We all know the capabilities and endless feature set of Asterisk. It’s a powerful, software-based PBX, that’s possibilities are endless. Asterisk is distributed in a number of ways, the first being the open sourced distribution that is command line driven. This distribution, 15.5.0 being the latest stable version can be downloaded from here for free, then compiled with a version of Linux, such as UBUNTU or Centos, and then administered from the command Line CLI interface.
Then we have your open sourced asterisk-based distributions freely available to the public for download. These versions would include trixbox CE, Elastix, FreePBX, PBXinaFlash, and Asterisk Now, which just names a few. The separator between these software applications as compared to the command line asterisk distribution is that while asterisk source code is running in the background, the majority of configuration changes can be made via a Graphical Web GUI interface from both a user and administrators perspective. These software applications also allow for asterisk cmd line access or CLI access in order to make changes if required. Companies such as these have taken the asterisk source code and “rounded” it to their own unique application.
And last but not least, we have our commercial asterisk based PBX’s. Most notability would be Switchvox SMB or SOHO software which is asterisk based, but no access is granted to the asterisk CLI. Rather all configuration changes are done via a web GUI interface. Software from Switchvox is considered a “paid” commercial product, which distinguishes itself from any of the open source based distributions mentioned above.
With all flavors of asterisk, each meets its own unique need and fulfillment in individual VoIP deployments. When it comes to purchasing an IP PBX, you have your choice of asterisk software and also hardware to go along with it. In all regards, whether you choose the free open source cmd line version of asterisk or pay for Switchvox’s award winning SMB software, all solutions present you with a powerhouse feature set and customizability to meet your unique business needs. A short list if asterisk’s feature sets can be found here .
Until most recently, the majority of IP PBXs being deployed were of an asterisk flavor based on a Linux operating system. While companies such as trixbox, Elastix, Switchvox, and many others have made great efforts to take the Linux programming piece out of the picture, the solutions are still Linux based meaning when it came time for your choice of hardware or server to run your asterisk solution, you needed to make sure the motherboard and peripheral components were compatible. See my previous blog posts relating to Open Source Hardware Requirements for more information. If you were not designing your own server platform, of course you could always purchase a Switchvox appliance for your SOHO or SMB solution, or a Rhino or Phoneboch’s appliance preloaded with your desired version of trixbox CE, Elastix, or other open sourced based software. This, however, adds to the cost of your solution.
For the following comparison, I would like to focus on Switchvox SMB software and its comparisons against a new Windows-based PBX, 3CX. The reason for this is that both solutions are “paid” commercial software based applications. Pitting these 2 up against one another would make the most sense from a cost, feature set, and positioning standpoint, so onward to the comparisons.
3CX is a Windows-based IP PBX platform that is becoming very popular in the VoIP world. A few benefits of 3CX include:
Now onto the Switchvox SMB platform.
So what do you think? Cost aside, which one would you choose and why?
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I prefer 3CX for it ability to complete microsoft exchange... this is the perfect tool I was looking for with voip in my network.
I was using 3CX for a couple of months on a "cloud" based system in our data centre, connecting phones from our office remotely. Had one problem after the other with it and today it has just stopped working overnight for no reason at all. Calls come in but no audio, and no outbound calls. Spent the whole day trying to fix it but no joy hence given up.
Trialling the TrixBox now so hopefully that works out to be a lot more reliable and stable a system than 3CX.
Harry - it really looks like you did not properly configure your firewall - as the problems you are citing have nothing to do with 3CX Phone System.
3CX is great very very great and it does live up to what it says it would be... I use 3Cx paired with Callcentric, so 3CX is being purely used as PBX Box... therefore the commercial license is not necessary... there's only one huge trouble that sent me back to Trixbox, we are a translation agency and also provided language training... it is very important that we can jump from one language to another... and no matter how great 3Cx is, that feature is not there yet. I did create a special Digital Rep and recorded a French prompt, but the back end will still be in English... in our industry it's unacceptable. I really hope that 3Cx understand how important that feature is and add it up soon. In the mean time I decommissioned the 3Cx server and run Trixbox that does a tremendous job too... but frankly I so much of a Windows admin, when entering CLI in Linux I always mixed the command. So if ;you guys don't need language feature I strongly recommend to try 3Cx.
We were using Trixbox and then Asterisk NOW and found them both a nightmare! So recently we switched to the free version of 3cx and are loving it! No calls dropping out, easy to configure - it just works and works well!
I would recommend 3cx to anyone considering a VOIP solution.
So what do you think? I and looking for Asterisk Versus 3CX and the PBX comparisons. which one would you choose and why?
We (my company) looked into Both 3CX and Asterisk, tried several flavors of it. Never really liked 3CX, and once we tried Switchvox, we went that direction with no regrets. It gives you a platform with plenty of features out of the box, and if you are thinking of customizing it, there is a vibrant community to do it.
i love 3cx
and would select it over asterisk any day.
regardless of the time spent on the asterisk one, it just isnt easy to get going
3cx in 30mins
thankyou...
Only someone who doesn't know how to use Asterisk would think 3cx is better then Asterisk. A Linux User would choose Asterisk and a Windows User would choose 3cx.
asterisk is very powerful with elastix or free pbx ,,, it.s easy to install on a distro
version ,,,,,,, until you have problem , if you have to go on cli command or unix
file to make some change , you better be a LINUX MASTER or you gone a waist
a lot of time in there!!!!!! i work 20 years on PBX legacy never add a problem
i install a elastix server and i try all the feature , i pass 1 week , wend i try to connect
a remote extension , i should go on sip.conf with free pbx to make some change for
good config !!!!!!! i take my retirement of asterisk ,,,,,, i try 3cx ,,, windows easy
i setup my system with remote extension , fxo line , voip provider , sip phone , voice-mail
in 1hrs and it's working well ..... 3cx have a nice web support , you find everything you
search . i suggest ,,,, you are a wizard on linux and you have experience with phone system , go with asterisk because it's free ....... if you are a phone system admin
and you want a go with IP , go with 3CX and read all the documentation about
the networking , firewall , NAT , STUN , proxy , VOIP ,,,,, good luck