Hands-on Lab - Installing Asterisk and Basic Configuration

Introduction

In this hands-on lab, you will install Asterisk and configure its basic settings to create a working telecommunication system. By the end of this lab, you will be able to:

Install Asterisk on a Linux-based system.
Set up basic SIP configurations.
Verify and test your Asterisk installation to ensure it is functioning correctly.

This practical exercise will provide you with the essential skills needed to deploy and manage Asterisk in a real-world environment.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Note: This lab builds on Lecture 4 by introducing new features and configurations.

1. Advanced SIP Configuration

Add More SIP Accounts

Open the SIP configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/sip.conf

Add the following configuration for two more extensions:

[1003]
type=friend
context=phones
host=dynamic
secret=welcome123

[1004]
type=friend
context=phones
host=dynamic
secret=welcome123

Configure Additional Extensions

Open the extensions configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/extensions.conf

Add the following dial plan:

exten => 1003,1,Dial(SIP/1003)
exten => 1003,n,Hangup()

exten => 1004,1,Dial(SIP/1004)
exten => 1004,n,Hangup()

Reload Asterisk Configuration

Access Asterisk CLI:

sudo asterisk -r

Reload the configurations:

sip reload
dialplan reload
exit

2. Implement Voicemail

Configure Voicemail

Open the voicemail configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/voicemail.conf

Add the following configuration:

[default]
1001 => 1234,User One,user1@yourdomain.com
1002 => 1234,User Two,user2@yourdomain.com
1003 => 1234,User Three,user3@yourdomain.com
1004 => 1234,User Four,user4@yourdomain.com

Configure Dial Plan for Voicemail

Open the extensions configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/extensions.conf

Add the following dial plan for voicemail:

[phones]
exten => 1001,1,Dial(SIP/1001,20)
exten => 1001,n,Voicemail(1001@default,u)
exten => 1001,n,Hangup()

exten => 1002,1,Dial(SIP/1002,20)
exten => 1002,n,Voicemail(1002@default,u)
exten => 1002,n,Hangup()

exten => 1003,1,Dial(SIP/1003,20)
exten => 1003,n,Voicemail(1003@default,u)
exten => 1003,n,Hangup()

exten => 1004,1,Dial(SIP/1004,20)
exten => 1004,n,Voicemail(1004@default,u)
exten => 1004,n,Hangup()

Reload Asterisk Configuration

Access Asterisk CLI:

sudo asterisk -r

Reload the configurations:

dialplan reload
voicemail reload
exit

3. Implement Call Forwarding

Configure Call Forwarding

Open the extensions configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/extensions.conf

Add the following dial plan for call forwarding:

[phones]
exten => 2001,1,Dial(SIP/1001,20)
exten => 2001,n,Dial(SIP/1002,20)
exten => 2001,n,Dial(SIP/1003,20)
exten => 2001,n,Dial(SIP/1004,20)
exten => 2001,n,Hangup()

Reload Asterisk Configuration

Access Asterisk CLI:

sudo asterisk -r

Reload the configurations:

dialplan reload
exit

4. Test Advanced Features

Test Voicemail

Dial `1002` from any SIP client and let it go to voicemail. Leave a voicemail message for extension 1002. Retrieve the voicemail by dialing `*97` from extension 1002 and entering the password `1234`.

Test Call Forwarding

Dial `2001` from any SIP client. Verify that the call is forwarded through extensions 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004.

Conclusion

By following these detailed hands-on labs, you will build a comprehensive understanding of Asterisk, starting from basic installation and configuration to advanced telecommunication solutions. Each lab builds upon the previous one, ensuring a smooth learning curve and avoiding redundancy.