                                Telco Stuff
                         by pbxphreak <chris@lod.com>

PBX's:  
  
A PBX is a private phone switch used by large companies that require an 
internal phone system. PBX's are the devices that ask you to dial an
extension or operator when you connect to them. PBX's with less than 50 users 
are called key systems. PBX's consist of a small phone switch or specifically 
PBX switch, a group of outbound trunks, which are nothing more than 
phone lines to the outside, a set of telephones and a bunch of users. 

Voice Mail Boxes and Hacking Them:  
  
Voicemail is a sort of answering machine. Its effectively a small computer 
that will record phone messages, and often allow for more advanced features 
(like forwarding of messages and stuff). A voice mail box (VMB) is a
account on a voice mail system. Basic hacking of voicemail systems in
pretty well entering a voice mail box number and guess at the pass code
usually is a default pass such as the box number, 1111, 1234, 5555 or 9999
or in a 3 digit voice mail box 111, 123, 999 or the box number. If you
find the admin box, you are in luck, then you can create your own boxes.
  
ONI:

ONI is operator number id, this is when for example you call your operator
up and ask her/him to dial 1-800-CALL-ATT by doing this you are hiding
your number and the AT&T operator asks what number you are calling from,
and basically you can tell her/him any number you want :)

Central Office (CO):

A central office is where the telephones in the network are connected. It
is the gateway to the rest of the telephone system, this includes dial
tone, telephone ringing, connection to other telephones, long distance
carriers and outside trunks, this is all done here.

Switch:

A switch is a piece of hardware that connects telephone calls. There are
three types of switches. a) the dail toen switch, b) the remote switch and
c) the toll switch. Dial tone switches are the switches that
connect directly with your telephone and provide you with your dialtone. 
Toll switches connect offices with toll switches and toll switches with other 
toll switches. The third type of switch is a remote switch. These are large 
PBX switches connected to a central office. So in lamans terms a switch
is where telephone traffic is routed from one destination to another.
Some common dialtone switches are 1AESSS, 5ESS 2000, DMS-10, DMS-100, Toll
switches are DMS-200, DMS-250, DMS-500 and a remote switch is a GTD-5 EAX.

Conclusion:

Cya nex time! :)
