[Asterisk-Users] PHP Gui for Asterisk (AGI questions)

[Chris Albertson]

This topic is of interrest to me because I have to re-write the
conf. file system on some software I'm working on.  It's currently
horible.  (Just keyword=value pairs minus the keyword= part)

SOAP looks to me like a message passing protocol.  Configuration
needs to be placed in a persistent storage like a file.  Sometimes
"db" tables, LDAP, or a DBMS is used.  Either way it's "storage"

SOAP looks like a way to send messages, not a way to store data.
But SOAP is XML, So I'm glad you agree about the part.


--- Jeremy McNamara <jj at indie.org> wrote:
> SOAP
> 
> My 2 cents,
> 
> Jeremy
> 
> 
> Chris Albertson wrote:
> 
> >I think the way to go with conf. file for Asterisk is XML.
> >
> >When I first saw the Asterisk conf files I wondered if Eric 
> >Allman had found a new job working on Asterisk. (That's
> >a joke for those of you who have had to maintain a sendmail
> >installation.  sendmail.cf is the definition of cryptic)  
> >
> >Some advantages of XML:
> >
> >1) Parsers and file editors already exist for XML.  Users could
> >   edit files with ready made GUI tools, programmers can use
> >   XML with XML libraries.  There are even web-based tools for
> >   maintaining XML data.  
> >
> >2) Parsers and file editors can perform file validation.  Making
> >   it not-possible to save an invalid file.
> >
> >3) (some) Database systems can gobble up XML and spit it back
> >   out.  Yes, I think the DBMS idea was resonable for a large
> >   installation.  Overkill if less then say a few hundred
> >   extensions.  Large sites like to manage phone extension and,
> >   extension to physical location maping and other stuff in a DBMS.
> >
> >4) XML (with addition of a style sheet) can be directly displayed
> >   in a web browser
> >
> >5) Without a GUI and/or wrb front end the system will remain 
> >   only "geek usable".  (Your average "phone guy" doesn't know
> >   how to use vi.)
> >
> >6) XML readers can ignor parts of the XML file they don't
> understand.
> >   This allows one file to carry information for multiple readers
> >   ad for new additions too the file not to break older readers.
> >
> >--- Steven Critchfield <critch at basesys.com> wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>On Mon, 2003-03-17 at 11:36, Stefano Finetti wrote:
> >>    
> >>
> >>>I was wondering about a little php-based GUI to manage Asterisk
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>Extensions.
> >>    
> >>
> >>>Many way to obtain this, but i think that implementing in a php
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>script the
> >>    
> >>
> >>>AGI Commands should obtain the best results (more, the best result
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>would
> >>    
> >>
> >>>come with AGI+Mysql instead of a text file like extensions.conf
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>but...).
> >>
> >>Text files would be better than a database since you could comment
> on
> >>what you are trying to do with a text file. Also a text file can be
> >>munged easier than a database when a change in argument format
> comes
> >>out
> >>such as the function style of calling apps in asterisk. Maybe if
> you
> >>need webbased configuration you could make a script that held your
> >>working copy either in a flat file or text file , then generated a
> >>new
> >>extensions.conf file as you commit changes. Once commited, you make
> a
> >>call to asterisk to reload via the manager port. 
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >>>The problem is that I've tried to understand *where* and *how*
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>apply AGI
> >>    
> >>
> >>>commands, without, of course, any good result.
> >>>
> >>>In which way AGI commands are passed to asterisk?
> >>>Into the console?
> >>>Executing applications via extensions.conf?
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>AGI commands come from a script invoked by asterisk itself, and
> >>communicate via STDIN/STDOUT with asterisk.
> >>
> >>
> >>-- 
> >>Steven Critchfield  <critch at basesys.com>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Asterisk-Users mailing list
> >>Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> >>http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >
> >=====
> >Chris Albertson
> >  Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
> >  Cell:   310-990-7550
> >  Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
> >  KG6OMK
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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> >  
> >
> 
> 


=====
Chris Albertson
  Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
  Cell:   310-990-7550
  Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
  KG6OMK

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