How to migrate from CentOS 8 to AlmaLinux (conversion)
I already wrote about migrating from CentOS 8 to Rocky Linux. Today, this quick post will list steps to convert existing VM or bare metal server from CentOS 8 to AlmaLinux 8.
WARNING! Make a backup before you start upgrading and the conversion procedure. I am an experienced Linux user, developer and sysadmin. However, there is no substitute for backups. Keep verified backups. Do not proceed further without backups. CyburDial is not responsible for data loss.
If you are doing this over an SSH session, I recommend running commands over GNU/screen or Tmux terminal multiplexer.
Migrating from CentOS 8 to AlmaLinux (conversion)
Log in as the root user: sudo -i
Apply pending updates to CentOS 8 by running the dnf command/yum command: dnf update
Apply pending updates before migration starts
Reboot the Linux box when new kernel updates are installed: reboot
After reboot, you need to download the almalinux-deploy.sh script using the wget or curl command, type: wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AlmaLinux/almalinux-deploy/master/almalinux-deploy.sh # read the script # vim almalinux-deploy.sh
Next set up executable permission using the chmod command, run:
chmod -v +x almalinux-deploy.sh
Downloading almalinux-deploy.sh script
Finally, migrate CentOS to AlmaLinux by typing the almalinux-deploy.sh: ./almalinux-deploy.sh
AlmaLinux migration tool in action
The upgrade and migration will take their own sweet time. It all depends upon your server hardware specification and the Internet speed. So wait and watch for errors on the screen. In the end, you should see a confirmation message as follows on screen:Complete! Run dnf distro-sync -y OK Restoring of alternatives is done OK Generating grub configuration file … done All Secure Boot related packages which were released by not AlmaLinux are reinstalledOK Migration to AlmaLinux is completed
Reboot the Linux box hosted at AWS or Linode: shutdown -r now Connection to 3.1x.2xx.2xx closed by remote host.
Finally, verify the AlmaLinux version, run: cat /etc/redhat-release ## OR ## cat /etc/os-release
CentOS to Almalinux migration successfully executed
Also, make sure all services such as PGSQL, Apache and others are running using the ps command or ss command: ss -tulpn | more ss -tulpn | grep ":80" # Verify logs using the tail command and dmesg command+egrep command # tail -f /var/log/httpd/app_name_goes_here dmesg | egrep -i 'error|critical|warn'
This will convert your centos8 system over to AlmaLinux
Rocky Linux is an open-source operating system and one of the strongest replacement candidates for CentOS 8. It is a 100% binary-compatible release using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Let us see how to migrate CentOS 8 Linux live server to Rocky Linux 8 using a shell script provided by the Rocky Linux project.
Step 1 – Backup CentOS 8
I started the migration process with backup. I do have nightly backups, but before upgrading, I made a snapshot to revert back when something goes wrong. In other words, keep verified backups.
Step 2 – Installing all updates on CentOS 8
Then I log in using the ssh command: ssh user@cyburdial-php8-app1
Now, all we have to do is use the dnf command to apply all pending updates: sudo dnf update
Finally, reboot the Linux box using the shutdown command or reboot command: sudo reboot
Let us verify CentOS Linux 8 version using the cat command or more command/less command: more /etc/centos-release
RockyLinux
Step 3 – Installing git client on CentOS 8
We need git to install the migration script. Is git installed on the server? Let us find out. Execute the type command: type -a git
Let us search for the git package, Execute: dnf list git dnf search git dnf info git
Now, install git on your server with the help of the dnf utility, Execute: sudo dnf install git type -a git
Clone the repo to install migration tool called rocky-tool
Finally, we need to clone the rocky-tools repo with the help of the git command: cd /tmp/ git clone https://github.com/rocky-linux/rocky-tools.git Getting ready for Rocky Linux migration
Step 4 – Migrating from CentOS 8 to Rocky Linux
Change the directory using cd command where rocky-tools cloned: cd /tmp/rocky-tools/migrate2rocky
Set up executable permissions using the chmod command: chmod -v +x migrate2rocky.sh
Start the migration from CentOS 8 to Rocky Linux by typing the migrate2rocky.sh command: ./migrate2rocky.sh -r
Follow on-screen instructions and wait for some time to finish the migration job. At the end you should see:Done, please reboot your system. A log of this installation can be found at /var/log/migrate2rocky.log
We are often asked by beginners: what is VoIP and how does VoIP work? If you are a non-techy user, then you may have heard that you could use VoIP to add a business phone number for your website.
