Tips 4 how 2 configure and use FreePBX 2.5 (A Powerful Telephony Solution for Voicemail and IVR System)

What is FreePBX?

FreePBX 2.5 Powerful Telephony Solutions was written to help system administrators build, configure, and maintain an enterprise class PBX using the Asterisk and FreePBX open source software packages. FreePBX gives you pre-programmed functionality accessible through user-friendly web interfaces.

Who this post is written for?

This post is targeted at system administrators who want to get started with FreePBX.

This post is perfect for administrators who want to reduce costs by replacing a proprietary PBX with a PBX that runs on open source packages.

Anyone who wants to build a stable, feature rich PBX will find this post useful.

Step by Step overview of FreePBX:

1: Installing FreePBX: The base requirements is a Linux operating system (CentOS and Ubuntu) that will be capable of running Asterisk and FreePBX. Next step is configuring Apache and MySQL.

2: Module Maintenance: Next you have to know the modularized structure of FreePBX, everything in FreePBX is a module. You must know the processes of installing, updating, and removing modules of FreePBX. There are over fifty modules available according to the need. Below I have listed some key modules: (Appendix A: FreePBX Modules)

          These key modules will allow basic functionality to be configured on FreePBX

Voicemail

Follow Me

IVR

Queues

Ring Groups

Time Conditions

                   Music on Hold

3: Operational Modes (Extension & DeviceAndUser): Next you need to configure the Operational Mode (extension or deviceanduse) as well as voicemail boxes.

Extension Mode, an extension(users) associated with a particular telephony endpoint(devices). An endpoint could be a physical telephone, a softphone, an ATA, a speaker, or anything else that talks to Asterisk. In this mode, each endpoint is statically assigned to a particular device. This device never changes. (An example of this would be a typical office based fixed extensions, extension that rings the phone will never change even if the employee is replaced).  FreePBX use that extension to route calls to individual users. This mode is the easiest to set up, but offers less flexibility.

DeviceAndUser Mode, the endpoints (devices) and extensions (users) are separated out, it allowing one numerical extension to correspond to an unlimited number of endpoints. (An example is by connection your phone with a cordless phone and as per need you connect it with other cordless) This mode is very powerful, but it can be somewhat complicated to set up.

FreePBX separates the actual telephones into a concept called devices. An extension may be mapped directly to a device or a device may be independent of an extension.

4: Trunks: The concept of trunking is a method of connecting our PBX to the outside world. There are many type of trunk that FreePBX supports. You can check the status of configured trunks to make sure that it is connected properly or not. (Appendix D: Common Trunk Configurations)

5: Call Targets:

5.1- Basic Call Targets (Inbound calls), Now we are able to make inbound calls to call targets. FreePBX provides complete support for sending calls to a termination target, an extension, or a voicemail box. Step-by-step instructions are provided for configuring ring groups, conferences, day night modes, and phonebook directories.

5.2- Advanced Call Targets, FreePBX gives facilities for configuring queues, time conditions, time groups, and IVRs (digital receptionists).

5.3- Call Routing (Outbound calls), FreePBX also gives facility for routing outbound calls over specific trunks, and setting up outbound routes to achieve least cost routing.

(Appendix C: Voicemail.conf Options)

6: Recording Calls: FreePBX provided recording feature. You can also setting up permanent or selective call recording for specific extensions, conferences, or queues.

7: Personalizing Your PBX: There are some advanced features of FreePBX that allow us to configuring custom music on hold, voice prompts, feature codes, applications, destinations, call back inbound callers, caller ID information, configure PIN sets to password protect various FreePBX features and , provide dial tone to external callers who are not calling from an extension on the PBX.

8: System Protection, Backup and Restoration: to ensuring that PBX is protected against failure, you can backing and restoring PBX configuration data in case PBX does encounter a failure.

9: Security and Access Control: to secure PBX against malicious users and unauthorized access. Complete Instructions are given to updating the operating system, updating Asterisk, securing MySQL, securing remote access, and configuring FreePBX administrator accounts are provided.

Abbreviations used in this Post?

CentOS : Community ENTerprise Operating System

ATA: Analog Telephony Adapter

Download Link

freepbx.org