me just a little insight.
Robert
Interesting you mention that. About six years ago, I tapped into the secondary alarm lines and placed one RED phone in every admin office.
This is a practice I will maintain at the new school.
Robert
One other compelling reason to go Asterisk based is Zimbra and click to dial functionality. While there exists a way to get Outlook to integrate with an Asterisk box, we are kind'of belong to the anti-exchange group and don't want users of Outlook. The split is 85/13/2 Mac/PC/*nix. So, we went to Zimbra for email and such for our 700 or so users.
It may be possible to integrate Zimbra with Asterisk as Digium and the Zimbra folks are part of the Open Ajax Alliance.
http://www.zimbra.com/partners/open_ajax_partners. html
To be clear, I have the Asterisk Zimlet running on a non-production box and have seen no recent advancements in this arena. I figure once someone catches their breath...That they will put some energy back into Zimbra/Asterisk.
As it is, Zimbra displays NXX-XXX-XXXX phone numbers as calto: links and http://www.asteriskguru.com/idefisk/index.php has a VoIP client that accepts this tag and will place a call.
In six months or so I see full directory integration with Zimbra/Asterisk. Possibly being able to drag multiple contacts to a conference bridge and have 2-10 way audio conferences on the fly.
Robert
You know I would prefer OS X based. But as we all know, that just isn't possible yet. One thing I didn't mention is that our (new) mail system is the Zimbra Network edition running on RHEL (which is available on OS X.)
It may be possible to integrate Zimbra with Asterisk as Digium and the Zimbra folks are part of the Open Ajax Alliance.
http://www.zimbra.com/partners/open_ajax_partners. html
Robert
Digium's Asterisk business edition is part of our evaluation. It is right at the top of the pack. I have been looking at Asterisk 1.4 Beta. I have installed with FreePBX as the built in GUI hasn't surfaced as of yet.
Whatever I use, my non-CLI coworkers need to be able to do adds, moves and changes.
Robert
Well, we are a Mac based district. And we will include Eyebeam softphones for those who request it. I have no problem running a *nix box as we run several already.
The hard thing to figure out, as this field is do young, is who are the good vendors of Asterisk systems.
On our test Asterisk systems (Trixbox powered) we are using Digium cards plus Snom 320 and Cisco 7960 handsets. So, we will not be going cheap on the hardware.
Robert
Are you seriously looking at this or just looking to flame? The real story is that software we can download (either Trixbox or just CentOS, Asterisk and FreePBX) and install on a standard PC that will function better then $100,000.00+ system from Nortel that costs maybe $5000.00 plus phones. At my day job we have a $600,000.00 Nortel with about another 150K of hardware in the system. It is going to be replaced with an Asterisk based system over the next few years. Maybe a Fonality Box or a Digium Appliance? Possibly one of those with something of my own making attached via IAX2 trunking. At any rate it will be a system that rivals the current offerings by just about everyone. At a much lower cost.
Not to mention the sheer geekiness of Trixbox. It makes a killer home hack. You can control X10 from your phone. Tie your doorbell in as an extension and answer the door with your phone using hardware from home base. On and on.
On my home business, if I don't answer, the user gets the option of trying my cell phone or go to voice mail. If I don't answer the cell then Trixbox takes over and goes to internal voicemail which is then emailed to me. Makes the cell phone usable without giving anyone my cell number.
Thing is that we all use phones and there is a major shift underway with regards to what with and how we use voice communications. Very exiting on a lot of levels.
Skype is getting beat up by posters, you have to scroll down to feel the heat: http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/05/free_calls _to_all_landlines_an.html Seems that it does not function in the 70~80.xxx.xxx.xxx range. My ISP Qwest is in that range. In other words they missed a few of us. I use Asterisk and Telasip and don't really care. Bad marketing.
Thanks, I'll make sure to forward all the spam I get now to you! Incidentally, I was rehired when the organization realized there was no one left to answer the phones.
I tend to build for a purpose. The last few weeks I have trying different approaches to netflow monitoring. I have been using Fedora in the K12LTSP package because it has been quite good. I thought I would try Breezy Badger for netflow, partly because Fedora was giving me no joy for netflow, and I found it to diviate in ways that made me wonder a bit. For instance: I use webmin and expect a few modules to need a tweek. In Fedora almost all installed bits work in a default install of webmin. In Ubuntu almost nothing works. Instead of/var/www/html/ as the document root I get/var/www/apache2-default, etc... I realize all this can be worked around, but why?
