GTS Institute, VoIP ICT Labs Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF VoIP System v1.

Global Technology Solutions Institute

VoIP Systems Integration Hands-on Labs Training Manual

Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF-GOLD

with Asterisk VoIP Telephony System
Kefa Rabah
GTS Institute, Vancouver Canada
krabah@gtechsi.org www.gtechsi.org

Table of Contents Page No.

BUILD & DEPLOY YOUR OWN PRIVATE PIAF-GOLD WITH ASTERISK VOIP TELEPHONY SYSTEM 3

Introduction 3

Part 1: Install PBXInAFlash 4

Step 1; Install and Configure PIAF 4
Step 2: Update-programs your PBXInAFlash 18
Step 3: Using PIAF Help Utility 19
Step 4: Update-fixes on your PIAF 20
Step 5: Setup PIAF Master Password 22

Part 2: Test Connectivity between PBX box with Internal/External Network 23

Part 3: Accessing PIAF via Web GUI 26

Part 4: Login to your Linux Webmin 30

Part 5: Accessing Menu Configuration 31

Part 6: Integrating SugarCRM with PIAF 32

Step 1: Upgrading from PHP 5.1 to PHP 5.2 33
1. Verify current installed PHP Package 33
2. Add Development Repositories 33
3. Update PHP packages 34
Step 2: Install SugarCRM 35

Part 7: Integrating Hylafax/Avantfax 39

Step 1: Install Hylafax/Avantfax 39
Step 2: Configure Hylafax Webmin Module 44
Step 3: Working with HylaFAX Server 45
1. General Configuration Options 46
2. Modems 47

Part 8: Phone Genie for Asterisk 2.0 (Web Edition) 49

Step 1: Install Phone Genie PHP Script 49
Step 2: Securing Phone Genie for Asterisk 49
Step 3: Activating Apache HTTPS Support 50

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GTS Institute, VoIP ICT Labs Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF VoIP System v1.0

Part 9: Install A2Billing 50

Part 10: Need More Training on Linux 52

PIAF Server Administration Training – ETC202 52
Linux Administration Training 53

Part 11: Hands-on Lab Assignments 53

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Global Technology Solutions Institute

VoIP Systems Integration Hands-on Labs Training Manual

Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF-Gold with Asterisk

VoIP Telephony System
By Kefa Rabah, krabah@gtechsi.org October 9, 2010 GTI Institute

Introduction
PBX in a Flash is an aggregation of open source tools used to build a flexible, extensible VoIP telephony
PBX. The open source tools include the CentOS 5.5 operating system, Apache web server, MySQL
database management system, PHP, and the Asterisk 1.4 PBX/FreePBX 2.6 telephony platform.

The latest PIAF is a really neat load of CentOS 5.5, FreePBX 2.6, Asterisk, and many other GPL or open
source software packages. The goal of PIAF is to have a simple turn-key solution to starting an Asterisk
server, and it works really well in from not so powerful machines. It has more options than some existing
PBX, and works in a number of types of deployments (including Amazon EC2), and a Linux firewall, and
Fail2Ban for enhanced security. Asterisk is an open source private branch exchange (PBX) sponsored by
Digium that facilitates voice over IP in many protocols and interoperates with almost all standards-based
telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the most
developed protocol used by Asterisk.

A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX - which is out of
fashion since all modern day PBXs are automatic), is a phone switch serving a business or organization
and is usually located on the organization’s premises. The PBX provides phone services including internal
calling, and access to the public switched telephone network. It allows a small number of outside lines to
be shared among all of the people of the organization. Advanced PBX phone switches sometimes provide
auto-attendant, voice-mail, and ACD (automatic call distribution) services for the organization.

Hands-on Labs Session

In this hands-on lab, you will learn how to install & configure your first PIAF-GOLD with Asterisk VoIP
Telephony based on Linux CentOS 5.5 machine and use it to deploy your own private PIAF based VoIP
system. It’s assumed that you are comfortable working with Linux distros. You’ll also learn how to install
and configure add-ons like SugarCRM, Hylafax/Avantfax, and A2billing etc. Its’ a great opportunity to get
up to speed on how Asterisk is at the forefront of open source VoIP development and how you build your
own VoIP Telephony system that’s cost-effective and can even save you money with some of its powerful
add-ons like SugarCRM etc or even start your own telephony business. Upon completion of this hands-on
lab session you should have gained a competency and skills necessary to install and configure various
components of PIAF system with various add-ons.

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GTS Institute, VoIP ICT Labs Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF VoIP System v1.0

Part 1: Install PBXInAFlash

Step 1; Install and Configure PIAF

1. Download the PBX in a Flash 1.4 ISO file. Attach the ISO to the virtual machine’s DVD-ROM drive
(Media > DVD Drive) and start the machine. You can also burn-it to CD/DVD.
2. Insert the CD/DVD and wait for it bootup, as shown in Fig. 1. Read the info especially note the
WARNING in red font. When satisfied, hit on the Enter key to begin installation.

Fig. 1
3. From Fig. 2, Loading SCSI driver screen, wait for the system to complete current task.

Fig. 2
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4. From Fig. 3, Keyboard Type screen, accept the default selection, or change as desired, tab to OK,
and then hit on the Enter key to continue.

Fig. 3

5. From Fig. 4, Time Zone Selection screen, accept the default selection, or change as desired, tab to
OK, and then hit on the Enter key to continue.

