by Freepbx is a web manager for asterisk which is a PBX(private branch exchange) for phones. This test server is for letting me test things like voicemail boxes, make calls between other phones in the same network; user settings, and more.
Putting A Plan Together.
I needed a plan so I started to build a Network topology composes of four main components.
- First node is the router which is connected to a gateway on its WLAN port for internet access.
- Second node is a switch for the internal network.
- Third node client is a desktop running Centos which will be used for a softphone.
- Forth node is the Freepbx Server it self.
Installing Freepbx
I install Freepbx in a virtual environment in gns3 with a template I created. Installation of FreePBX was straightforward and was automatic. I made sure to input a root password while I waited for the installation finish.
When it rebooted, I found that it wasn’t starting the network adapter. I believe it had something to do with virtualizating Freepbx. Regardless I found a fix for the issue, by editing the network config file in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 and setting ONBOOT to yes, I was able to get it to connect to the network after rebooting.
Setting up the freepbx server
Once i got the server connecting to the router, I inputted the address address in my browser and was greeted with the setup wizard. The Init wizard setup for the FreePbx server ask about if the current computer is trusted and the local network. I decided to go to the network management and do some fine-tuning, which you can get to by going in the Admin menu, and choosing Admin System. When I got there I found out you needed to activate the server with a account with FreePBX to access the settings. I found this annoying, but thankfully its free to do, and after creating a account I gain access and made my adjustments.
After I went to the Settings tab and then asterisks SIP setting, made sure that the local networks and external address where set correctly.
Adding a Extension
Now it was time to add a “account” for my FreePbx server. At first i thought it was under user management, but after about 10 minutes of looking around for a new user/account button. I end up doing some research and Discovering and realizing, that you need to add a extension; then add a user to that extension. This was a phone system after all, makes sense.
To add a Extension, its under applications and then Extensions. once there I click on quick create extension.
Once the Quick Create pops up. I leave the extension type on SIP[chan_pjsip] then enter a number for Extension, then I choose a display name. You can also enter a email if you like too, but its not required.
The next page has the settings for the voicemail and the PIN setting for access it.
there’s also a setting if you want to create a user for the Extension.
Setting up the Softphone
Once the Extension was setup, it was time for testing the server. Since i didn’t have a sip phone for testing, my plan was to use a Softphone client. My choice was jitsi, I like sticking with open souce applications, since I’m for advocate for it. But i encounter a issue while installing it, apparently one of the packages where missing, or wasn’t up to date.
But using argument “–nobest” suggested by the app manager installing it. I was able to get it install and working.
After installing and launching for first time, I inputted the extension and the server address of the freepbx(extension@server ex. [email protected]), then the secret passphrase i copy over from the extension settings page.
copying the passphrase 
inputting credentials for the extension. 
Successful login.
After successfully login in, I perform a echo test by dialing *43.
Its working and I successful setup a freepbx server, but there are some issue’s with sound but I believe theses issue have to do with virtualization of the server. But that will be other thing I can look into in the future.
