Connecting The Max To A Pbx; Pbx Basics - Net2Phone Max Series Sales Manual

Connecting the Max™ to a PBX
By connecting the Max to a PBX, additional features such as inbound PSTN calling and remote calling can be supported.
Basically, an analog PBX would require an FXS or FXO version of the Max. The primary determinant between FXS and FXO is
the type of card and available ports present on the PBX. On the other hand, a digital PBX would require the Max T1/E1. To
better understand all of the terminology involved, below is a basic PBX overview as it relates to the Max.

PBX basics

As you know, a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a phone system that takes a number of telephone lines from the outside
world and makes them available throughout an office. Users on a PBX share a certain number of outside lines within the
company and have to dial a special number, such as "9", to access an outside line. Theoretically, not everyone within the
company uses an outside line at the same time, so the number of outside lines on the PBX is usually equal to some number less
than the number of employees. In this way, utilizing a PBX is more cost effective than connecting an external telephone line to
every telephone within an organization. Here are a few key terms you should be familiar with:
Analog Line Card
Analog Trunk Card
CO/CO Line/Trunk Line
Extension Lines
An analog line card is a type of card featured on a PBX. The analog line card is used to connect an
FXO version of the Max. Another name for an analog line card is a SLIC/SLIB (Subscriber Line
Interface Card/Board).
An analog trunk card (ATC) is another type of card featured on a PBX. The analog trunk card is
used to connect an FXS version of the Max. Another name for an analog trunk card is a COIC/COIB
(Central Office Interface Card/Board).
CO stands for Central Office, typically the location where the phone company stores their telco
equipment. CO lines are physically run from this location to a business or home. A CO line is a
line with a phone number (i.e. 973-412-4444) that carries calls into and out of a residence or
business. In a business environment, these lines are typically connected to a PBX, allowing phones
connected to the PBX to carry phone calls into and out of the building.
Extension lines refer to the individual telephone stations on a PBX that have a separate extension
number. An extension line is a line to the PBX, not an actual outside telephone line. Extension
lines can be connected to a multi-port extension card that is attached to the PBX. When one
extension is used to dial another, the PBX acts as a voice router to transport and carry the call to
the appropriate extension.
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