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[ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx

Offline Daniel B.

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[ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« on: March 16, 2009, 10:57:28 PM »
Hi everyone.

A new contrib is available: smeserver-freepbx. This contrib will integrate FreePBX on your SME server.
Basically, FreePBX is a very powerfull interface for the telephony server Asterisk. It's also very easy to use.
FreePBX is not compatible with SAIL, it's an alternative.

I've started a wiki page for the installation instructions:
http://wiki.contribs.org/FreePBX

For more documentation on FrePBX, please refere to the project site http://freepbx.org. I'll try to enhance the wiki page with more informations (how to configure some hardware cards, add AGI scripts to receive an email when a call fails etc...) when I have some time. Please, do not hesitate to correct/add things in the wiki.

Cheers
C'est la fin du monde !!! :lol:

Offline Normando

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2009, 04:01:39 AM »
Thank you very much!

Offline Teviot

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2009, 06:03:28 AM »
I have tried to install this twice and found that both times it didn't work.

Even the removal script doesn't work


SAIL is the better choice for PBX in my opinion.

It installs first go and is easy to configure

Stick with SAIL
« Last Edit: March 18, 2009, 06:15:31 AM by teviot »
Regards
M0GLJ
......................................................
I am new to SAIL SME Server v8b6 and have been using SME for many years.
I have already done some research and only ask questions if I still can't work it out.

Offline David Harper

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2009, 08:14:53 AM »
Let's not diss FreePBX - it's just another option.

I would say that I agree that - for the moment - SAIL might be a better choice for business deployments, because it's commercially supported by a company with deep experience running on SME. Looking at FreePBX, a lot of the under-the-hood stuff seems to be handled by editing configuration files, rather than from a GUI. So if you're new to VoIP SAIL might be a better place to start.

On the other hand, competition encourages everyone to lift their game, and we can't have enough of it. SAIL still does some pretty weird stuff (e.g. not setting the localnet parameter at install time) and can be a bit buggy on occasion. And if you want to learn the ins and outs of how it Asterisk works, FreePBX seems to be more flexible and so forth.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2009, 08:20:47 AM by David Harper »

Offline Daniel B.

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2009, 08:35:39 AM »
I have tried to install this twice and found that both times it didn't work.

Even the removal script doesn't work

SAIL is the better choice for PBX in my opinion.

It installs first go and is easy to configure

Stick with SAIL

Hi. FreePBX contrib is quite young. I use FreePBX on many production servers since 2 or 3 years. It's a great product. But the contrib itself may have some problem. Instead of saying "The install didn't work" and "Even the removal script doesn't work" (which I think both are wrong, I've installed this on several servers. It may just be a typo or something, or even a conflict with another contrib you have), you should explain what's not working. Open a bug and/or send me an email. This will make the product better.

And just one more thing: if you can't get it working, that doesn't mean it's a bad product.

Looking at FreePBX, a lot of the under-the-hood stuff seems to be handled by editing configuration files, rather than from a GUI.
Well, I can't really compare with SAIL as I only use FreePBX, but there's really not a lot to configure by hands. At the begining, you'll have to configure the hardware card, you may also have to enter your own language in sip and iax configuration file. Once this is done, quite everything can be controlled in the GUI, you just have to install additional modules. There's a lot of modules available in the module manager, directly from FreePBX GUI.

Cheers, Daniel
C'est la fin du monde !!! :lol:

Offline Stefano

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2009, 09:38:25 AM »
I have tried to install this twice and found that both times it didn't work.
Even the removal script doesn't work
SAIL is the better choice for PBX in my opinion.
It installs first go and is easy to configure
Stick with SAIL

teviot.. IMO your post is rude and it does not help Daniel to solve your problem..

if you are interested in his contrib, then help him, us and yourself to solve the issues.. start writing what was broken/didn't work.. otherwise, please, simply don't post.

Thank you

Stefano

Offline Tib

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2009, 02:51:03 PM »
OK

I have setup a vmware freepbx setup

Installed SME 7.4 ... updated with the latest updates.

Followed the installation instructions.

Code: [Select]
yum --enablerepo=smecontribs install smeserver-freepbx
this code pulled in 14 files which included dahdi-tools dahdi-linux dahdi-linux-kmdl

then did a
Code: [Select]
signal-event freepbx-update
tried the
Code: [Select]
https://server.domain.tld/freepbx/admin
and there was nothing there
Quote
Not Found

The requested URL /freepbx/admin was not found on this server.

then I tried just
Code: [Select]
https://server.domain.tld/freepbx/
and I got
Quote
Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /freepbx/ on this server.

By the way ... I'm not interested in this contrib ... just thought I'd help test it.

Regards,

Tib

Offline soprom

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2009, 03:16:52 PM »
SAIL is the better choice for PBX in my opinion

There are a few differences between FreePBX and SAIL. I am not so inclined to say that SAIL is definitively better...