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Fig. 4

6. From Fig. 5, Root Password screen, enter appropriate root user password, tab to OK, and then hit on
the Enter key to continue. Warning! Do not loose this password as you’ll need it to login to PBX box.

Fig. 5

7. From Fig. 6, Installation Progress screen, wait for the system to complete current task, it will
continue when done.

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Fig. 6

8. On the next screen Checking Dependency, wait for the system to complete current task, it will
continue when done.

9. From Fig. 7, Formatting screen, wait for the system to complete current task, it will continue when
done.

Fig. 7

10. From Fig. 8, Copying File screen, wait for the system to complete current task, it will continue when
done.

Fig. 8

11. From Fig. 9, Package Installation – Install staring screen, wait for the system to complete
current task, it will continue when done.

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Fig. 9

12. From Fig. 10, Package Installation screen, wait for the system to complete current task, it will
continue when done. Time to take a break and grab a cup of coffee – it’ll take several minutes to
minutes to complete current task.

Fig. 10

13. From Fig. 11, Bootloader screen, wait for the system to complete current task, it will automatically
reboot the system when done.
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Fig. 11

14. The system will reboot through CentOS-5 Screen, as show in Fig. 12

Fig. 12

15. When the system reboots back, you should end-up with the screen displayed on Fig. 13.

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GTS Institute, VoIP ICT Labs Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF VoIP System v1.0

Fig. 13: Select the desired option

Note: Here, I’ll mention briefly what each option entails:

1. PIAF-GOLD Asterisk 1.4/Zaptel: - represents the last version of Asterisk that supports Zaptel
which now replaced with Dahdi. Choose this option if you’re looking for a stable rock solid PBX
that has been around a long time. However, be warned that it lucks the bells-and-whistles of the
up-to-the minute features.

2. PIAF-SILVER Asterisk 1.4/Dahdi: - installs the current version of both Asterisk 1.4 and Dahdi,
respectively. Use this if you want to take advantage of Dahdi, which supports almost all types if
add-in ports to digital card. Dahdi has come along way and is now quite stable and can be used
for production.

3. PIAF-BRONZE Asterisk 1.6/Dahdi: - installs the current version of Asterisk 1.6 and Dahdi,
respectively. Choose this option if you’re looking to implement current PBX-based “bleeding-edge”
features for those who want to stay at the technology cutting-edge. Although, most 1.6 based
systems are quite stable, it’s important to note that this product represent the newest and is under
constant development, which may lead to instability in the product.

4. PIAF-PURPLE Asterisk 1.8/Dahdi: - Not recommended for production – but great for deploying
under pilot testing to stay at the forefront of technology.

5. Exit the console to install drivers: - allows you to install any required drivers that may be
missing from the default CentOS 5.5 distro. Use this option only if you have advance Linux
knowledge.

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GTS Institute, VoIP ICT Labs Build & Deploy your own Private PIAF VoIP System v1.0

16. From Fig. 13, select Q option to access Fig. 14. Login with the root user credentials. Here you have
the option to install additional drivers not install by default during initial installation.

Fig. 14: type "piafxtras-menu"

17. From Fig 14, type "piafxtras-menu" and hit on the Enter key, to access “PiafPreInstallation –
menu”, as shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 15

18. From Fig. 15, hit the Enter key to see a list of available programs, as shown in Fig. 16.

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Fig. 16

19. You may hit Q key to exit when done, followed by typing "shutdown now -r" to reboot the system
and get you back to the PIAF install menu, shown earlier in Fig.13.

PIAF-GOLD Asterisk 1.4/Zaptel:

20. Let’s choose option B, to install "PIAF Gold Asterisk 1.4/Zaptel".This will allow us to test the
most stable and oldest of the PBX Asterisk system. To install it, hit A key to start installation. There
will be several progression screens; and I’ll only list some of the important ones. The first of the many
screens to install Gold version, is like shown in Fig. 17.

Note: read the disclaimer and know what you should if things fails during installation!

Fig. 17

21. The next screen of importance is the software download stage, as shown in Fig. 18.

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Fig. 18

22. Finally, we have the welcome screen Gold version of PBX, as shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 19

23. We’re now at binary validation stage, wait while system completes the current task, it will continue
when done, see Fig. 20.

Fig. 20

24. The software compiling stage is the most important phase Asterisk setup. Read info, which warns
about not touching the Enter key, as shown in Fig. 21. It will continue when done. Time to take
another coffee break, as it will take several minutes to complete current tasks.

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Fig. 21

25. For full access to the hands-on training manual follow the link below:

26. To download the download hove over to Dosctoc.com:

• Build and Deploy Your Own Private PIAF-GOLD with Asterisk VoIP Telephony System

OR
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/58259143/Build-_-Deploy-your-own-Private-PIAF-GOLD-with-Asterisk-
VoIP-Telephony-System

PIAF Server Administration Training – ETC202

You can now register and take our superb Introduction to the PIAF VoIP System Administration Training
course:

• PBX in a Flash Server Administration Training – ETC202

Contact us today: Email: info@gtechsi.org URL: www.gtechsi.org

-----------------------------------------------
Kefa Rabah is the Founder of Global Technology Solutions Institute. Kefa is knowledgeable in several
fields of Science & Technology, Information Security Compliance and Project Management, and
Renewable Energy Systems. He is also the founder of Global Open Versity, a place to enhance your
educating and career goals using the latest innovations and technologies.

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Delivering Cutting-edge Technology at your Fingertips for Tomorrow’s Workplace

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