Incidentally, "yum install php-gd" fixed Fedora for netflow.
I started liking the list when I saw the first three. Then I scrolled to #100
- "Citrix
Online GoToMyPC Personal" which was dated...Monday, June 23, 2003. How
lame is that?
Did Citrix buy GoToMyPC? Were they going to?
While I am on the subject, whatever happened to Expertcity? I was offering
service via their service for a bit and making some $. I took a month or so
break and it was gone. Very odd. No notice of any kind.
Seriously, with all the effort being put in to saving Star Trek, a CO-OP should be formed to develop stories in an OS framework then produce the results. Let us fight back reality TV with some truly new and inspired entertainment.
Slashdot Mirror
The game I really like (don't play now) is Fighter Ace https://fighterace.ketsujin.com/. You fly WWII planes with good physics in WWII scenes. The cool part was that you could fly alone or join sqauds. Having spend time in the military, a place where you really learn how to make and be a friend, most of the players in a good squad approximate some of that bonding. Oh, and when you work as a team it is easy to domonate the skys. Anyway, I would give that one a shot. It is likely I'll take it up again. Robert
Are you using the Nortel BCM? Which Phones?
Someone else mentioned the BCM too.
It is a lot to look at. I just want to get it right the first time.
Robert.
Double R, Thanks. I am aware of this. Hence the statement in my original post "One thing to keep in mind is that E911 is priority one for any brand or type. No exceptions." That being said, I still will have an analog line available, cell phones, bus radios and anything else I can think of. I take emergency communication very seriously. In a previous incarnation I was a very proficient law enforcement officer. In my current incarnation I work at this place and have three children attending. The Fire and Police departments have been all through our facilities and E911 truly is a high priority for us. I'd like the ability to force open an intercom from the location the E911 call was made for remote listening. I'd also like to see an easier way to keep the DB updated and forwarded to the Call Center. Robert
Very funny Wedge! However, I like to try things. So, I have ZoIP running. Took about 15 minutes. I have a Trixbox 2.0 beta running on a spare box and just for fun I upgraded to FreePBX2.2Beta1 and there was Zork as a Module just waiting to be installed thus creating ZoIP. Voice command navigation of a virtual environment. I can think of some security and/or directory applications that might be real cool with this as a front end. How about handsfree callback? Or DISA style functions? Robert
That is the rub isn't it. Other than cost, you can't go wrong with a Cisco solution. Macdaddy, just so you know - We have a GREAT Cisco VAR, At the very least, our network is Cisco based on a professionally installed structured cabling system. I have a few issues with Cisco when is comes to VoIP: 1) It is a very closed system. PC/VoIP Integration appears only on Windows and we are an Apple based district and 2) They are latecomers to SIP. Also, while I am not positive about this. I may be stuck with Verizon for dialtone. I don't know if the Cisco product can interface with multiple VoIP providers. I would imagine that it can, but this just occurs to me. In closing I can't shoot too many holes in your point. Robert
The gov'ment helps out with that.
No offense, but I am trying to reduce the number of MS servers. Robert
What I meant was Zimbra is available on OS X. The Zimbra Network Additional on RHEL has a few more features than the OS X version. So, we run it on RHEL. Robert
Yes, handsets are part of the equation. I agree that the phones are held to a higher level of expectation. The reason Cisco and Shoretel are mentioned with budgets is for exactly that reason. So, I know I have to be careful here. Robert.
Thanks, are far as wiring...This is a new school. Nice MDF and Cat5e to all locations. I am standardizing on Cisco switching. Robert
Chris, where did I say that I was? But, since you asked.... The phrase "I don't know" is the pathway to knowledge. That being said, I am no slouch when it comes to technology. This is part of my process. Also, having several production Asterisk based systems running almost two years now does give me just a little insight. Robert
Interesting you mention that. About six years ago, I tapped into the secondary alarm lines and placed one RED phone in every admin office. This is a practice I will maintain at the new school. Robert
How large is your deployment? Robert
One other compelling reason to go Asterisk based is Zimbra and click to dial functionality. While there exists a way to get Outlook to integrate with an Asterisk box, we are kind'of belong to the anti-exchange group and don't want users of Outlook. The split is 85/13/2 Mac/PC/*nix. So, we went to Zimbra for email and such for our 700 or so users. It may be possible to integrate Zimbra with Asterisk as Digium and the Zimbra folks are part of the Open Ajax Alliance. http://www.zimbra.com/partners/open_ajax_partners. html
To be clear, I have the Asterisk Zimlet running on a non-production box and have seen no recent advancements in this arena. I figure once someone catches their breath...That they will put some energy back into Zimbra/Asterisk.
