Flash Operator Panel displays information about your Asterisk PBX activity in real. With the Flash Operators Panel, and the freePBX installed out of the box.
Unified communications is a salesmen's buzzword for what has been most of the past decade. Not only was it once used to describe features that are expected in any system, (think voicemail to email or find me, follow me), the term Unified Communications or UC became so over used that every new feature that someone could package into their PBX placed it as a 'truly unified communication's package'. So it is with some trepidation that we place all three of our best Asterisk based IP PBX choices as devices that can bring lots of great communication applications under one umbrella, or UC devices, but they truly are. And they are are all easy to use, easy to configure and manage and are very affordable.
Top 3 asterisk IP-PBX Systems for Small to Medium Businesses
Our number three Asterisk IP PBX Yeastar, comes from China. Yeastar makes VoIP hardware and its MyPBX SOHO is a well built small appliance that offers all the great features of Asterisk, which is more than enough for most small offices. It can match well with most SIP phones, but when packaged with Yealink phones, which have a solid well founded reputation worldwide, it becomes an excellent affordable system. NOTE: The Yeastar S20 and S50 series PBXs have replaced the SOHO and have more robust hardware and advanced features. Yeastar continues to build some of the beat VoIP PBX systems.
Number two, the PBXact from Sangoma, is built upon an open source mainstay FreePBX. After Sangoma, already known for their excellent telephony gateway hardware, bought Schmooze, which owned FreePBX, they continued on their commitment to build a UC appliance and develop an array of software applications matched for the device. Some of these applications do require an extra license fee, however for some businesses they can be both an excellent value and easy to setup. These licensed pay for services do deviate from the general open source model, so each company should calculate their individual needs and their potential costs. Sangoma also manufactures their S series IP phones, the only phones built purposely for FreePBX and manufactured specifically for FreePBX systems only. With some existing outstanding applications and more potentially to come, the PBXact UC 40 matched with S series phones makes it as one of top 3 best affordable ip-pbx unified communication's system on the market. NOTE: The PBXact and Sangoma FreePBX appliances are still a top choice in 2018.
Which brings us to our number one Asterisk based IP PBX, the Grandstream UCM6202. With 2 FXO ports built in, an existing company with PSTN lines can continue using those lines and move into IP (VoIP). Grandstream, well known for their networking hardware products, has committed to their UCM series IP PBXs with an all in attitude. Believing that more and more companies will be moving towards an in-house on premise IP PBX and away from the cloud, they'll need a device that can handle all of their other SIP endpoints, namely cameras, facility management devices, and video conferencing. An in-house system will end up saving expenses on both hardware and multiple cloud service fees as long as someone can manage the configure, setup and administration, which Grandstream addresses with all their step by step guides, online videos, and support. With a huge endpoint capacity, the UCM6200 series offers the SMB business the appliance to handle so much of their needs. And Grandstream is hoping the endpoints will all be their products. NOTE: Grandstream's award winning UCM6200 series IP-PBXs continue to be a top choice.
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1) Grandstream UCM6202
Up to 500 SIP devices and 30 concurrent calls (45 for the 6204). 2 FXO ports (4 for the 6204)
Grandstream started with a commitment to a low cost Asterisk appliance back in 2014 when they won the Product of the Year and have just kept making it better. The UCM6200 series, uses Asterisk 13, offers 2 FXO ports ( 4 with the 6204) that allows connections to traditional phone lines, a great plus for those companies that want to keep some of their telco lines and offers built-in features, all without any cost per feature or any license fees. Affordability without sacrifice, the UCM6202 appliance comes in lower in cost than anyone of its peers and adding their mid-range award winning GXP1700 phones make a Grandstream IP PBX system one of the best unified communications packages for SMBs.
- Auto Discovery and Zero Configuration of Grandstream SIP endpoints - Grandstream has a wide variety of endpoints, including not just phones, but video cameras, video conferencing, video calling, facility management solutions, etc.
