[Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Any suggestion is welcome Francesco Pellegrini ++ | Frame Srl | | Via Antonio Cantore 62/10 | | 16149 Genova | | Tel. +39 010 8680570| | Fax. +39 010 6591413 | | Cell. +348 2237798 | ++ ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
On Tue, 2005-05-31 at 15:08 +0200, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Vi is certainly a simple and stable solution. One idea that works well for us, is to put similar static type configs together. For example: put all the remote sip entries in one config and all the local sip entries in another, than include them both in your sip.conf file. It would be interesting if vi would highlight the * entries. -- respectfully, Joseph === -= ** = ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); The 1.10.008 version of AMP supports Custom Trunks. Text from the AMP tooltip: -begin- Define the custom Dial String. Include the token $OUTNUM$ wherever the number to dial should go. examples: CAPI/:b$OUTNUM$,30,r H323/[EMAIL PROTECTED] OH323/[EMAIL PROTECTED]: vpb/1-1/$OUTNUM$ -end- Regards, -- Jason Becker Director CEO Coalescent Systems Inc. Enabling Open Source Telephony 403.244.8089 www.coalescentsystems.ca ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Any suggestion is welcome We are working on finalizing a production release of our PhoneCALL product, a GPL php/smarty configuration GUI for Asterisk: http://www.vecsector.com/phonecall I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus other countless devices that use an embedded browser for configurations. It can save a lot of time on training new employees, and syntax issues when starting out. Our goal is to have a GUI that is just as flexible as writing configurations by hand, but not having to write it by hand. ;-) PhoneCALL is not production ready yet, we are on 2.5-RC4 - but within a week or so, we plan to have a very nice/clean stable version that is production ready. We don't have CAPI support built-in yet, but open for any help anyone would like to lend. ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
Dustin Wildes wrote: I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus other countless devices that use an embedded browser for configurations. Just a nitpick, if I may. They have embedded http servers, not browsers. But I'm sure that's what you meant. Having said that, I agree that putting streamlined apache/php on an * box isn't going to cause grief. Heck, I'm breaking lots of rules, and haven't running into problems (yet). I run _everything_ on my Athlon 3000+/1GB Gentoo machine. Apache, postfix, named, mysql, courier-imap, firebird / avg tcp server, nagios, samba, X/Gnome, and vncserver/Gnome! I even (gasp) play some games on it. I'm sure that slows down some of the server functions, but I haven't noticed any problems (yet). I'm hoping to get my own dedicated server box soon to offload all the non-client stuff, but until then, it all goes on this one machine. Yes, this is a home setup, but with ties to work functions. - Dan ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
RE: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
What is it you feel is missing in AMP? Dean -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:asterisk-users- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, 31 May 2005 9:09 AM To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Any suggestion is welcome Francesco Pellegrini ++ | Frame Srl | | Via Antonio Cantore 62/10 | | 16149 Genova | | Tel. +39 010 8680570| | Fax. +39 010 6591413 | | Cell. +348 2237798 | ++ ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
Jason, thanks a lot for the info. Is there any way to separate AMP stuff from asterisk, in other words to have AMP, apache and so on on a different pbx than asterisk? Tia brgds Francesco Pellegrini Frame srl [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jason Becker [EMAIL PROTECTED] systems.caTo Sent by: Asterisk Users Mailing List - asterisk-users-bo Non-Commercial Discussion [EMAIL PROTECTED] asterisk-users@lists.digium.com m.com cc Subject 31/05/2005 15.28 Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk Please respond to Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion [EMAIL PROTECTED] ists.digium.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); The 1.10.008 version of AMP supports Custom Trunks. Text from the AMP tooltip: -begin- Define the custom Dial String. Include the token $OUTNUM$ wherever the number to dial should go. examples: CAPI/:b$OUTNUM$,30,r H323/[EMAIL PROTECTED] OH323/[EMAIL PROTECTED]: vpb/1-1/$OUTNUM$ -end- Regards, -- Jason Becker Director CEO Coalescent Systems Inc. Enabling Open Source Telephony 403.244.8089 www.coalescentsystems.ca ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
