User guide
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ImportantTermsandAcronyms
Term Definition
Auto Attendant Automatic menu system that answers incoming calls and allows the caller
to choose the resource with which they want to connect (for example
“press 1 to talk to sales, press 2 to talk to support...”).
Broadband Internet High speed Internet access that offers download and uploads speeds of
256 kbps and greater. Examples include DSL, cable modem, and
dedicated T-1 access. If you intend to use Evolution PBX with external
extensions that are connected over the Internet or if you intend to
configure VoIP service provider accounts you should have a static, public
IP Address from your Internet provider.
FXO Foreign eXchange Office - analog ports that connect to telephone lines
from a telephone service provider (standard telephone lines from your
telephone company).
FXS Foreign eXchange Station - analog ports that connect to telephone
devices such as standard analog telephones and fax machines.
MAC Address The hardware address of any device connected to a network. VoIP
telephones and ATAs have MAC Addresses. A MAC Address is hexadecimal
(it uses the numbers 0 through nine and A through F) and looks like this:
0000FFFF2222.
PBX Private Branch eXchange - a telephone system local to an organization as
opposed to a telephone system that provides public telephone service.
Evolution PBX is a software PBX that runs on standard personal computer
equipment.
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network - the standard telephone system that
allows domestic and foreign phone calls.
SIP Session Initiation Protocol - standardized telephony signaling protocol
used by Evolution PBX and most VoIP equipment.
Softphone VoIP telephone implemented as a computer software package. The
eyeBeam softphone created by http://www.counterpath.com
is an
example of a softphone.
T-1 High speed, digital line that can be used to carry 23 or 24 telephone calls
or can be used as a data connection with 1.544 Mbps bidirectional speed.
Also referred to as a DS 1.
ISDN PRI A T-1 with specific protocols to allow 23 voice calls and efficient signaling
on a 24th channel (often simply called a PRI).
Trunks When used in this document and with Evolution PBX refers to any
telephone line or connection from Evolution PBX to the PSTN.
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol - Voice calls routed over the Internet or over
any other Internet Protocol based network.