- Intuitive GUI - Easy to learn with Mouse-over descriptions of each each field and best practices for setting up a specific field.
- No reoccurring or license fees at all.
- Advanced SIP security protocols
- CRM Integration for SugarCRM and Salesforce.
- Support - Lots of support documents, online posting board and instructional videos plus over the phone support when using Grandstream endpoint.
Grandstream UCM6202 IP PBX appliance. Incredible Priced. Amazon ad
2) Sangoma PBXact UC 40
Supports up to 40 licensed users and 30 simultaneous calls. (No built-in FXO ports and unable to accept any.)
Based on popular FreePBX, in use in hundreds of thousands of deployments worldwide, (now owned by Sangoma after they purchased Schmooze) wrapped over Asterisk, the PBXact UC devices are made to take the guess work and configuration challenges away from the end user by having a great well crafted commercially supported* solution ready to go out of the box. Their precursor, the UC 10 was so popular it was discontinued because of production issues (failure to keep up with demand) and replaced by the UC 40. That says a lot and shows Sangoma is committed to their PBXact UC series appliances. With so many features it's worth listing a few that show the UC is a standout choice, and for those that require them, a few add-ons (licensed applications), like a suite of advanced call center apps, can make this the right choice.
- Quick-Start Installation Wizard - Easy to get your new PBX set up with basic conjurations with management console.
- Zero Touch Provisioning - Easy phone setup with Sangoma's S series phones.
- Native VPN Client for secure remote connections (Sangoma phones).
- FAX PRO - Allows users to attach a pdf to an email and send the email to a certain phone number.
- Call Recording Reports - A complete management system for recorded calls.
- CRM Integration
- Support - Sangoma offers lots of how-to information on their online wiki and offers support packages for the PBXact UC series.
- Excellent suite of advanced Call Center features.
For the Best Prices on Samgoma phones and UC appliances from trusted sources:
Sangoma Phones Amazon ad
Sangoma Phones Amazon ad
3) Yeastar MyPBX SOHO
Supports up to 32 IP Phone Users and 15 concurrent calls. (No built-in FXO ports, but can accept a FXO module.)
Yeastar is growing worldwide with their excellent products. Their MyPBX SOHO is an affordable, feature rich IP PBX that has been getting kudos from users withy its ease of setup and intuitive GUI for configuration. And with Yealink phones, which have been being used by thousands upon thousands of Asterisk deployments, it is a complete IP PBX system that comes in as one of the most affordable on the market. With a commitment and current expansion of their North America market, Yeastar is fast becoming a strong competitor with their complete line of VoIP equipment.
- No License Fees - Full featured Asterisk based appliance without reoccurring fees.
- Multiple Language Support - Multi-language Web interface and voice
prompts makes it a great choice for worldwide satellite offices. - Can accept up to 4 FXO port module for PSTN connectivity.
- Pairs well with Yeastar phones for easy setup and configuration. However, if you already own SIP phones like Polycom, snom, Panasonic, Aastra, Cisco, etc.; many are included in the auto-configuration app, (however research models and possible issues).
- Easy management - Intuitive and user-friendly Web interface.
- Embedded system with low power consumption.
- Support - Good online support documents, knowledge portal and online training courses available from Yeastar Academy.
- Excellent Hotel App for hospitality.
For great prices and fast free shipping for Yeastar equipment from trusted sources: Yeastar VoIP PBXs Amazon ad
There are advantages with installation when a system has the phones from the same company as the appliance. Zero touch installation is so easy and quick that if you have the choice use the phones from the same manufacturer. Grandstream UCM with Grandstream phones, Sangoma FreePBX with Sangoma S-series phones. Companies test and harden features with their own phones. The Yeastar company works closely with Yealink, so their phones are the best match.
Grandstream UCM6202/04 puts it together- Add Video
- Grandstream's UCM6202 comes with 2 FXO ports already built in, so there is no need for an extra card. If you need 4, then get the UCM6204.