VoIP is a more cost-effective way to get a business phone number for your website when compared to a traditional phone line. However before making any decision, you need to fully understand what the technology is all about.
In this beginner’s guide, we will answer what is VoIP, and how does VoIP work behind the scenes. The goal is to help you understand how VoIP can save you money and help you grow your business.
Here is an overview of what we’re going to cover in this guide.
What is VoIP?
How does VoIP work? (Behind the scenes)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of VoIP?
Which is the best VoIP phone service?
How to make a call using VoIP?
Frequently asked questions about VoIP (FAQs)
What is VoIP?
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is a phone technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines.
Unlike landline phone systems that are limited to a single desk phone in your office, VoIP lets you make and receive business phone calls from your laptop, tablet, regular smart phone (using an App), and even VoIP compatible office phone sets.
Since all calls are made over the internet, it’s extremely cost-efficient for both domestic and long distance (international) calls. Most business VoIP providers offer unlimited minutes without any extra cost.
Aside from the cost savings, you also get all the advanced phone features like call waiting, call routing, caller tones, auto-attendant, multiple phone numbers, and more.
This is why most small businesses and even enterprise companies are all switching away from traditional phone providers to a business VoIP provider.
How VoIP Actually Works? (Behind the Scenes Look)
To understand how VoIP actually works, we will take a look at what happens when you make or receive a phone call on VoIP phone.
When you make a phone call using VoIP, their business phone number app or VoIP adapter takes the analog audio signal and turn it into digital signal.
This digital voice data is then sent to the business phone service provider using your internet, and then finally the message is routed to your customer’s phone.
This process happens nearly instantly which is why sometimes VoIP sound quality is even better than regular phone calls.
How is VoIP different than Traditional Phone System?
VoIP works differently behind the scenes from a regular landline phone system.
Traditional telephony systems use the circuit switching method for connecting calls. When you make a call through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), you’re connected to the person on the other end, and they’re connected to you in a circuit.
The ‘Circuit switching’ technology is used for more than a 100 years now. It is reliable and still works, but is not the most efficient or cost-effective.
VoIP uses the ‘packet switching’ method instead. This means that data is only sent when needed. A brief, instant connection is created each time you speak. The connection doesn’t need to go both ways all the time. You and the person you’re talking to will not normally be both speaking at the same time.
Plus, packets of data are sent efficiently. They can use many different paths through the internet. The packages are then put back together when they reach their destination.
The data packets can also be compressed to save space. This lets them travel even more quickly through the internet.
All of this happens very fast. Unless there’s a problem with your internet connection, you will not notice any delay during the call.
While VoIP may sound quite technical and complicated, the main thing to understand is that VoIP is a more efficient method of transferring data during phone calls.
You probably have already used VoIP before without knowing it, through an app like Skype or Google Voice.
VoIP Pros and Cons Compared
Since we’ve been using a VoIP business phone service in our company for decades, it’s fair to say that we know a thing or two about the pros and cons.
Here’s our detailed analysis of the pros and cons of VoIP.
VoIP Advantages – Benefits of Using VoIP
Switching from a traditional telephone company’s service to a cloud based VoIP phone system has many benefits.
Lower Monthly Cost
One of the biggest advantage of VoIP is that you have lower monthly cost on both domestic and international calls.
Most VoIP phone providers will often include unlimited domestic calls for free. International calls are normally very cheap, too.
Aside from that, you’ll also save money on repair and maintenance service expenses that you currently pay your landline phone provider.
Take calls from anywhere – Completely Portable
With VoIP, you don’t need to be in an office, on-premise, sitting by your desk phone to take phone calls. You can take incoming calls from wherever you are using an app on your phone, tablet, or laptop computer.
This is a big advantage for teams that are working remotely or out on the field. It is also great if you’re traveling.
Advanced business phone features
VoIP solutions normally include lots of extra business phone features. For instance, you can set up conference calls easily with VoIP.
