A new Linux powered media exchange server from Zultys Technologies (Sunnyvale, CA) combines the functions of a traditional enterprise telephone PBX (private branch exchange) along with those of an Internet gateway, switch, and router — all within a single 2U 19-inch rackmount form-factor.

The MX1200 was designed to be highly scalable, and allows expanding from 25 to 1200 users without requiring additional hardware. The system is based on the combination of four IBM PowerPC 440GP processors equipped with twenty-eight 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports and eight analog circuits, and it runs an embedded Linux operating system that was developed using MontaVista Linux Professional Edition.

The device supports SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), the protocol now widely recognized as the standard for IP telephony. Functions provided include a SIP registrar, user agent client, user agent server, and presence server, and the unit can be connected to any standard SIP phone or SIP softphone, including the Linux-powered Zultys ZIP 4×4 IP phone.

MX1200 features and functions are said to include . . .

• Compatible with any SIP based phone or soft phone
  
• Switch and routes voice, data, fax, and video
  
• 16 automated attendants
  
• 400 hours of voice mail with 64 simultaneous accesses
  
• 16 operator groups and 16 ACD groups
  
• 28 Ethernet circuits (12 with power) connect directly to subscribers
  
• Up to 8 analog circuits connect to fax machines or other devices
  
• Standards based QoS
  
• Moves, adds, and changes can be done in minutes
  
• Call detail reports
  
• Instant Messaging and Chat
  
• Presence
  
• Call handling rules
  
• Assignment of multiple devices per user
  
• Sharing of a single device for multiple users
  
• TAPI integration to Outlook, Goldmine, ACT!, and Maximizer
  
• Flexible central dial plan
  
• Central address book
  
• Scalable from 25 to 1200 users
  
• Expandable in capacity and function without purchasing additional hardware
  
• Interoperates with any standards based network infrastructure
  
• Connects to CO and ISP with up to 8 T1 or E1 circuits
  
• Gigabit Ethernet for aggregation
  
• PPP and Frame Relay
  
• Single administration software for voice and data management
  
• Administer system from any PC
  
• Download client and administration software directly from MX1200 using http
  
• Automated configuration of phones

Linux inside

MontaVista's preemptible kernel patch and real-time scheduler, reputation, and PowerPC 440GP support were key factors in selecting the product's embedded operating system, according to Zultys president Iain Milnes.

“We considered several proprietary embedded RTOSes, but concluded that we could save development time and costs using Linux, and were also able to take advantage of available open source software code,” said Milnes.

Zultys also used Linux as the embedded operating system in its IP phone, the ZIP 4X4.

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