How to Install Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04

Asterisk is a free and open-source framework for building communications applications. It is widely used for building PBX (private branch exchange) systems, conference servers, and voice mail systems. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of installing Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04.

Prerequisites

Before we start with the installation process, there are a few things you need to have in place:

• A fresh installation of Ubuntu 20.04
• A user account with sudo privileges
• A stable internet connection

Step 1: Update System Package List

The first step is to update the system package list. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Next, we’ll install the required packages for Asterisk. You can install these packages by running the following command:

sudo apt install build-essential wget libssl-dev libncurses5-dev libnewt-dev libxml2-dev linux-headers-$(uname -r) libsqlite3-dev uuid-dev

Step 3: Download the Asterisk Source Code

Asterisk source code is available on the official website of the Asterisk project. You can download the latest version of the source code by running the following command:

wget http://downloads.asterisk.org/pub/telephony/asterisk/asterisk-20.0.0.tar.gz

Step 4: Extract the Source Code

Once the download is complete, extract the source code archive by running the following command:

tar -xvzf asterisk-20.0.0.tar.gz

Step 5: Compile and Install Asterisk

Next, we’ll compile and install Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04. To do this, we’ll first navigate to the Asterisk source code directory and then run the following command:

cd asterisk-20.0.0
./configure
make
sudo make install

Step 6: Configure Asterisk

Once the installation is complete, we’ll configure Asterisk. To do this, run the following command:

sudo make config

Step 7: Start Asterisk

Now that the installation and configuration are complete, we can start the Asterisk service. You can start the service by running the following command:

sudo asterisk

Step 8: Access the Asterisk CLI

You can access the Asterisk command-line interface (CLI
) by running the following command:

sudo asterisk -r

The Asterisk CLI is a powerful tool that allows you to configure and manage the Asterisk server. You can use various commands to check the status of your Asterisk server, make calls, manage users, and more. For a complete list of CLI commands, you can type help in the CLI interface.

Step 9: Configure SIP Extension

Asterisk uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to make and receive calls. To create a SIP extension, you need to edit the SIP configuration file. The file is located in the following directory:

/etc/asterisk/sip.conf

Open the file using any text editor and add the following configuration:

[general]
context=default
allowguest=no
authtimeout=60
[1000]
type=peer
username=1000
secret=1234
host=dynamic
context=default

In this example, we’ve created a SIP extension with the username 1000 and the password 1234. Replace the values with your own desired extension and password. Don’t forget to restart the Asterisk service after making changes to the configuration file.

Step 10: Test the Configuration

Finally, we’ll test the configuration to make sure everything is working as expected. You can use the Asterisk CLI to make a test call. To do this, run the following command in the CLI:

core show channels

This command will show you the current state of all channels in the Asterisk server. If everything is working as expected, you should see a list of active channels.

In conclusion, installing Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process. With the right setup, you can use Asterisk to build powerful communication applications. Whether you want to build a PBX system, conference server, or voice mail system, Asterisk has the tools and resources you need to get started.

I hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process of installing Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Additionally, there are many resources available online that can help you further your knowledge and understanding of Asterisk. The official Asterisk website, asterisk.org, provides a wealth of information, including documentation, tutorials, and forums where you can connect with other Asterisk users and developers. You can also find many third-party guides and tutorials on websites such as YouTube, GitHub, and Stack Overflow.

By installing Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04, you’re taking the first step towards creating your own custom telecommunication system. Whether you’re a business owner, software developer, or just someone interested in learning about telecommunication systems, Asterisk is an excellent platform to explore. With its open-source architecture and wide range of features and capabilities, the possibilities for building and customizing your own system are nearly limitless.

So what are you waiting for? Get started with your installation today and start building your own Asterisk system. And don’t forget to keep learning and exploring the world of telecommunication systems, as the more you know, the more you’ll be able to do with your Asterisk setup.

Thank you for reading this article on how to install Asterisk on Ubuntu 20.04. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out. Good luck with your installation and have fun exploring all that Asterisk has to offer!