WARP Xtra

As I described in my previous blog, I am becoming the measuring stick at PIKA to gauge how easy a product is to use/setup.  Last week I fired up a WARP appliance and configured a basic PBX solution using a “PIKAnized” version of the Asterisk Gui. If you recall, I reported the experience a success.  This week, our friends at Snom were kind enough to send us a Snom M3 VoIP wireless DECT phone so we could gain some experience with it.  Continue Reading »

This is an updated set of image files for the WARP containing FreePBX, now at beta 3 version. To obtain this load please retrieve it from the following location: ftp://ftp.pikatech.com/outgoing/pads/extras/freepbx/freepbx-images-beta3.tar.gz
 
 The same instructions for installing and using found in the first BETA release announcement here apply to this load. Please read the information found there. The items updated in this load are:

1. There is a PIKA type added to extensions. You only need to enter the number of the fxs line ( 1 to 9 ) to create the extension correctly, you do not need to add the whole custom dial string, it is done automatically.
2. There is a PIKA type added to trunks. You only need to enter the number of the fxo line ( 1 to 8 ) to create the extension correctly, you do not need to add the whole custom dial string, it is done automatically.
3. Recordings tab now works. If you have created voicemail for extensions, you can access them in this tab.
4. Lots of build changes. See below for further details.

  Continue Reading »

This article will discuss how to add a package to PADS. The documentation on this in the WARP docs is, to say it politely, sparse. This article will discuss the matter in much greater detail. It will discuss the fundamentals of what is required to add a software package to PADS and integrate it into the load build and menuconfig. After reading this you should be able to add your own software packages to pads.

Continue Reading »

Definition:  A “bounty” is a payment or reward offered as an incentive for the completion of a particular task.

Bounties are a great option for getting things done when you don’t have the Time, Resources, or the Knowledge to get the task done!

In the PIKA Forum, you can post a Bounty and see if there is someone in the community willing to do the task for the offered Reward. Other’s may be looking for the same or similar functionality and could add to the “Reward” being offered.

Examples:

     – Porting a module to the Warp

     – Porting an application from Windows to Linux

     – Testing

     – Writing an application or module

How to post a bounty:

1. Login to the PIKA Forum  – http://forum.pikatechnologies.com
2. Select the Bounties Forum
3. Create a posting that includes:

          – Contact information

          – Bounty offer:         Ex:  $500 USD, Gift Certificate, etc

          – Post Date:             yyyy/mm/dd

          – Expire Date:          yyyy/mm/dd

          – Description:

PIKA Forum:   http://forum.pikatechnologies.com

Yesterday I had an opportunity to play around with the latest Asterisk GUI on the WARP appliance.  I did it as part of an internal exercise to see how far a “non-developer” type user could get in burning a new image on WARP and then setting up a working PBX solution.  Continue Reading »

Unless you are one of the few who have witnessed a PIKAroadmap presentation recently, this should be the first time you are hearing that PIKA is developing a GSM module for the WARP appliance.  I’m very excited to share with you a few details about this eventual new member of the expansion module family for WARP.  Continue Reading »

There have been several blogs and posts going around about FreePBX on the WARP not being end user ready. In fact several have been referenced on this site, like this one on Nir’s post. I wish to address those comments with this article.

Continue Reading »

Extract from Nir Simionivich’s blog http://www.simionovich.com/?p=157

As I wrote a couple of days, I’m currently in the process of evaluating the PIKA WARP appliance. As I already said before, the PIKA WARP isn’t a real PBX, but actually a framework for building PBX type appliances.

For me, the entire evaluation process is more or less a process of trial and error, trying to figure out how the box is built, both from the software side and both from the build-tools provided with the appliance.

The process of flashing the new FreePBX based images wasn’t much of a hassle, actually, after more or less fucking up the box a couple of times, I became fairly handy with both the warploader and uboot tools, used to flash the onboard flash memory with a new boot image. After flashing the FreePBX about 3 times, I got it to come up right on my browser window, which produced the following screen …. . (continued at http://www.simionovich.com/?p=157)

This is an updated set of image files for the WARP containing FreePBX. To obtain this load please retrieve it from the following location: ftp://ftp.pikatech.com/outgoing/pads/extras/freepbx/freepbx-images-beta2.tar.gz
 
 The same instructions for installing and using found in the BETA release announcement here apply to this load. Please read the information found there. The items updated in this load are:

1. FreepBX baseline changed from 2.5.0 to 2.5.1
2. Voicemail now works
3. Time announcement (*60) now works
4. Lots of build changes. See upcoming announcement on changes to build for further details.

We want to hear any bugs or issues you find with this BETA. Please post them at the PIKA Forum for FreePBX at http://forum.pikatechnologies.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31. Issues posted there will be answered.

The following is an extract from Nir Simionovich’s blog:

So, over the past 2 years, we’ve seen many Asterisk appliances – ranging from the Digium AADK on one side of the spectrum to the RoweTel IP04 appliance, it is clear that appliances are the hottest thing in the Asterisk sector to-date.

While most appliances take on a similar form, usually one of the following: an ADI BlackFin reference design or a PC-Engines Geode based appliance, one company decided to go completely the other way around – namely PIKA technologies. Now, don’t let the name PIKA fool you, these guys are no pokemons, they know their stuff.

While at AstriCon 2008, I’ve been approached by the people at PIKA technologies, asking me to test and evaluate their WARP Appliance product – a Linux based appliance framework, for building Linux based appliances, with a focus on telephony. They awarded me with an appliance to test, equipped with 5 FXS ports and 4 FXO ports, I was on my way to start my telephony appliance.

First thing’s first, computing power – while most appliances rely on fairly low scale computing power, the PIKA appliances boasts a massive PowerPC CPU, with a uCkernel based Linux 2.6.X kernel – while many other appliances still rely on 2.4.X. The on-board LCD display makes finding your appliance IP number a breeze, which is very important in my book. Opening the box is very easy, exposing its inner workings:

One thing nice about the LCD display is the fact that once you plug something in, the LCD will show the applicable LCD icon as connected – making for quick diagnostics for the lame sysadmin a breeze.

Now we’re getting to the slightly annoying part, the WARP appliance is not your average PBX appliance – in fact, it’s not a PBX at all – it’s a framework for building telephony appliances. So, if you want to get Asterisk + FreePBX to run on it, you’ll need to spend some time getting it up and running correctly. If you want to start working with the appliance, I suggest that you get to know cross-compiling and build tools, in order to utilize the buildtools provided with the appliance.

Over all, the appliance comes with a fairly stock Linux and Asterisk pre-compiled, with all the required modules to get a fully functional PBX running. For my initial tests, I’ve used the AsteriskGUI, which worked just fine with the system, making the configuration a breeze.

I’m currently evaluating their FreePBX build-tool, provided by Philippe from FreePBX, and we’ll see how that goes

For more of Nir’s blog go here http://www.simionovich.com/?p=142