[asterisk-users] Looking for starting point?

[Michael Welter]

Go to your book store and get the Fedora/Linux reference.

Get yourself a PC with 20GB drives, a CD burner, and decent ram.  The PC 
should have either an i386 or x86_64 processor.  If you'll be purchasing 
a PC, go to the computer store, purchase the piece parts, and assemble 
it yourself (I like Athlon CPUs).

Since you have a PC and were able to post a message, go to 
http://fedora.redhat.com and follow the links to Documentation and then 
to Download.  Follow the link for your PC's architecture (i386 or 
x86_64) and then download the six ISO images.  Burn each image to a CD.

Install Linux.  Take all the defaults.  Load all packages.

When it's running, login as root and open the browser. Go to 
http://asterisk.org .  Take the download tab and download the five 
Asterisk 1.2 tar files into directory /usr/src.

'cd' to /usr/src.

Use 'tar xzf <file>' on each of the downloaded files.

Enter the zaptel directory and execute 'make', check for errors, and 
then 'make install' and 'make config'.

Enter the libpri directory and execute 'make;make install'.

Enter the asterisk directory and execute 'make', 'make install', and 
'make samples'.

Enter the asterisk-addons directory and execute 'make' and then 'make 
install'

Enter the asterisk-sounds directory and execute 'make install'.

Execute 'service zaptel start'--this will load the zap drivers.  These 
will also load on reboot.

Execute 'asterisk -vvvvc'.  This will start Asterisk.

N.B.  People spend years between step #1 and a running Asterisk system.

For help with asterisk, google on 'site:lists.digium.com <search 
words>'.  For the wiki, google on 'site:voip-info.org <search words>'. 
The wiki is most helpful.

Keep a blog of your experience and let other newbies learn from you.  :=)

Cheers,

Gary H. Thompson wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am a retired telephone tech/manager who recently had a bad experience 
> with a local company offering digital phone service (VoIP). I have spent 
> the last thirty years in the PSTN network, switching, PBX and key system 
> field and am interested in learning more about VoIP. My background also 
> includes programming, mostly specialized applications to interact with 
> the PSTN network. Most of my experience in this field have been with 
> Borland products, specifically Delphi. I also have been involved with 
> database programming, same platform as the communications.
> 
> My computer experience started with the operating system CPM (I’m not 
> really that old, only 56). The best platform now seems to be ƒ so 
> now since I am retired now, it seems a good time to learn something new. 
> I also have been looking at Asterisk which most companies seem to be 
> using for a PBX platform. I found out by accident that the local company 
> I had the problem with uses this PBX software.
> 
> Could someone steer me in the right direction as to where to start? I 
> spent most of my career in the telephone industry in a ‘bush’ area of 
> Alaska so pretty much had to teach myself what I needed to know about 
> computers but I can learn almost anything from a book and by asking 
> questions when I get stuck. Most of my experience was before the 
> Internet so I plan on using this avenue to advance my knowledge.
> 
> I understand what a broad scope I am asking about so would appreciate 
> any tips to help me get started. Since there are many ‘brands’ of Linux 
> what is the best one to start with? Which Linux will be better when I 
> get to the point of working with Asterisk? Any tips or ideas on book s, 
> online tutors, discussions or anything of this nature would be much 
> appreciated.
> 
> I hope to add to this group if I can be any assistance from the ‘other 
> side’, the PSTN network.
> 
> Thank You,
> 
> Gary H. Thompson
> 
> 
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