- Grandstream products never require licensing fees and are specifically designed so that a small companies' internal staff or IT guy can administer and manage the network.
- Facility Management - The 6200 UCM is compatible with an IP Door Access Camera which creates the ideal entrance solution using a Grandstream Video phone.
- GSurf Pro - Grandstream’s free Video Management Software is available for video surveillance needs.
Sangoma PBXact UC Software and Licensed Apps.
Sangoma offers support levels through POMP (Peace of Mind Packages), an optional agreement available for PBXact for companies that may require them. For users that don't need extra optional support packages, Sangoma's FreePBX Phone System 40, the only officially supported hardware solution for FreePBX, is an excellent choice. It comes preloaded with the FreePBX Distro offering users control over which features to add.
Sangoma has taken a slightly more traditional PBX manufacturer model, charging license fees for some of their software products. These applications are easy to install with full integration and the cost can turn out beneficial, especially for the suite of advanced call center applications.
![Voip Voip](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Lzv4Df9TBuNjy1zbq6xpepXaH/ip-pbx-Appliance-1U-Rack-Mount-voip-server-8-FXO-ports-Asterisk-Elastix-2-0-PBX.jpg)
- XactView Operator Panel - A dedicated dashboard, good for secretaries or managers who need complete control of the call flow in the company.
- XactView Operator Panel Queue License - Required for companies wishing to monitor live metrics of phone queues.
- Call Center Features - A variety of advanced software apps for Call Centers.
- SIPStation - Sangoma’s SIP Trunking service built-in to FreePBX. (*NOTE: There are alternative SIP trunk services that may be more cost effective, however keeping one vendor for several applications can be beneficial.)
Want to know what one of these phone systems cost? We put together hardware pricing for each of our top three asterisk pbx systems based on a 15 phone installation. Each example includes a managed POE switch, the PBX appliance, the phones and a side panel for the receptionist. Costs for a Asterisk based PBX Phone System
Yeastar is Moving Forward
Yealink, a leading VoIP equipment manufacturer, well known for their affordable, dependable IP phones is a decade long-standing partner of Yeastar. Together their IP PBX solution offers easy deployment and configuration.
In June 2016 Yeastar launched a new line of IP PBX that enhances both features and ease of configuration; the S-Series VoIP PBX systems for SMB market. Additionally, they announced a collaboration with Loway, maker of Queuemetrics, an excellent Asterisk Call Center software, which now makes Yeastar a viable choice for those that need a great solution for a call center. The Yeastar S-Series VoIP PBX (S20, S50, S100 and S300) offer an excellent PBX solution and are capable of taking modules including PRI.
NOTE: The S series IP PBX appliance base model (cards for FXO and other modules are additional) has a cost under $400.00.
UCM6102 vs Yeastar MyPBX SOHO
The following pdf document offers details comparing the two appliances.
Best on-premise IP-pbxs
These IP-PBX UC appliances beat out all others to be the very best. Since their introduction each has remained as a top choice for an on-premise VoIP server for those that want great advanced features, excellent value and a system that can be maintained by in house personnel.
Let’s face it. Virtual Machines are the future of server administration. Whether you prefer your own dedicated hardware or cloud-based resources managed by you or someone else, virtual platforms are the way to go. You get more bang for the buck out of your hardware by pooling resources for multiple tasks. VMware® and VirtualBox® make it easy. Today we’re pleased to introduce our latest build for VMware. It provides the latest Asterisk® 13 and FreePBX® 13 GPL components from source in about 15 minutes.
Just download the VMware .zip image from SourceForge to your desktop and unzip it. Fire up your browser and login to your VMware Web Console. With a few mouse clicks, you’ll have a CentOS 6.10 platform in place with Incredible PBX® just a single keystroke away. It doesn’t get much easier. And, you get the very latest release of Asterisk 13 compiled from source code that you can actually examine, enhance, and share… just like the GPL license says.
