Elastix unified communications server cookbook more than 140 real-life, hands-on recipes and tips to install, deploy, administer, and maintain any VoIP/Unified communications solution based on Elastix

More than 140 real-life, hands-on recipes and tips to install, deploy, administer, and maintain any VoIP/Unified Communications solution based on Elastix About This Book Enable a full cost-effective unified communications server solution Go from a single server configuration to a multi-site deployment Implement the Call Center module and take advantage of all the VoIP and Unified Communications features available Who This Book Is For This book is aimed at those who want to learn how to set up an Elastix Unified Communications Server without losing ground on Unified Communications and Voice over IP. In Detail Elastix brings together the most useful tools and features from the Unified Communications and Open Source worlds: IP-PBX, Chat, Call Center, Multisite, Video, and so on, in a modular way. Beginning with installation and gaining an in-depth understanding of the internal workings of Elastix, you will soon dive into the core features of Elastix and VoIP and Unified Communications to enable a full cost-effective Unified Communications server solution. You will explore the configuration of IP-BPX features, control call routes and destinations, and troubleshoot the unified communications software. Finish by going that extra mile and securing your server and implement advanced dialplan functions. Through this step-by-step guide you will get to grips with VoIP and Unified Communications with Elastix and dive into practical tips to install, deploy, and maintain your own solutions. Cover 1 Copyright 3 Credits 4 About the Author 5 About the Reviewers 6 www.PacktPub.com 8 Table of Contents 10 Preface 16 Chapter 1: Installing Elastix 22 Introduction to Elastix Unified Communications System 22 Installing Elastix Unified Communications Server software 28 Inserting the CD and booting 29 Choosing the system's language 33 Choosing the keyboard type 34 Partitioning the hard disk 35 Configuring the network interfaces 37 Selecting a proper time zone 41 Entering the password for the user root 42 Logging into the system for the first time 46 Chapter 2: Basic PBX Configuration 52 Introduction 53 Setting up Elastix's dashboard 53 Setting up the network parameters 57 Managing users 58 Configuring telephony cards 60 Adding VoIP trunks 64 Adding SIP extensions 66 Creating IAX extensions 69 Creating analog extensions 70 Creating custom extensions 72 Provisioning extensions in a simple way 73 Outbound calls 76 Inbound calls 78 Creating an auto-attendant 80 Controlling outbound calls using different prefixes 82 Controlling outbound calls by using a trunk sequence 83 Controlling outbound calls by using patterns 85 Controlling outbound calls using PIN Sets 86 Managing endpoints – Batch of extensions 87 Managing extensions – Batch of endpoints 89 Using the Endpoint Configurator 90 Chapter 3: Understanding Inbound Call Control 92 Introduction 92 Displaying voice announcements 93 Blocking unwanted callers 95 Routing calls based on caller ID 96 Using MySQL to search for the caller's name 97 Using HTTP to search for a user 99 Setting up day/night controls 99 Forwarding incoming calls to another extension or number 101 Setting up a ring group 104 Setting up a queue for ACD 106 Chapter 4: Knowing Internal PBX Options and Configurations 114 Introduction 115 Creating conference rooms 115 The Web Conference module 117 Changing the language of a call flow 119 Adding miscellaneous applications 120 Adding miscellaneous destinations 121 Music on hold 122 Using Internet audio streams 123 Using the SSH protocol 124 Using PuTTY as an SSH client 125 Accessing the FreePBX admin module 127 Installing the Custom-Context module 129 Using the Custom-Context module to restrict outbound calls 130 Creating paging groups 133 Creating intercom groups 134 Parking calls 135 Configuring extensions' voicemail 136 The VmX Locater feature 137 Configuring the Voicemail Blasting module 138 Setting the Callback feature 139 Configuring DISA 140 Chapter 5: Setting up the E-mail Service 142 Elastix's e-mail internals 142 Sending an e-mail message from the command line 144 Configuring the remote SMTP – setting up a Gmail relay account 144 Setting the domain and configuring the relay option 147 Adding e-mail accounts 148 Controlling ad using the e-mail service with the webmail interface 149 Filtering unwanted messages 150 Creating e-mail lists 151 Setting vacation messages 154 Chapter 6: Elastix Fax System 156 Introduction 156 Setting up the Elastix fax system 157 Sending a fax from Elastix's WebGUI 159 Viewing the sent and received faxes 161 Installing a fax client 162 Sending a fax using the HylaFAX client 167 Receiving a fax 167 Modifying the e-mail template 169 Chapter 7: Using the Call Center Module 170 Introduction 171 Installing the Call Center module 171 