HOW TO SETUP ASTERISK@HOME

  1. Introduction
  2. Installing the Operating System with Asterisk
  3. Configuring the Operating System
  4. Configuring Asterisk
  5. Getting a Softphone Working - X-Lite
  6. Setting up External Calling using VoIP
  7. Setting up External Calling using VoIP (cont'd)
  8. Advanced Settings and Configuration (via SSH)
  9. Conclusion

Part 5: Getting a Softphone Working - X-Lite

In order to test the functionality of your new PBX, you either need a special VoIP based telephone or software that emulates one. We opted for the latter while testing, and used X-lite Softphone.

You can get it here: http://www.xten.com/index.php?menu=X-Series

Run the installer, and once it's installed launch the program. You may be brought through an audio tuning wizard, don't worry this is normal. Just ensure that your microphone and speakers are plugged in and ready for use before completing the audio-tuning wizard.

Next, you will see the X-lite interface appear and a configuration menu should also have appeared. If it doesn't show up, click on the button directly above the number 3 on the keypad (this is the menu button). Click System Settings then SIP Proxy then Default. That should bring you to this screen, unless you were already there from the start.


Enter the appropriate settings into each field. It's worth noting that SIP Proxy and Domain should be the address of your PBX server.

To confirm your selection, click "back" at the bottom and close the menu. Now you should be back at the main X-lite screen. Dial "*65" and press enter. You should hear a voice announce your extension number.



Repeat this process of configuring X-lite for all extensions on all computers that you will be using. If you only have one testing computer, you can only test one extension at a time. To test a second extension, simply change the X-lite Default settings for each computer, using the appropriate extension and password (i.e. Jane Doe's extension is 201, as opposed to John Doe's which was 200).

Once you have two or more computers and extensions set-up with X-lite, try phoning another computer by dialing the other computer's extension number and pressing enter. You can also try leaving messages on the other's person's voicemail account if they don't pick up in time. Asterisk can even be configured to send an email notification every time someone leaves a message.

If everything is working, it's time to set-up external calling.

Click here to continue to the next step!

Copyright © 2006-2012 Michael Soares & Alexander Blank