Choosing a Virtual Machine Platform
Making the right deployment choice for your virtual machine platform depends upon a number of factors. We initially started out with Proxmox 4 which looked promising. After all, we had used and recommended earlier releases of Proxmox for many years until some security vulnerabilities caused us to look elsewhere. Those kernel issues are now a thing of the past, but Proxmox 4 introduced some new wrinkles. First, to stay current with software fixes and updates, you have to pay the piper by signing up for the annual support license. This turned out to be a deal breaker for a couple of reasons. It was expensive since it’s based upon the number of CPUs in your platform. In the case of the hardware shown below, that turned out to be 4 CPUs (by Proxmox’s calculation) which meant the annual support license would run nearly $400 per year. That buys an enormous number of cloud-based virtual machines without having to babysit hardware at all. So we’ve reluctantly concluded that Proxmox 4 isn’t a particularly good fit for development or production use.
We’ve already sung the praises of VirtualBox so we wont’ repeat it here. VMware also is rock-solid and has been for more than fifteen years. VMware typically runs on dedicated hardware. If you don’t have the funds for a hardware purchase to support your virtualization requirements, then VirtualBox on your desktop machine is a no-brainer. For many, however, some separation of the virtualization environment from your desktop computing environment is desirable. That choice is equally easy. VMware wins, hands down. Better yet, you can make snapshot backups of your virtual machines in seconds with a single button click. If you’ve wrestled with backups on standalone hardware with Linux, you’ll quickly appreciate the difference.
Getting Started with VMware ESXi
Many of you have VMware platforms already in place at work. For you, installing Incredible PBX 13-13.10 is as simple as downloading the image to your desktop and importing it into your existing platform. Better yet, your system administrator can do it for you. If you’re new to VMware, here’s an easy way to get started, and the software won’t cost you a dime. VMware offers a couple of free products that will give you everything you need to run a robust VMware platform on relatively inexpensive hardware. The choice is up to you.
A Free VMware Platform for SOHO Apps
Before you can download the components for the free VMware ESXi platform, you’ll need to sign up for a free account at my.vmware.com. Once you’re signed up, log in and follow these simple steps to sign up for a free ESXi license key and download the ESXi version 6 software:
- Write down your assigned License Key
- Manually download the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 ISO
- Manually download the VMware vSphere Client 6.5
Next, burn the ISO to a CD/DVD and boot your dedicated VM hardware platform with it. Follow the instructions to complete the install. Next install the vSphere Client on a Windows computer. Don’t forget to add your ESXi License Key when you complete the installation. Once the ESXi server is up and running, you can stick the hardware on a shelf somewhere out of the way. You will rarely interact with it. That’s all handled using either the VMware vSphere Client on your Windows Desktop or the VMware Web Console. Don’t forget to apply your License Key once VMware ESXi is up: Virtual Machines -> Licensing -> Apply License.
Deploy VMware Template with vSphere Client
Deploying an Incredible PBX template takes about two minutes, but first you need to download the Incredible PBX 13-13.10 template from SourceForge onto your Windows Desktop and unzip it.
![Voip Voip](http://fop2.com/images/sample/slider/fop2-demo-3.png)
Once the Incredible PBX template components are on your desktop, here are the deployment steps:
1. Login to the vSphere Client on your Windows Desktop using the root account you set up when you installed ESXi. Choose File, Deploy OVF Template.
2. Select the two Incredible PBX components from your desktop PC.
3. Click Next.
4. Give the new Virtual Machine a name.
5. IMPORTANT: Choose Thin Provision option and click Next.
6. Review your entries and click Next to create the new Virtual Machine.
7. It only takes a couple minutes to create the new Virtual Machine.
8. The Main Client window will redisplay and your new VM should now be shown in the left panel. (1) Click on it. (2) Then click the Green start icon. (3) Then click the Console Window icon.
9. When the VM’s Console Window opens, click in the window in the black area. Log into your virtual machine as root using the default password: password.