Plus, most VoIP service providers offer a virtual receptionist, hold music, call waiting, voicemail to email or text, and much more. You can even get advanced telecommunications functionality like video conferencing.
This may also get you additional cost savings because often traditional telephone service providers charge recurring fees for these add-ons.
Improved Scalability and Flexibility
Another advantage of VoIP is higher scalability. Whether you’re hiring more staff or opening a new branch office in a new city, VoIP makes it easy to grow.
Unlike a traditional phone service that would require to spend money on expensive hardware on dedicated line, VoIP lets you add your team members with just a few clicks inside your account dashboard.
Since VoIP works on all smart phones, you can even cut additional equipment cost and free up desk space by having your team members install the app on their personal phone.
VoIP Disadvantages – Drawbacks of Using VoIP
While VoIP is an amazing technology, it may not be perfect for everyone. There are a couple of VoIP disadvantages that you should be aware of.
You need a good internet connection to make telephone calls
As we explained in the how VoIP works section, you need to have an internet connection to make phone calls.
If your internet is slow, then your call quality may be impacted.
The good thing is that VoIP technology doesn’t use as much bandwidth as you might think. A good connection with less than 70ms ping and at least 500 kbps of upload speed is good enough for VoIP calls.
However if you have a lot of team members in your office, then you may need to look at your bandwidth needs for the number of concurrent calls your business will be making at the same time.
You need to account for power outages
Regular phone service works during power outages. But you cannot make VoIP calls if you don’t have power or access to the internet.
Typically, most offices have wireless internet powered by WiFi routers. These routers need electricity, so if your building experiences power outage, then your internet can also go down which will impact your VoIP service.
The way we mitigate this in our office is by using a battery backup system for our internet router. Since our internet is provided by a different company than our electricity, we never have both outages at the same time.
Furthermore, since our team members use the VoIP app on their phone, they can always use their mobile data to make business phone calls.
You will need to retrain your staff on the new system
Switching to a new telephone system means you need to train your staff on how to use it.
Luckily, most VoIP services are designed to be as straightforward and intuitive as possible. This means it should be easy to train team members on how to use the cloud phone systems, even if your employees are working remotely.
Which is the Best VoIP Phone Service?
Here at Cyburity, we use and recommend CyburDial as the best VoIP phone service. They offer a free local number with all of their plans.
CyburDial Agent Interface
CyburDial comes with all the essential features you need including call routing, unlimited domestic voice calls, unlimited business SMS messaging, voicemail to email/text, number porting, caller ID, caller forwarding, custom greetings, auto attendant, hold music, online VoIP fax, phone extension for team members, and more.
They have an easy to use smart phone app for Android / iPhone (iOS), and a softphone app for your computer.
For Enterprise customers, then even let you convert your existing PBX (private branch exchange) system into a cloud phone system using SIP (session initiation protocol) trunking. This means you can easily transfer calls to different department and employees using your existing system and local area network.
Nextiva also has several useful advanced features. For instance, you can connect your VoIP phone system with real-time live chat and with your CRM system to help you create a unified communications system.
Plus, their support team is extremely helpful, making it really easy for you to get started. This is why we use Nextiva for our business.
Other great VoIP alternatives to CyburDial include:
RingCentral – a big, well-known VoIP company that costs a little more than Nextiva. They have all the features you need, and they offer screen sharing and conferencing tools too.
Ooma – an easy-to-setup option that offers toll-free numbers plus all the features you’d expect. You get 500 minutes included for free, but need to pay extra for more.
Grasshopper – another great business phone service for solopreneurs and small businesses that offers all the essential features.
Phone.com – a good IP telephone for businesses working with Canada and many EU countries, as these locations are covered as local calls.
How to Make a Call Using VoIP
To make a call using VoIP, you first need a VoIP business phone service like CyburDial. You also need an internet connection with good bandwidth. This normally means using a broadband internet connection.
Then, you can make a call using VoIP with any of the following devices:
Your existing phone handset. This can be connected to the VoIP system using an ATA (analog telephone adapter) which gives it an IP address. Essentially, you just plug your phone into the ATA instead of straight into your wall socket.