FreePBX has more options for those who are not using "custom apps" in SAIL. The support base (forums...) is wider. All those options have a cost: response time, complexity of the dialplan. There is a case where I can't install SAIL because they want those options. it's not easy to reproduce some of them in "custom apps" in SAIL.

SAIL has less options so it runs faster. This is noticable on sound quality and response time. It  also use an "engine" of it's own to process calls.  The codes on the phones to transfer calls etc are quite different from what is in use in americas (*73, *74...) and this is a downer.  SAIL is more straight forward to handle, easier after we know it. The main difference between both PBX, in a poweruser's perspective is certainly the "multi-tenant" functions. SAIL does it, FreePBX only dreams about it.

With "custom apps" in SAIL, transition from newbie to knowledge is quite something.

Even though I prefer SAIL, I still think that FreePBX is okay.

Thanks to Daniel for sharing his work with us!

And please! help him debuging and getting his contrib better instead of saying it's not that good...
Sophie from Montréal

Offline Daniel B.

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2009, 03:29:18 PM »
By the way ... I'm not interested in this contrib ... just thought I'd help test it.
Hi.
First, I'd like to thank you to take the time to test the contrib.
Unfortunately, it'd be quite hard to troubleshoot the issue in the forum. I've asked a component for freepbx in the bug tracker, it should be created soon. Waiting for this, can you please contact me by email (daniel AT firewall-services DOT com), and send me the install log (/root/freepbx_install.log)

Cheers, Daniel
C'est la fin du monde !!! :lol:

Offline Tib

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2009, 03:38:08 PM »
Will do ... booting the VM as I'm writing this.

Regards,

Tib

Offline Teviot

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2009, 12:47:15 AM »
This is for those who think that this contrib works. 

First, I have tried to install it more than once.

second, I did try to get help with it ... see http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,42811.0.html

third, Stefano a.k.a. nenonano ... you are the rude one.  If you frequent the forums (ALL OF THEM) not just one particular part of the forums you would see that I had already asked for help and got NO responce.

forth, Don't be like a number of other people that I have been victim to and witnessed by putting people down with out yourself doing some research.

I'm afraid that until I see some kind of real evidence that FreePBX on an SME server is working and worth a second look, I will continue to say that SAIL is the system of choice.

BTW this particular part of the forums is for SAIL. FreePBX shouldn't (In my opinion) have been posted here.

I had my say and will NOT discuss it further as from here it would only become a slinging match which I WILL NOT get involved with so please don't reply to this post. You won't get a responce.

Not that I need to explain myself to anybody, and this has nothing to do with SAIL, I used to use TRIXBOX but had to get a mate to configure it and make changes when needed.  SAIL, I configured it, I make the changes and my mate hasn't even logged in to see what I have done.  All he knows is it works.



VIP-ire
Don't stop developing it. I believe there is room for many contribs that when it is all said and done ... do the same thing only in different way. When you get this problem sorted, please let me know.

until then

LONG LIVE SAIL
« Last Edit: March 19, 2009, 01:39:29 AM by teviot »
Regards
M0GLJ
......................................................
I am new to SAIL SME Server v8b6 and have been using SME for many years.
I have already done some research and only ask questions if I still can't work it out.

Offline SARK devs

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2009, 01:42:39 AM »
OK guys...

Let's draw a line under the flaming.  We don't need it here.  You've both given as good as you got so let's leave it there.

The Forum is for all things VoIP and telephony on SME and FreePBX is welcome here.  Please everyone, this is a nice, courteous forum where people enjoy the learning experience.  Let's try to keep it that way and we'll all win.

Sophie - you never told us about the American standard feature codes or we would have changed them for you by now ( :) ).   

Can you send us over a list?  Is there such a thing?

Also can you expand some more on FPBX features that you don't believe are in SAIL?  We used to benchmark against FPBX but we stopped some time ago when we realised that SARK is in a completely different space to FreePBX.  Here in the UK we replace at least one or two failed FreePBX sites a month, however it isn't always the fault of FreePBX, it's sometimes the case that some space cowboy has offered a customer a PBX for 50 Cents and then done a runner when he realised he couldn't deliver. 

:)



 

Offline soprom

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #12 on: March 19, 2009, 04:14:50 AM »
Thanks Selintra for helping this thread back to something productive...

Quote
about the American standard feature codes

For example, *97 and *98 are of frequent use to get voice mails, and call forwarding is done with *72 and *73. Since people are used to these codes, they have to learn a new set.

