Linode.com Forum

chriswlan2 · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

I'm still researching a VoIP-friendly VPS...

I'd really prefer to go with Linode.com rather than Lylix, at least as far as VPS are concerned; but it seems to me Linode is much more of a gamble for VoIP!

VoIP, T-38, IP-PBX are rapidly expanding markets, so why can't linodes be made VoIP-friendly with ztdummy and etc? ':('

Cheers

Christian

zunzun · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

I found that VOIP packets do not travel as I thought.
Here is Cringely's explanation of "VOIP Won't Fly":

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070412_001931.html

JDM · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Maryland, USA

zunzun wrote: I found that VOIP packets do not travel as I thought.
Here is Cringely's explanation of "VOIP Won't Fly":

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070412_001931.html

I don't think that any of Linode's datacenters even offer VoIP, so the way that the article describes ISPs prioritizing their own traffic is irrelevant. Even if one of the datacenters was doing what was described, you could always ask to be moved to another one.

(if you were making a statement about VoIP in general, and not about its practicality on a Linode, please ignore this)

eric_t · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

chriswlan2, so what does linode offer that is so attractive?

LYLIX is able to provide a well-known working VOIP VPS solution, multiple DCs for geographically positioning your VPS, and a High-availability network to keep customers online even if there is hardware failure on a node. Additionally, the support staff is well versed in VOIP and all things Asterisk, if you should require assistance with your deployment.

Linode appears to run UML, which does not provide a very optimized platform for consistent VOIP, especially considering the overhead involved. UML VPSs run over a kernel that runs on the host in userspace, so syscalls to hardware go through the userspace kernel to actual kernelspace, you get the point. LYLIX builds on OS virtualization, so the overhead is negligible.

zunzun · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: VOIP VPS

eric_t wrote: LYLIX is able to provide a well-known working VOIP VPS solution, multiple DCs for geographically positioning your VPS, and a High-availability network to keep customers online even if there is hardware failure on a node. Additionally, the support staff is well versed in VOIP and all things Asterisk, if you should require assistance with your deployment.

Not that you're trolling the competition's support wikis... that's just pathetic.

James

eric_t · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

James

Perhaps folks are interested in knowing *WHY* VOIP would be hard pressed on a Linode (read bottom of post).... I haven't seen anyone really detailing specifics, other than the kernel module (ztdummy) limitations, which is not really a show-stopper in and of itself. You can run Asterisk in a Linode, but your not going to see certain things working like MOH and even IAX can be effected. OK, so add ztdummy support and your still going to see less than optimal conditions unless Linode re-engineers their core technology.

What is interesting is what your previous citation is essential irrelevant to the discussion, because such things would effect even dedicated server folks, not just VPSs. QOS/TOS has overall been of little concern once packets are on the WAN, its more of a concern with LANs and giving priority to VOIP traffic on limited bandwidth connections.

Whatever makes you feel good :) Just adding some enlightenment to the discussion and making people aware of things beyond what has been mentioned.

zunzun · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:16 am Post subject:

eric_t wrote: Just adding some enlightenment to the discussion and making people aware of things beyond what has been mentioned.

If you have an economic interest in LYLIX then your above statement is false, since your true motive would be finanical gain. Question: do you have any economic interest in LYLIX?

eric_t wrote: chriswlan2, so what does linode offer that is so attractive?

I myself have seen that one very important factor is the demonstrated personal integrity of the people running Linode.

James

tronic · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 123

zunzun wrote: If you have an economic interest in LYLIX then your above statement is false, since your true motive would be finanical gain. Question: do you have any economic interest in LYLIX?

Mr. Tichansky (also known as eric_t) owns LyLiX, but I'll let eric_t confirm that.

eric_t · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Quote: Mr. Tichansky (also known as eric_t) owns LyLiX, but I'll let eric_t confirm that.

Yep, confirmed. At this point I'll just let those reading assume what they want. Those not hung up on motives, et. al. can at least gain some insight into the VOIP in a VPS situation. Point is, Linode doesn't seem to provide all that is necessary to support a fully functional Asterisk installation. 99% of VPS providers can't.

Other options include using alternative VOIP software, ie. Yate, SipX, or if you really want the Asterisk look & feel, try Callweaver. Callweaver doesn't need Zaptel based timing, so yep, you can use your Linode!!

reiny · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

Well, I seem to have made the mistake of signing up for a 1-year Linode without checking this forum first. I now realise I won't be able to run asterisk properly. Looks like I have to check out Lylix. I will also have to find out how the Linode people feel about refunds.

mikegrb · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject:

reiny wrote: Well, I seem to have made the mistake of signing up for a 1-year Linode without checking this forum first. I now realise I won't be able to run asterisk properly. Looks like I have to check out Lylix. I will also have to find out how the Linode people feel about refunds.

Give Asterisk a shot on your Linode. Quite a few people, myself included, are using it just fine. The only issue I'm aware of is conferencing support. If things don't work out we have a 7 day money back guarantee. You mentioned signing up for annual payment, if you decide Linode isn't for you after the first seven days, refunding the remaining term is not a problem.

jhmartin · Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 46

What is the significance of running Asterisk on a linode? How would one even call through it?

luckyb · Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

I have no bearing on experience on running asterisk on a linode, but I have both run asterisk on embedded hardware with very low resources (200MHz and 64MB of RAM) and I currently run a call center server (256 IP clients with 256 trunk IP lines) on Xen virtualization at my workplace on moderate (8TB iSCSI is the only expensive thing, and it's only used to provide an easy backup for logging) hardware.

And it runs just fine.

Ciaran · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 140 Location: England, UK

jhmartin wrote: What is the significance of running Asterisk on a linode? How would one even call through it?

Asterisk isn't just for POTS. You can use it as a SIP server too, and connect to it from VoIP clients.

reiny · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

mikegrb wrote:
Give Asterisk a shot on your Linode. Quite a few people, myself included, are using it just fine. The only issue I'm aware of is conferencing support.

Unfortunately, conferencing is the main thing I need.

I will give it a shot with the Zen beta. Thanks for letting me know about refunding the unused remainder of the period.

VoIP-friendly Linodes not practical?