Ascendis Caller ID Multiuser (aka ACIDMU) Network Topology



Ascendis Caller ID Multiuser can monitor one or more phone lines. Currently it requires one or more Whozz Calling? devices supporting 2-4 phone lines each, or a caller-id compatible modem for each phone line.

Click the section headings below for diagrams and details.

Whozz Calling? Serial Device Diagram

In this configuration all the phone lines run to a Whozz Calling? device which is connected to one computer using a serial cable. This computer acts as the server, running both ACIDMU Database Server and ACIDMU Server. Whozz Calling? serial devices require a single serial port connection on the computer. We recommend the Whozz Calling? 2, Whozz Calling? 4, or Whozz Calling? 8 depending on the number of phone lines you need to monitor. You can also use the Whozz Calling? POS (Basic) 4 or 8 line units, but they do not support outbound call monitoring.

Pros:
  • Easy hardware setup
Cons:
  • Server and Whozz Calling? device must be close to phone lines

Whozz Calling? Ethernet Link Device Diagram

In this configuration all the phone lines run to a Whozz Calling? device which is connected to the local network. A single computer acts as the ACIDMU server, running both ACIDMU Database Server and ACIDMU Server. It accesses the Whozz Calling? device over the local network. We recommend the Whozz Calling? 2, Whozz Calling? 4, or Whozz Calling? 8 depending on the number of phone lines you need to monitor. You can also use the Whozz Calling? POS (Basic) 4 or 8 line units, but they do not support outbound call monitoring.

Pros:
  • Easiest hardware setup
  • Whozz Calling? Ethernet Link device doesn't have to be physically connected to the computer so it can sit anywhere with network and phone connections
Cons:
  • None

Whozz Calling? Vertex Device Diagram

In this configuration VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service is monitored using a Whozz Calling? Vertex device which is connected to the gateway router and the network switch. A single computer acts as the ACIDMU server, running both ACIDMU Database Server and ACIDMU Server. It accesses the Whozz Calling? device over the local network.

For details on integrating Whozz Calling? Vertex with your network, please see the Whozz Calling? Vertex How-it-Works.

Pros:
  • Whozz Calling? Vertex device device doesn't have to be physically connected to the computer so it can sit anywhere with the required network connections
Cons:

USB Modems Diagram

In this configuration all the phone lines run to one computer, which acts as the server, running both ACIDMU Database Server and ACIDMU Server. The phone lines are connected to external modems (pictured) or internal modems (not pictured). Getting multiple modems to work in one computer can be tricky. We recommend external USB modems with hardware controllers, such as the recommended Zoom 3095. We don't recommend other external USB modems or internal modems since most have software controllers (also known as winmodems or soft modems) and all of these we've tested do not support caller id on all modems when multiples are installed in or connected to the same computer.

See our discussion of multiple modems in our forums for potential problems when using multiple internal modems in one computer. Our modem page has information on modems that have been tested with Ascendis Caller ID.

Pros:
  • Cheapest solution for three or fewer phone lines
  • Modems can hang up the phone to block unwanted calls
Cons:
  • With multiple modems, Windows likes to change the modem ports on restart, causing the line numbers to be reported incorrectly
  • Many non-recommended modems won't detect caller id when multiple modems are in or attached to one computer
  • Modems don't detect caller id as reliably as Whozz Calling? devices