As it is, Zimbra displays NXX-XXX-XXXX phone numbers as calto: links and http://www.asteriskguru.com/idefisk/index.php has a VoIP client that accepts this tag and will place a call.
In six months or so I see full directory integration with Zimbra/Asterisk. Possibly being able to drag multiple contacts to a conference bridge and have 2-10 way audio conferences on the fly.
Robert
You know I would prefer OS X based. But as we all know, that just isn't possible yet. One thing I didn't mention is that our (new) mail system is the Zimbra Network edition running on RHEL (which is available on OS X.) It may be possible to integrate Zimbra with Asterisk as Digium and the Zimbra folks are part of the Open Ajax Alliance. http://www.zimbra.com/partners/open_ajax_partners. html
Robert
Digium's Asterisk business edition is part of our evaluation. It is right at the top of the pack. I have been looking at Asterisk 1.4 Beta. I have installed with FreePBX as the built in GUI hasn't surfaced as of yet. Whatever I use, my non-CLI coworkers need to be able to do adds, moves and changes. Robert
Well, we are a Mac based district. And we will include Eyebeam softphones for those who request it. I have no problem running a *nix box as we run several already. The hard thing to figure out, as this field is do young, is who are the good vendors of Asterisk systems. On our test Asterisk systems (Trixbox powered) we are using Digium cards plus Snom 320 and Cisco 7960 handsets. So, we will not be going cheap on the hardware. Robert
Are you seriously looking at this or just looking to flame? The real story is that software we can download (either Trixbox or just CentOS, Asterisk and FreePBX) and install on a standard PC that will function better then $100,000.00+ system from Nortel that costs maybe $5000.00 plus phones. At my day job we have a $600,000.00 Nortel with about another 150K of hardware in the system. It is going to be replaced with an Asterisk based system over the next few years. Maybe a Fonality Box or a Digium Appliance? Possibly one of those with something of my own making attached via IAX2 trunking. At any rate it will be a system that rivals the current offerings by just about everyone. At a much lower cost.
Not to mention the sheer geekiness of Trixbox. It makes a killer home hack. You can control X10 from your phone. Tie your doorbell in as an extension and answer the door with your phone using hardware from home base. On and on.
On my home business, if I don't answer, the user gets the option of trying my cell phone or go to voice mail. If I don't answer the cell then Trixbox takes over and goes to internal voicemail which is then emailed to me. Makes the cell phone usable without giving anyone my cell number.
Thing is that we all use phones and there is a major shift underway with regards to what with and how we use voice communications. Very exiting on a lot of levels.
Robert
Lumpy, Telasip, Teliax, Exgn and other allow BYOD. Qwest doesn't seem to block anything. Voice quality has been fine. Occational echo, but thats it.
Skype is getting beat up by posters, you have to scroll down to feel the heat: http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/05/free_calls _to_all_landlines_an.html
Seems that it does not function in the 70~80.xxx.xxx.xxx range. My ISP Qwest is in that range. In other words they missed a few of us. I use Asterisk and Telasip and don't really care. Bad marketing.
Thanks, I'll make sure to forward all the spam I get now to you! Incidentally, I was rehired when the organization realized there was no one left to answer the phones.
I tend to build for a purpose. The last few weeks I have trying different approaches to netflow monitoring. I have been using Fedora in the K12LTSP package because it has been quite good. I thought I would try Breezy Badger for netflow, partly because Fedora was giving me no joy for netflow, and I found it to diviate in ways that made me wonder a bit. For instance: I use webmin and expect a few modules to need a tweek. In Fedora almost all installed bits work in a default install of webmin. In Ubuntu almost nothing works. Instead of /var/www/html/ as the document root I get /var/www/apache2-default, etc... I realize all this can be worked around, but why?
Incidentally, "yum install php-gd" fixed Fedora for netflow.
Did Citrix buy GoToMyPC? Were they going to?
While I am on the subject, whatever happened to Expertcity? I was offering service via their service for a bit and making some $. I took a month or so break and it was gone. Very odd. No notice of any kind.
I seriously doubt they are armed. Weapons are usually put away unloaded.
Seriously, with all the effort being put in to saving Star Trek, a CO-OP should be formed to develop stories in an OS framework then produce the results. Let us fight back reality TV with some truly new and inspired entertainment.