A special IP phone. This looks and works like a normal phone. It has a handset with buttons that slots into a charging cradle. However, instead of the a RJ-11 phone connector, the IP phone has an RJ-45 connector. This means it plugs into an ethernet port on your router, not into a phone connector. Depending on the season, some VoIP companies may give you a free phone handset.
Your computer. You will need an app that lets you make calls over VoIP. This is sometimes called a ‘softphone’. Of course, you will also need a sound card plus a headset, or a microphone and speakers. You will also need internet connectivity, either by ethernet or wifi. Most well-known VoIP companies have apps for both Windows and Mac.
Your mobile phone. Again, you will need the right app and a wifi connection. You can also use a mobile data plan with 4G or higher speeds. Most VoIP apps will work on all smart phone such as Android mobile devices and Apple iPhone (iOS).
Frequently Asked Questions about VoIP Phone (VoIP FAQs)
There are lots of different business VoIP providers, and it can be hard to know which one is the best for your needs.
Over the years we have helped thousands of beginners choose the best VoIP phone platform. We have heard almost every possible question about VoIP that you can think of.
Following are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about VoIP (Voice over IP).
How much do domestic vs international calls cost on VoIP?
Most VoIP services will include unlimited domestic calls for no extra charge. However, some cheaper VoIP services charge based on the number of minutes you use.
The international rates will vary depending on the VoIP provider you use, but these rates will almost always be more affordable than traditional landline rates for international calls.
Can you keep your existing phone number on VoIP?
Yes, when switching from traditional landline phone to business VoIP phone, you can ask for number porting which lets you keep your existing business phone number.
Most good VoIP services let you do this, but please check with them before signing up.
Is there a VoIP backup if your internet connection goes down?
Some VoIP services have a backup in case your broadband connection is down or your power goes out. For instance, Cyburdial can automatically forward calls to a cell phone.
Does VoIP offer call routing or extensions for team members?
Yes, most good VoIP phone service providers include call routing, phone extensions, call queue, and auto attendant at no additional cost.
There are four words that every business owner loves to hear: Save time and money. It’s not only music to their ears, but money in their pockets. That’s why so many business leaders are adding a cloud based predictive dialer to their marketing, sales, and customer management suites.
Increased call agent efficiency, real-time interactions, better customer experience, and improved lead management are just a few of the ways businesses are enjoying the benefits of their outbound dialer.
Make an informed decision about predictive dialing and the future of your enterprise. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about these types of dialers.
What is a predictive dialer?
A predictive dialer is a software that dials a list of phone numbers quickly and accurately and can also return calls to your call center agents. It is a software designed to accurately predict agent availability, screen out busy signals, answering machines, and disconnected phones, and optimize the outbound call pace to connect sales representatives with leads fast. Think of it as IVR for outbound calling.
Sometimes called an “outbound dialer” or a “hosted dialer,” these systems use machine-learning algorithms so you can spend less time between conversations for your agents, as well as wait times for your customers when no agent is available. In the background, the software analyses answered calls, dropped calls, the number of active agents, and more, filtering out unproductive calls so your agents get more talk time.
While you can purchase physical on-premise hardware to accomplish these tasks, most modern companies use cloud hosted dialers instead, often integrating their software with their overall contact center platforms.
This software is a workhorse for your call center and sales strategy alike.
Why invest in a cloud based predictive dialer?
With so many business solutions being tossed at you daily, it can be hard to navigate and understand what will actually benefit your bottom line and provide a decent ROI. We think a dialer of this type can be a smart choice for any business currently using or considering adding a call center.
1. You’re busy.
Managing your sales team, maximizing profits, delighting customers. Your plate is full. Unless you have a bunch of time to waste on hacking systems to maximize your call center agent’s task lists, you’re going to spend a lot of unnecessary energy training your staff to do mediocre rather than great work.
2. You want your sales team to be more efficient.
By automating the process of calling customers, your agents are no longer wasting their time dialing numbers. This increased efficiency means more output from your agents per hour, exponentially improving agents’ productivity by reducing their idle time and accelerating sales (your agents will spend more time connecting with potential customers than re-dialing dropped calls).
