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Alcatel's OmniPCX Office is a Linux-based server that provides a mix of voice and data networking.
It can be used as an analogue and digital PABX, and can be equipped to provide shared internet access, an email server, firewall, virtual private network (VPN) and other services.
The hardware is modular with a choice of three desktop or rack mount cabinet sizes and a variety of modules, starting with the main Linux-based processing board.
All the usual PABX functionality comes as standard on this board, including music on hold and voicemail. A TAPI-compliant CTI server (25 users) is another standard option, with Windows-based client software (PIMphony) also included.
Other options include analogue and digital interface modules for user handsets, plus analogue trunk, Basic and Primary Rate ISDN cards for external communications.
Mixed boards, offering both local and wide area network (Wan) ports, are another option and as well as Alcatel's own handsets (Alcatel Reflexes). Other vendors' equipment, including DECT mobile phones, can also be attached.
For local area network connectivity 8- and 16-port Ethernet switch modules are available along with a Voice over IP co-processing add-on for the main processing module.
Shared internet access can be implemented via the built-in Wan interfaces or an external DSL modem/router, and there are other add-on modules to provide the email server, firewall and IPSec VPN support.
It sounds complex but, in practice, Alcatel's OmniPCX Office is relatively straightforward to install - a job normally done by a reseller.
Professional cabling is needed for larger networks and you'll require separate servers to provide for file and printer sharing and running other applications.
Such considerations aside, the Alcatel appliance is a neat standards-based solution that caters for most of the voice and data networking needs of a small to medium-sized enterprise.
Price: From £819 (ex. VAT), handsets extra.
Features:
Voice interfaces: Analogue/digital, DECT mobile, VoIP
Internal data interfaces: 8 /16 port 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet switch modules - max. 84 ports
External interfaces: Max. 72 analogue trunks, nine PRI, 12 BRI
CTI Server: CSTA/TAPI-compatible, 25 clients
Shared Internet: Max. 200 users
Email server: SMTP/POP3, 200 users.
Contact: 01633 413666
www.alcatel.com
See also:
Very much a small-business server, but a good performer nonetheless. 22 Aug 2002
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