Configuring the Call Center module 173 Creating a group of agents 177 Creating and adding agents to a group 178 Configuring a queue for standard agent login 179 Queue for agent callback login 181 Configuring queues for incoming calls 182 Setting up the clients 183 Configuring inbound campaigns 184 Creating a script for outgoing campaigns 186 Configuring agent break time 188 Configuring an outgoing campaign 189 Creating the call file specification 190 Invoking a URL through the campaign 191 Adding a number to the Do not call list 193 Adding a list of numbers to the Do not call list 194 Adding dynamic agents to the agent console 195 Adding static agents/callback extensions 195 Logging agents to the console dynamically 196 The callback login 197 Description of the agent console 198 Call center reports 201 Chapter 8: Going Deeper into Unified Communications 204 Installing the Openfire instant messaging service 205 Integrating Openfire with Asterisk IP-PBX 210 Integrating VTiger CRM with Elastix 213 Setting up video calls 217 Dialing through MS Outlook 218 Using Directories 222 Configuring a speed dial list 224 Enabling BLFs and hints 226 Chapter 9: Networking with Elastix 230 Setting up remote extensions 230 SIP trunking between Elastix systems 234 Creating a VPN tunnel in our Elastix Unified Communications Server with OpenVPN 240 Configuring channel banks 245 Enabling multisites with Elastix 247 Chapter 10: Knowing the State of Your Elastix System and Troubleshooting 254 Using the Flash Operator Panel 255 Looking at the Call Detailed Report 257 Extension's summary 259 Creating billing rates 260 Destination Distribution 262 SIP/IAX debugging 263 Using Wireshark for debugging 265 Using TCPDUMP for debugging 269 Helpful Linux commands for debugging 270 Debugging Asterisk 272 Chapter 11: Securing your Elastix System 274 Knowing the best practices when installing Elastix – Physical security 275 Knowing the best practices when installing Elastix – Logical security 276 Installing Fail2ban 279 Using Elastix's embedded firewall 283 Using the Security Advanced Settings menu to enable security features 288 Recording and monitoring calls 288 Recording MeetMe rooms 291 Recording queues' calls 292 Monitoring recordings 292 Encrypting voice calls 293 Generating system backups 297 Restoring a backup from one server to another 298 Chapter 12: Implementing Advanced Dialplan Functions 300 Creating an advanced IVR using Asterisk AGI and Asterisk's Dialplan 301 Enabling a multiconference toggle button 304 Creating your own Dialplan features 306 Creating a phone poll using Elastix 306 Enabling Remote Call Forward 311 Installing the Custom-Context module 312 Using the Custom-Context module 314 Integrating Elastix with other PBXs 317 Integrating GSM Gateways with Elastix 318 Integrating TDM Gateways with Elastix 319 Appendix A: Description and Use of the Most Well-known FreePBX Modules 322 Third-party modules 323 Appendix B: Addon Market Module 324 Appendix C: Asterisk Essential Commands 326 Appendix D: Asterisk Gateway Interface Programming 330 Appendix E: Helpful Linux Commands 334 Index 336 More than 140 real-life, hands-on recipes and tips to install, deploy, administer, and maintain any VoIP/Unified Communications solution based on Elastix In Detail Elastix brings together the most useful tools and features from the Unified Communications and Open Source worlds: IP-PBX, Chat, Call Center, Multisite, Video, and so on, in a modular way. Beginning with installation and gaining an in-depth understanding of the internal workings of Elastix, you will soon dive into the core features of Elastix and VoIP and Unified Communications to enable a full cost-effective Unified Communications server solution. You will explore the configuration of IP-BPX features, control call routes and destinations, and troubleshoot the unified communications software. Finish by going that extra mile and securing your server and implement advanced dialplan functions. Through this step-by-step guide you will get to grips with VoIP and Unified Communications with Elastix and dive into practical tips to install, deploy, and maintain your own solutions. What You Will Learn Understand basic PBX configuration Explore the internal PBX options, configuration, and call control Set up e-mail and fax services Discover how to use the call center module Troubleshoot your Elastix Unified Communications Server Configure networking and multisites with Elastix Unified Communications Server Secure your Elastix Unified Communications Server Implement advanced dialplan functions

About This Book

• A unique and deep insight into the Windows Azure Infrastructure Services
• Learn how to securely connect your datacenter to Windows Azure
• A step-by-step guide that explores numerous cloud hybrid scenarios

Who This Book Is For

If you're an IT professional, manager, consultant, or architect who wants to learn about hybrid cloud computing using Azure, then this is the book for you.