3. You want to manage your leads in a smart way.
You can integrate a cloud predictive dialer across different platforms such as phone, email, chat, mobile, social and more. This gives you better, smarter lead management. An outbound dialer can be core to unifying your messaging and communications across multiple channels.
4. You strive to provide exemplary customer service.
Cloud based dialers boast specific features that allow you to contact your leads at times that are convenient to them. Perhaps in the morning at home, over the weekend via an SMS / text message, or during the day at their office number. Or maybe, they just want to leave you a voicemail.
Stronger customer service = better brand affinity = more prospects for long term sales. You can turn your contact center into something powerful that delights your customers rather than annoys.
5. You want to reduce operational costs.
Who doesn’t? ?
With the help of a cloud based predictive dialer, you can reduce the number of agents on staff and call lines without sacrificing any results.
One more time for the folks in the back: these types of dialers make it possible for your call center to make more live calls than ever with less staff to make it happen.
Progressive vs. Predictive vs. Auto dialer
Progressive, predictive, and auto dialers initiate outbound calls from a contact list automatically and sequentially while also transferring calls to live agents.
These types of dialers don’t wait for the agent to let the system know that they’re ready for the next call. Instead, they optimize their dialing modes to minimize the gap between your agent hanging up with one lead and connecting with the next.
Let’s say that the software has deduced that most phone calls last an average of 60 seconds. Moreover, it takes roughly 10 seconds for the system to dial a new telephone number and hear “Hello” from the person on the other end. In a predictive dialing system, the software will initiate the next call at the ~50-second mark. Once the agent hangs up with lead 1, they’ll be prepped and ready to great lead 2, sparing no idle second in between – which means you get real-time communication.
Progressive dialers, on the other hand, initiate outbound calls for each available agent. To meet the demand for increased outbound calls, they’ll need to deploy additional agents. Similarly, an auto dialer distributes connected calls among available reps, whereas a dialer that is predictive dials multiple contacts simultaneously to increase the odds of establishing a connection. For example, If the software has learned that an average of 1 out of every 4 calls picks up, it might dial four numbers at once.
Through our rigorous research and testing, we have found that the typical dialer cost ranges from $100 per user per month and up. Most software systems will build custom quotes for you, your business, and your business goals, so don’t be surprised when the specifics around dialer pricing are hard to come by.
A customized price is an industry norm, but you can find tiered pricing options available at hosted dialers like Genesys, ChaseData, and dialerAI. A cheap dialer of this type can be uncovered with a little digging and comparing price plans.
CRM Integrations
You might think it is important to find a predictive dialer with a CRM, which can be a smart tactic to further arm your call agents with the right information they need to close a big sale. Luckily for you, most of these software systems can integrate seamlessly with popular CRMs like Salesforce.
The combination of a CRM + dialer means you’ll be able to quickly organize lead data, sales info, customer history, show the caller ID and create a superior customer engagement environment for them along the way.
Country-Specific regulations
Adhering to legal compliance can be a huge barrier to self-manage without the help of a cloud based predictive dialer. Just like call recording, there are specific legislations for automatic dialing as well.
In 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act was passed, which prohibits the use of an automatic telephone dialing system to contact a telephone number without express prior consent, to hinder practices like telemarketing. This has continued to evolve into the National Do Not Call registry, also known as the DNC registry. You don’t want to dial numbers on this list—or those of parties who haven’t given you permission (dialing “accidents” aren’t an effective legal defense). With the right tool, you can easily adhere to these regulations without fear of penalties.
Here are few country-specific call center dialer regulations to be aware of:
In the UK, Ofcom requires that predictive dialers abandon fewer than 3% of answered calls on a daily basis.
Check out the capabilities of our cloud based predictive dialer with our live demo. We offer Vicidial, ViciDialNOW, GoAutoDial and more.
Want to check out what we can offer? Login to the newest version of ViciDial in the industry, backed by a non public version of Asterisk(18.21) and also equipped with CyburPhone 3.5(Unreleased) and take it for a test drive now.
Our services come backed by our cyber security expertise giving you the most protection for your data and sensitive information.
We offer setups for Outbound, Inbound, Surveys, and press 1 campaigns. Multi cluster setups custom made to meet your needs. Check out the second picture to see one of our cluster setups .