Dan Perik wrote: Dustin Wildes wrote: I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus other countless devices that use an embedded browser for configurations. Just a nitpick, if I may. They have embedded http servers, not browsers. But I'm sure that's what you meant. Yes - you're right, I was in a hurry. :-) Having said that, I agree that putting streamlined apache/php on an * box isn't going to cause grief. Heck, I'm breaking lots of rules, and haven't running into problems (yet). I run _everything_ on my Athlon 3000+/1GB Gentoo machine. Apache, postfix, named, mysql, courier-imap, firebird / avg tcp server, nagios, samba, X/Gnome, and vncserver/Gnome! I even (gasp) play some games on it. I'm sure that slows down some of the server functions, but I haven't noticed any problems (yet). I'm hoping to get my own dedicated server box soon to offload all the non-client stuff, but until then, it all goes on this one machine. Yes, this is a home setup, but with ties to work functions. - Dan These are the same needs a majority of the businesses we have ran into - consolidation of services. And it's only a matter of time before more more companies will offer an all-in-one small business product to handle most/all of their business communications. So you need to have the hardware to handle the features, and well designed software to be efficient. :-) ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is there any way to separate AMP stuff from asterisk, in other words to have AMP, apache and so on on a different pbx than asterisk? AMP does require file-system access for configuration of Asterisk. With some clever engineering the interface could be decoupled from the PBX. At present this decoupling is not a design goal of AMP. Regards, -- Jason Becker Director CEO Coalescent Systems Inc. Enabling Open Source Telephony 403.244.8089 www.coalescentsystems.ca ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. For now, that is your best option. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Someone recently had a thread going about requirements for an Asterisk GUI (not sure what scale they were talking about). I suggested, and do strongly suggest, that Asterisk simply be instrumented for WBEM management and leave the rest out of it. This would allow Asterisk to leverage the many powerful management console applications available, and require the least amount of extra software running on an Asterisk server. WBEM is mature, industry-standard, widely supported, and open. The actual management or client application then can use a standard, open interface, and anyone can develop any app they want to meet their particular needs. http://www.dmtf.org/standards/wbem/ http://www.openwbem.org/ My personal preference for management of an Asterisk installation (note I mean installation and not just server -- the distinction is important), is a drag-n-drop GUI with click-to-edit on system objects and links between, developed from the perspective of the user instead of the perspective of the PBX or the developer. For example, a user or manager does not see extensions, they see phones. Greg ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
I understand and share your thoughts about the big appeal that a single black box has for SMB. Our current approach is slightly different because our target (for now) is represented by a number of customers with complex networking infrastructures and the need for running VOIP for business critical operations integrated with legacy PBXs (mostly Alcatel and Siemens), support for hundreds of users, need for high availability and for all those architectural stuff that are not so important in a soho scenario. Francesco Dustin Wildes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 31/05/2005 16.46 Please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Please respond to Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion asterisk-users@lists.digium.com To Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion asterisk-users@lists.digium.com cc Subject Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk Dan Perik wrote: Dustin Wildes wrote: I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus other countless devices that use an embedded browser for configurations. Just a nitpick, if I may. They have embedded http servers, not browsers. But I'm sure that's what you meant. Yes - you're right, I was in a hurry. :-) Having said that, I agree that putting streamlined apache/php on an * box isn't going to cause grief. Heck, I'm breaking lots of rules, and haven't running into problems (yet). I run _everything_ on my Athlon 3000+/1GB Gentoo machine. Apache, postfix, named, mysql, courier-imap, firebird / avg tcp server, nagios, samba, X/Gnome, and vncserver/Gnome! I even (gasp) play some games on it. I'm sure that slows down some of the server functions, but I haven't noticed any problems (yet). I'm hoping to get my own dedicated server box soon to offload all the non-client stuff, but until then, it all goes on this one machine. Yes, this is a home setup, but with ties to work functions. - Dan These are the same needs a majority of the businesses we have ran into - consolidation of services. And it's only a matter of time before more more companies will offer an all-in-one small business product to handle most/all of their business communications. So you need to have the hardware to handle the features, and well designed software to be efficient. :-) ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk
Dustin Wildes wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hallo, we have started playing with asterisk about one month ago, and we do like very much what we are experiencing. Now we would like to take some step further towards standardizing installed modules, functionalities, tools etc. The wall we are facing now is: choosing the right tool for * management. We tried AMP, very powerful but incomplete (CAPI is very important to us); it also suffers from its prerequisites: apache, mysql, php... too much things that should not go in a pbx We tried IPSwitchboard, but it seems only good as a monitor, not as a configuration tool (are we correct or are we missing something?) At this point we are thinking that we better abandon the idea of GUI tools and that we must go on the road of vi editing of .conf files. We would like to understand what other people are using for asterisk management, and to get some suggestion from the community. Any suggestion is welcome We are working on finalizing a production release of our PhoneCALL product, a GPL php/smarty configuration GUI for Asterisk: http://www.vecsector.com/phonecall I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus other countless devices that use an embedded browser for configurations. It can save a lot of time on training new employees, and syntax issues when starting out. Our goal is to have a GUI that is just as flexible as writing configurations by hand, but not having to write it by hand. ;-) PhoneCALL is not production ready yet, we are on 2.5-RC4 - but within a week or so, we plan to have a very nice/clean stable version that is production ready. We don't have CAPI support built-in yet, but open for any help anyone would like to lend. This looks interesting. I am curious as how your view Phonecall compared to AMP. ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Tools for effectively manage Asterisk (kinda long)
We are working on finalizing a production release of our PhoneCALL
product, a GPL php/smarty configuration GUI for Asterisk:
http://www.vecsector.com/phonecall
I feel there is nothing wrong with having a web-based configuration
utility, if set up correctly. Look at the WRT54G Linksys router, plus
other countless devices that use an embedded browser for
configurations. It can save a lot of time on training new employees,
and syntax issues when starting out. Our goal is to have a GUI that
is just as flexible as writing configurations by hand, but not having
to write it by hand. ;-)
PhoneCALL is not production ready yet, we are on 2.5-RC4 - but within
a week or so, we plan to have a very nice/clean stable version that
is production ready.
We don't have CAPI support built-in yet, but open for any help anyone
would like to lend.
This looks interesting. I am curious as how your view Phonecall
compared to AMP.
Well, without trying to start a war - I'll give my view the purpose of
PhoneCALL. ;-)
AMP seems like a nice product, and looks to be a all-in-one
configuration for a SOHO-type setup.
With PhoneCALL - we are working on creating a highly flexible, scalable
interface - with nice, clean code that is written 100% in php/smarty.
This will make code management alot easier, and we've made every effort
to keep the code well designed so you can write any enhancement to the
product that you may need.
Not to say we couldn't power a SOHO office, but also adding the ability
to scale large enterprise-wide configurations as well.
We have a very nice groundwork for a macro/scripting interface, along
with a new call routing manager - that attempts to more logical with
handling a call.
Here's a quick run-through:
You create an auto attendant menu that plays a greeting file, and assign
the following digit actions:
Press 1 - Sends to extension 1021
Press 2 - Goes to menu 'Tech Support'
Press 3 - Goes to Support Queue
etc...
You create the 'Tech Support' menu that plays a greeting file, and
assigns the following digit actions:
Press 1 - Transfers to Level 1 support queue
Press 2 - Transfers to Level 2 support queue
Press 3 - Transfers to Level 3 support queue
etc...
The same principle will apply to PSTN lines:
Incoming call on line 1 - during normal hours, send to Auto
Attendant menu (see above)
Incoming call on line 1, matches caller id of '111-555-' - send
to Tech support level 3 queue
Incoming call on line 2, call marketing director extension (2020)
during normal hours - calls marketing director cellphone after hours
The same logic is applied to Extensions within the system:
First, build a script to assign to an extension:
Script: Extension with Voicemail
Commands:
exten = s,1,Dial(${ARG1},20)
exten = s,2,Goto(s-${DIALSTATUS},1)
exten = s-NOANSWER,1,Voicemail(u${ARG2})
exten = s-BUSY,1,Voicemail(b${ARG2})
exten = _s-.,1,Goto(s-NOANSWER,1)
exten = a,1,VoicemailMain(${ARG2})
Next, Create your extension - and assign a script to handle the extension:
Extension: 1000 --- This is ARG1
Script: [Extension with Voicemail]
Voicemail Box:{ARG2}
[_] Send voicemail to this extension
or
Send voicemail to: [--drop down of other extensions--]
Now, whenever someone dials '1000' - it will run the 'Extension with
Voicemail' script (really an Asterisk Macro). If you ever update this
macro, you update all extensions assigned to this macro.
Now, combine this logic with the Asterisk macro facility, and you have a
very easy - yet flexible interface.
We are also implementing an export/import function within the
scripting/menus where you can quickly export all scripts from one server
and import them in another. Also if someone writes a very complex, and
detailed script that does alot of call logic - they could export the
script, post it on the community site for you to download and import
into your system.
With the import/export functions - you could quickly deploy hundreds of
PBXs with a default configuration, potentially saving you 90% of the
work per install - and creating a consistent install.
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