10. To complete the Incredible PBX setup, you will automatically be walked through the short installation procedure when you start the virtual machine. Following the automatic reboot, just log in a second time as root and the install will complete.
11. To add Incredible Fax support with HylaFax and AvantFax, run: /root/incrediblefax13.sh.
12. Set up the proper time zone for your server: /root/timezone-setup.
13. Next, reset your root password and make it very secure: passwd.
14. Finally reset your admin password for web access to your server: /root/admin-pw-change.
15. Reset Enchilada passwords at any time by running: /root/update-passwords.
Press Ctrl-Alt to get your mouse and keyboard out of the console window.
Installing the vSphere Web Client
If you’re lucky, you may not have a Windows machine. The downside is that the vSphere Client described above only works on the Windows platform. After a good bit of searching, we finally uncovered a simple way to install the latest vSphere Web Client. It is pure HTML5 with no Flash code! While still under development, VMware has made progress, and it shows. Most of the feature set of vSphere Client now is available from the convenience of your browser. Just point it to the IP address of your VMware server like this: https://ip-address/ui/.
Here’s how to install the vSphere Web Client:
1. Log into the console of your ESXi server as root using your root password.
2. Press F2 to Customized System.
3. Choose Troubleshooting Options.
4. Choose Enable SSH.
5. Using a Terminal window on a Mac or Linux machine or using Putty with Windows, log into the IP address of your ESXi server as root.
6. Issue the following commands to install the latest vSphere Web Client vib and disable http firewall blockage:
7. Using a web browser, login to the web client as root at https://ESXi-server-IP-address/ui/
8. Should you ever wish to remove the web client from your server:
9. You may wish to disable SSH access when you’re finished. Just repeat steps 1-4 above.
Here’s what a typical Incredible PBX Virtual Machine looks like in the web client once you’ve added the VMware Tools to your virtual machine as documented below. There’s even a Console window.
Under the Virtual Machines tab, you now can manage and add new VMs directly.
Installing VMware Tools in a Virtual Machine
If you plan to manage your virtual machines using the vSphere Web Client and a browser, then you definitely will want to install the VMware Tools in each of your virtual machines.
For ESXi 6.0, your only choice is VMwareTools. Here’s how to install:
1. Start up your VM and login as root.
2. From the Windows vSphere Client, right click on virtual machine you started.
3. Choose Guest:Install VMware Tools.
4. Return to the Linux CLI of your virtual machine and issue the following commands. Accept all of the defaults in the installation script when it is run in the final step below:
For ESXi 6.5, we prefer the new GPL VMware open-vm-tools. Here’s how to install:
1. Start up your VM and login to the VM as root using SSH or Putty.
2. From the Linux CLI, issue the following commands:
Special thanks to John Borhek (@unsichtbarre on the PIAF Forum) for the VMware lessons. 🙂
That should be enough tutorial for today. Enjoy your new VMware platform.
Continue Reading: Configuring Extensions, Trunks & Routes
Don’t Miss: Incredible PBX Application User’s Guide covering the 31 Whole Enchilada apps
Originally published: Monday, December 18, 2017Updated: Monday, June 17, 2019
Need help with Asterisk? Visit the PBX in a Flash Forum.
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VitalPBX is perhaps the fastest-growing PBX offering based upon Asterisk with an installed presence in more than 100 countries worldwide. VitalPBX has generously provided a customized White Label version of Incredible PBX tailored for use with all Incredible PBX and VitalPBX custom applications. Follow this link for a free test drive!
Special Thanks to Vitelity. Vitelity is now Voyant Communications and has halted new registrations for the time being. Our special thanks to Vitelity for their unwavering financial support over many years and to the many Nerd Vittles readers who continue to enjoy the benefits of their service offerings. We will keep everyone posted on further developments.
Tags: asterisk — centOS — freepbx — google voice — gvoice — IncrediblePBX — virtualization — vm