We all know the benefits of Asterisk, an open source IP-PBX software solution - so wouldn't open source hardware for the Asterisk platform be a natural extension? Yes, it would and in fact Asterisk fans have been hard at work in various DIY projects to build Asterisk-compatible hardware using standard off-the-shelf components.
One such popular project is uCasterisk (you-see-Asterisk), which is a set of scripts, makefiles and patches to build Asterisk for uClinux and targeting Blackfin hardware. uCasterisk is in the process of being deprecated in favor of Astfin. Astfin is the latest and greatest Blackfin uClinux Asterisk distribution. The project authors have used Buildroot to make the very complex embedded build process very simple. So I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Mark, one of the main players behind the Asfiin project.
Here's what he sent me:
On behalf of Astfin Team, I am proud to announce two new Open Source Hardware, Asterisk appliances based on Blackfin CPU.
PR1-Appliance:
ADSP-BF537 500/600MHz CPU
64-128MB SDRAM
256KB serial flash for the bootloader
1 Ethernet port with high performance PHY Single T1/E1 interface based on PEF2256 silicon SD card interface with a dedicated bus 256MB NAND flash for voicemail and prompts.
Optional, hardware based echo cancellation.
Astifn with Asterisk 1.4.x, Zaptel 1.4.x and Libpri 1.4.x
4 layer PCB
BR4-Appliance:
ADSP-BF537 500/600MHz CPU
64-128MB SDRAM
256KB serial flash for the bootloader
1 Ethernet port with high performance PHY Quad BRI based on Cologne silicon SD card interface with a dedicated bus 256MB NAND flash for voicemail and prompts.
Optional, hardware based echo cancellation.
Astifn with Asterisk 1.4.x, mISDN
4 layer PCB
At the same time I would like to reveal that we are working on 2 hardware based echo cancellation modules:
DSP based, with Ti C55xx and Open Source Code ASIC based, with a silicon from one of the most respected Telecom chip makers
Hardware designs are complete, and BR4-appliance prototype is already functional. The PR1-appliance prototyping will commence soon.
BR4 appliance hardware
For details and further updates please visit http://astfin.org and/or http://blog.astfin.org
All schematics are available for free under Mozilla or GPL license.
[end email]
All I have to say is wow, pretty cool! A Do It Yourself (DIY) Asterisk appliance - sounds like a fun hardware project.
This is yet another Asterisk appliance option. Let me do a roll call of all the Asterisk appliances: (if I missed any let me know)
Asterisk Appliance (also OEM version - 3Com Asterisk Appliance)
trixbox appliance
PIKA Appliance for Asterisk
Magiclink Appliance
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CentPBX, the developers of the free asterisk-based PBX installation for professional integrators has the OpenAppliance. Standard hardware components specially chosen for the quality and stability of a PBX in a wall-mount form factor just like most legacy PBXs.
It's brandable too. Check it out:
http://www.centpbx.com/appliance/
Digium appliance all the way!. I am sure the trixbox appliance is good but it is the ugly beast!
I would like to inform you that rev B of Astfin's BRI (ISDN)Appliance has arrived. Please see our blog for technical details
http://blog.astfin.org/?p=52
Regards,
Mark