Asterisk Gateway - Astribank
Astribank is a versatile USB-gateway specifically designed for the Asterisk IP-PBX.Astribank supports all the common telephony interfaces for lines (trunks) and extensions:
FXS, FXO, BRI, E1/T1 PRI, T1 CAS and E1 R2.
The Astribank driver is a part of the standard Asterisk distribution. DocumentationGet a Quote
Astribank is a versatile USB Asterisk Gateway specifically designed for the Asterisk IP-PBX. Astribank supports all the common telephony interfaces for lines (trunks) and extensions: FXS, FXO, BRI, E1/T1 PRI, T1 CAS and E1 R2. The Astribank driver is a part of the standard Asterisk distribution.
Astribank is LAN-independent Asterisk Gateway and supports TwinStar high availability. Using Xorcom’s unique XPP technology, a single Astribank unit may provide as much as 32 analog ports, 16 PRI ports, and mixed analog and digital ports in the same unit, saving rack space and providing highly efficient and reliable way to create a hybrid VoIP PBX that supports traditional lines and/or extensions.
Using Astribank to connect analog phones and PSTN lines
Comparison – VoIP Gateways, Astribanks, and other interfaces
Astribank brings significant advantages in density, management, high-availability and other important features.
| Feature | Astribank | VoIP Gateway | PCI Card | Channel Bank | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specifically Designed for Asterisk |  |  | | | |
| Centrally Managed via the Asterisk PBX | | | | | |
| Reliable Fax Support | | | | | |
| Direct Connection to Asterisk Server | | | | | Not dependent on LAN, Channel bank may require an additional PCI card and available slot. |
| Hot Pluggable | | | | | |
| High Availability | | | | | Astribank may connect directly to two Xorcom IP PBX systems and perform hands-free failover for all ports. |
| Supports All Telephony Standards | | | | | |
| Supports Mixed Analog/Digital in a Single Device | | | | | |
| High Density E1/T1 | | | | | Astribank supports up to 16 E1/T1 ports in one device. More than one Astribank may be used in the same system. |
| Non-Intrusive Installation | | | | | Astribank does not require PBX shutdown and opening of panels. |
| Automatic Configuration | | | | | Astribank is automatically detected and configured in the Asterisk PBX. |
| Input Ports | | | | | Used to connect auxiliary systems, such as alarm systems to the Asterisk PBX. |
| Output Ports | | | | | Used to activate auxiliary devices such as electric locks and gates by dialing in the PBX |
| Rack Space for 1,000 analog ports | "32 U (4.72 feet)" | "42 U* (6.19 feet)" | N/A | "84 U* (12.4 feet)" | *Typical figures for gateways and channel banks |
| Redundant Power Supply | | | | | Astribank telephony interface for Asterisk PBX systems has optional redundant power supply to ensure full reliability |
| Clear Front Panel Status Indication | | | | | Astribank provides real time port status information via front-panned LEDs |
| RJ11 and Telco Connections | | | | | Astribank supports both connection types (optional) simultaneously |
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Benefits of the USB interface
- The USB 2.0 interface supplied with the Astribank server guarantees a reliable, extremely high bandwidth, a hot-pluggable solution that is not dependent on LAN or a PRI PCI card.
- A single USB 2.0 port can theoretically support over 3,000 concurrent calls.
- The reliable, USB connection and Xorcom’s unique XPP protocol ensures capabilities such as reliable fax support, transparent synchronization between Astribank units, an auxiliary system interface, and more.
Astribank USB Gateway Specifically designed for Asterisk Open Source PBX systems
Astribank was designed for Asterisk systems from the get-go. For this reason, Astribank USB gateway is natively supported in Asterisk IP PBX systems. Xorcom’s Astribank drivers are an integral part of Asterisk since 2006. Unlike VoIP gateways, Astribank units are centrally managed via Asterisk allowing both the flexibility and scalability of a gateway while being a fully integrated part on the PBX like a telephony card. In Xorcom CompletePBX systems Astribank is managed via the system GUI in a native way (version 5.0 and up).
Scalable and Flexible
A single Astribank gateway supports various combinations of analog and/or digital telephony lines and trunks. See the Configurations tab in the table for suggested configurations. Furthermore, the Astribank design allows users to let the system grow along with their telephony needs. Astribank supports all the available Xorcom Telephony Interface Modules. The digital modules (PRI and BRI) support individual software activation of each port (up to four ports per PRI module, and up to eight ports per BRI module). Each Astribank unit may be populated with 1-4 Telephony Interface Modules, including a mix of different interface types in the same Astribank unit.
Using Astribank Asterisk Gateway to connect legacy PBX
Software
Astribank’s driver has been included as an official part of Zaptel (now DAHDI) since release 1.2.4 (Feb. 2006), making Astribank Asterisk Gateway integral with Asterisk systems. Today Astribank is tested with Debian and CentOS. While not regularly tested, Astribank is compatible with any modern Linux-based distribution.