If you don't mind I'll insert a list right here (watch for the lines with "FreePBX:")

Code: [Select]
** FreePBX: Call Pickup (Can be used with GXP-2000)
*0 FreePBX: Speeddial prefix
*11 FreePBX: User Logon
*12 FreePBX: User Logoff
*16 Linksys/Sipura: Make all outbound calls secure
*17 Linksys/Sipura: Make all outbound calls not secure
*18 Linksys/Sipura: Make the next outbound call secure. This operation is redundant if all outbound calls are secure by default.
*19 Linksys/Sipura: Make the next outbound call not secure. This operation is redundant if all outbound calls are not secure by default.
*25 Linksys/Sipura: Enable Call Waiting Caller-ID generation
*26 Linksys/Sipura: Enable Distinctive Ringing
*30 FreePBX: Blacklist a number
*31 FreePBX: Remove a number from the blacklist
*32 FreePBX: Blacklist the last caller
*34 FreePBX: Perform dictation
*35 FreePBX: Email completed dictation
*43 FreePBX: Echo Test
*45 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Call Waiting Caller-ID generation
*46 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Distinctive Ringing
*52 FreePBX: Call Forward No Answer/Unavailable Activate
*53 FreePBX: Call Forward No Answer/Unavailable Deactivate
*54 FreePBX: User lntercom Allow
*55 FreePBX: User lntercom Disallow
*57 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Call Waiting on all calls
*60 FreePBX: Speaking Clock
*60 Linksys/Sipura: Block the last inbound call
*61 Trixbox: Weather
*62 Trixbox: Wakeup
*63 Linksys/Sipura: Forward the last inbound or outbound calls to the target specified after the activation code
*64 Linksys/Sipura: Accept the last outbound call. Let it ring through when DND or Call Forward All is in effect
*65 FreePBX: Speak Your Exten Number
*65 Linksys/Sipura: Enable Caller-ID Generation
*66 Linksys/Sipura: Callback when the last outbound call is not busy
*67 Linksys/Sipura: Block CID on all outbound calls
*68 Linksys/Sipura: Unblock CID on all outbound calls
*69 FreePBX: Call Trace
*69 Linksys/Sipura: Call the last caller.
*70 FreePBX: Call Waiting - Activate
*70 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Call Waiting for the next call
*71 FreePBX: Call Waiting - Deactivate
*71 Linksys/Sipura: Enable Call Waiting for the next call
*72 FreePBX: Call Forward All Activate
*72 Linksys/Sipura: Forward all calls to the target specified after the activation code
*73 FreePBX: Call Forward All Deactivate
*73 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel call forward all
*74 FreePBX: Call Forward All Prompting Deactivate
*74 Linksys/Sipura: Assign a speed dial number
*75 FreePBX: Set user speed dial
*77 FreePBX: Save Recording
*77 Linksys/Sipura: Block all anonymous calls
*78 FreePBX: DND Activate
*78 Linksys/Sipura: Enable Do Not Disturb
*79 FreePBX: DND Deactivate
*79 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Do Not Disturb
*80 FreePBX: Intercom prefix
*80 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel blocking of the last inbound call
*81 Linksys/Sipura: Block CID on the next outbound call
*82 Linksys/Sipura: Unblock CID on the next inbound call
*83 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel call forward last
*84 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel Accept Last
*85 Linksys/Sipura: Disable Call-ID Generation
*86 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel callback
*87 Linksys/Sipura: Unblock all anonymous calls
*90 FreePBX: Call Forward Busy Activate
*90 Linksys/Sipura: Forward busy calls to the target specified after the activation code
*91 FreePBX: Call Forward Busy Deactivate
*91 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel call forward busy
*92 FreePBX: Call Forward Busy Prompting Deactivate
*92 Linksys/Sipura: Forward no-answer calls to the target specified after the activation code
*93 Linksys/Sipura: Cancel call forward no-answer
*97 FreePBX: My Voicemail
*98 FreePBX: Dial Voicemail
*98 Linksys/Sipura: Blind transfer current call to the target specified after the activation code
*99 FreePBX: Check Recording
*99 Linksys/Sipura: Modem Line Toggle Code

They have a panel where all feature codes known to the PBX are listed by name with a field to define the code for each one.


Quote
Also can you expand some more on FPBX features that you don't believe are in SAIL?

Concerning other features...

Please keep in mind that they may be there in Selintra but I didn't figure out the way to activate them, and that I don't use easily custom apps. FreePBX allows a non-programmer to set some options, and that is what I'm discussing here:

Cell phones:

  • Callback cell via a land line (TDM400) is something that Selintra was working on.
  • Include cell in ring group (fallback)

The inclusion of cell phones is done with simple "custom extensions" that are then inserted into ring group. In Selintra, such a custom extension would be added in an alias extensions list. Calling extension 5432, for example, would ring a cell phone.

The Complex Follow-me:

This is something I can live without, but some seem to enjoy it...
See http://freepbx.org/news/2007-09-13/follow-me-or-vmx-locater-which-one-is-for-you

and VmX Locator with "Ring strategies" http://freepbx.org/2007/06/03/ring-group-and-follow-me-ring-strategies-1-of-2


And again, thanks for your work on Selintra!
« Last Edit: March 19, 2009, 04:22:56 AM by soprom »
Sophie from Montréal

Offline David Harper

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2009, 04:23:46 AM »
Sounds like SAIL has some new features coming its way :)

Offline soprom

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Re: [ANNOUNCE] smeserver-freepbx
« Reply #14 on: March 19, 2009, 04:28:14 AM »
David, could you tell me where to get info on the coming features?
Thanks.
Sophie from Montréal