1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
The Asterisk Open Source PBX
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
by Mark Spencer <markster@digium.com>
Copyright (C) 2001-2004 Digium
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
================================================================
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
* SECURITY
It is imperative that you read and fully understand the contents of
the SECURITY file before you attempt to configure an Asterisk server.
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
* WHAT IS ASTERISK
Asterisk is an Open Source PBX and telephony toolkit. It is, in a
sense, middleware between Internet and telephony channels on the bottom,
and Internet and telephony applications at the top. For more information
on the project itself, please visit the Asterisk home page at:
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
http://www.asterisk.org
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00
In addition you'll find lot's of information compiled by the Asterisk
community on this Wiki:
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
* LICENSING
Asterisk is distributed under GNU General Public License. The GPL also
must apply to all loadable modules as well, except as defined below.
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
Digium, Inc. (formerly Linux Support Services) retains copyright to all
2004-02-15 06:58:43 +00:00
of the core Asterisk system, and therefore can grant, at its sole discretion,
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
the ability for companies, individuals, or organizations to create proprietary
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
or Open Source (but non-GPL'd) modules which may be dynamically linked at
runtime with the portions of Asterisk which fall under our copyright
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
umbrella, or are distributed under more flexible licenses than GPL.
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
If you wish to use our code in other GPL programs, don't worry -- there
is no requirement that you provide the same exemption in your GPL'd
products (although if you've written a module for Asterisk we would
2004-02-15 06:58:43 +00:00
strongly encourage you to make the same exemption that we do).
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
2002-04-19 21:17:35 +00:00
Specific permission is also granted to OpenSSL and OpenH323 to link to
Asterisk.
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
If you have any questions, whatsoever, regarding our licensing policy,
please contact us.
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
Modules that are GPL-licensed and not available under Digium's
licensing scheme are added to the Asterisk-addons CVS module.
2001-08-23 17:57:10 +00:00
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
* REQUIRED COMPONENTS
== Linux ==
Currently, the Asterisk Open Source PBX is only known to run on the
Linux OS, although it may be portable to other UNIX-like operating systems
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00
(like FreeBSD) as well.
1999-12-04 22:05:35 +00:00
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
* GETTING STARTED
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00
First, be sure you've got supported hardware (but note that you don't need ANY hardware, not even a soundcard) to install and run Asterisk. Supported are:
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
* All Wildcard (tm) products from Digium (www.digium.com)
2001-12-08 16:51:03 +00:00
* QuickNet Internet PhoneJack and LineJack (http://www.quicknet.net)
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
* Full Duplex Sound Card supported by Linux
2001-12-08 16:51:03 +00:00
* Adtran Atlas 800 Plus
2000-12-29 15:31:50 +00:00
* ISDN4Linux compatible ISDN card
2001-03-22 04:47:06 +00:00
* Tormenta Dual T1 card (www.bsdtelephony.com.mx)
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00
Hint: CAPI compatible ISDN cards can be run using the add-on channel chan_capi.
So let's proceed:
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
1) Run "make"
2) Run "make install"
If this is your first time working with Asterisk, you may wish to install
the sample PBX, with demonstration extensions, etc. If so, run:
"make samples"
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00
Doing so will overwrite any existing config files you have. If you are lacking a soundcard you won't be able to use the DIAL command on the console, though.
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
Finally, you can launch Asterisk with:
./asterisk -vvvc
You'll see a bunch of verbose messages fly by your screen as Asterisk
initializes (that's the "very very verbose" mode). When it's ready, if
you specified the "c" then you'll get a command line console, that looks
2001-04-14 20:14:33 +00:00
like this:
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
*CLI>
You can type "help" at any time to get help with the system. For help
with a specific command, type "help <command>". To start the PBX using
your sound card, you can type "dial" to dial the PBX. Then you can use
"answer", "hangup", and "dial" to simulate the actions of a telephone.
Remember that if you don't have a full duplex sound card (And asterisk
will tell you somewhere in its verbose messages if you do/don't) than it
won't work right (not yet).
Feel free to look over the configuration files in /etc/asterisk, where
you'll find a lot of information about what you can do with Asterisk.
2001-04-14 20:14:33 +00:00
* ABOUT CONFIGURATION FILES
All Asterisk configuration files share a common format. Comments are
delimited by ';' (since '#' of course, being a DTMF digit, may occur in
many places). A configuration file is divided into sections whose names
appear in []'s. Each section typically contains two types of statements,
those of the form 'variable = value', and those of the form 'object =>
parameters'. Internally the use of '=' and '=>' is exactly the same, so
they're used only to help make the configuration file easier to
understand, and do not affect how it is actually parsed.
Entries of the form 'variable=value' set the value of some parameter in
asterisk. For example, in tormenta.conf, one might specify:
switchtype=national
In order to indicate to Asterisk that the switch they are connecting to is
of the type "national". In general, the parameter will apply to
instantiations which occur below its specification. For example, if the
configuration file read:
switchtype = national
channel => 1-4
channel => 10-12
switchtype = dms100
channel => 25-47
Then, the "national" switchtype would be applied to channels one through
four and channels 10 through 12, whereas the "dms100" switchtype would
apply to channels 25 through 47.
The "object => parameters" instantiates an object with the given
parameters. For example, the line "channel => 25-47" creates objects for
the channels 25 through 47 of the tormenta card, obtaining the settings
from the variables specified above.
* MORE INFORMATION
2004-01-12 03:23:35 +00:00
See the doc directory for more documentation.
2000-01-07 11:02:42 +00:00
Finally, you may wish to visit the web site and join the mailing list if
you're interested in getting more information.
2004-01-13 04:34:09 +00:00
http://www.asterisk.org/index.php?menu=support
Welcome to the growing worldwide community of Asterisk users!
Mark Spencer
2004-01-25 05:57:43 +00:00