[Asterisk-Users] secret/username - what does it really do?

[Don Murray]

Hello all,

I am working with an AAH installation and Polycom IP 500 phones.  Phones 
are now working and I'm just trying to fine tune what settings I need in 
my extension and sip .conf files.  I have AMP installed obviously (its 
AAH) but I am finding that I will probably not use the AAH extension set 
up panel as
(a) it isn't phone maker aware (I need to set up stuff particular to 
Polycom) and
(b) it doesn't import manual changes (I can edit sip_additional.conf and 
AMP will not reflect the manual changes) and
(c) it doesn't have all the fields I need (I'm using fixed IP rather 
than DHCP)

Anyway, no big deal, just have to do it myself :)

Anyway, if I set up, say, extension 176, via AMP I get the sip and 
extension entries shown below.  What I would like to know is what is the 
"username" and "secret" fields really used for?  So far my guess is they 
identify the mailbox for the voicemail.    But I am really not sure and 
all the documentation I can  find on the Wiki about this just gives 
examples of their use but doesn' treally lay out what they are there for.

I've checked the asterisk handbook but it didn't help me as I didn't 
understand the consequence of the definitions given... I guess because 
I'm a SIP newbie. 

We have a asterisk setup that is deep behind a firewall and I am not 
security conscious at all... the only thing on this network will the 
asterisk box and the phones.  Can I just do away with these values?

Thanks for any hints.

Don


sip.conf
[176]
username=176
type=friend
secret=1766
qualify=no
port=5060
pickupgroup=
nat=never
mailbox=
host=dynamic
dtmfmode=inband
disallow=
context=from-internal
canreinvite=no
callgroup=
callerid="Jar Jar Binks" <176>
allow=

[ext-local]
exten => 176,1,Macro(exten-vm,176,176)