Configuring Your PBX
We are going to walk through a simple and typical setup of FreePBX. It would be impossible to teach you through a single wiki how to configure the over 1000 features of FreePBX, but following should allow a brand-new user to create a basic system setup. Please note, we try to keep these articles as up-to-date as possible, but your system may vary slightly from the procedures and screenshots shown here, based on the versions installed.
...
For detailed instructions on each module, start here: Standard Modules.
Login to the PBX Graphical User Interface ("GUI")
Using another machine on your same network, open a web browser and enter the IP address of your PBX.
If you don't know the IP address of your PBX, go to the Linux console/command prompt. Login to the Linux console using the username "root" without quotes, and the root password you selected during installation. You will then be shown your IP address.
You will now be asked to create a user to log into FreePBX GUI. Press Create Account when done.
On the main landing page select the PBX Administration tab to log into FreePBX
Login with the username and password you just created.
...
| Info |
|---|
Note: These passwords do not change the Root password used to login to the Linux command prompt! They are only used for access to the web interface. |
Register your PBX
From here, you’ll be welcomed to your FreePBX and asked if you would like to activate your system. Activation is highly recommended, as it’s required to purchase Commercial Modules, Paid Support and SIPStation Trunking. To activate now, press the “Activate” button.
Enter in your email address that you use for the FreePBX Portal. Once you’ve entered your address, press the “Check” button.
If you do not have an account enter the email address you would like to use for logging into the FreePBX Portal and you will be directed to create an account.
...
The system will detect this address is tied to an existing Portal account and prompt you to enter your password. Once you have your password filled in, press the “Next” button.
You can then choose to edit or add your personal Portal information. When finished, press “Next.”
From here, you’ll be asked if this is a new activation. Since you don’t have an existing Deployment ID, then you’ll be looking at the first option, New Activation. All you need to do is give this deployment a "friendly" name to help you differentiate between your different systems when using the Portal to buy products. Then press the “Activate” button.
If you have a Deployment ID that is not tied to another PBX you can pick the Existing Deployment Option and provide that Deployment ID
...
You’ll notice the activation process is now installing and after about 5-10 seconds this process will be complete.
You will now be able to take part in special offers. We offer bundles that combine some of our most popular features that will save you money. Click on one of the “Buy” buttons to purchase your bundle of choice or press “Complete” to advance to the System Status screen of your PBX GUI.
Configure Asterisk SIP Settings
Next, configure the Asterisk SIP Settings Module by following these instructions. The most important section, which you must configure in order to avoid one-way audio problems, is the "IP Configuration" section.
Make sure you define your external IP and local subnets
Sysadmin Module Setup
Set a Static IP Address and Configure DNS
When FreePBX is first installed, it is configured to obtain an IP Address using DHCP. You'll need to assign your PBX a static IP address so that your phones will have a consistent internal IP address to use to contact it. The easiest way to give your PBX a static IP address is to configure your DHCP server to always assign your PBX the same IP address using a DHCP reservation. This ensures that if DHCP settings later change, such as changing DNS server settings, the PBX will get these new settings with all other DHCP clients. If that's not possible, you will need to configure your PBX to use a static IP and not use DHCP.
From FreePBX GUI Click Admin, and then System Admin Module - Standard Version on the left hand side of the screen, and then Network Settings, on the right hand side of the screen. You should now see a screen that looks like this:
...
Configure Email Server
View the System Admin Module - Standard Version module guide here to setup and manage your email relay servers.
Configure E-Mail Alert Destination Addresses
FreePBX has a number of components that will send out e-mail alerts on various conditions.
...
Under "High Volume Voice Trunks," move the slider to select the number of trunks (concurrent call paths) you want to purchase. Click on the square at the left and drag it along the green bar to change the number of trunks selected.
The total quantity of new trunks will be displayed in the green box at the upper right, along with the monthly fee for the trunk(s).
The new trunks will be added to your shopping cart. If you need to remove a product, you can click the small X button.
At this point you can continue shopping or click the Proceed to Checkout button to proceed to the checkout process, described later in this wiki.
Adding Local DIDs
You can search for new local DIDs under the Inbound DID number section.
...
Choose a Rate Center
A "rate center" is a geographic area whose numbers are considered to be local to each other instead of long distance. Rate centers vary in size, ranging from one small community to several large cities combined. A rate center may contain several area code-prefix combinations (NPA-NXXs).
Select a Country (US or Canada)
Select a State or Province
Select a Rate Center.
| Tip |
|---|
TipIf you are unable to find the city you are looking for, take a look at the list of rate centers to see if your city might be included under a different name. For example, Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN are both part of the "Twin Cities" rate center. |
View the Search Results
Available DIDs will be shown below your selected rate center. In some rate centers, the search results will be divided up into specific areas, which will be listed alphabetically. You can click on the green buttons to jump to the DIDs for these different areas, or you can scroll down within the search results to view all available DIDs. Numbers are listed in ascending numerical order.
For example, here we ran a search for the Twin Cities rate center and are finding four different areas available within this rate center.
How to Filter by Specific Digits
...
After you've found some available numbers that meet your search criteria, it's easy to add the numbers to your shopping cart. Simply check the checkbox next to each DID you would like to order. The total quantity and monthly fee will be shown in the green box, and the DIDs will also be shown in your shopping cart.
You can click the X next to an item in your shopping cart if you need to remove it.
At this point you can continue shopping or click the Proceed to Checkout button to proceed to the checkout process, described later in this wiki.
Adding Toll-Free Numbers
Toll-free numbers begin with 800, 844, 855, 866, 877, or 888. When a caller calls your toll-free number, you pay for the call. You can search for new toll-free numbers under the Toll Free number section.
...
Choose a Toll-Free Prefix
...
Click on the checkbox to agree to the terms and conditions.
Select an existing credit card to use for this order, or add a new card. Then click Confirm Order & Charge My Card.
If your order completes successfully, you should get the following notification:
Special-Ordering Local DIDs and Toll-Free Numbers
Can't find what you are looking for in the store, or need some additional help with the ordering process? We may be able to help. You can use our special order form to make your request.
...
There are many other modules, and most are self-explanatory. You can find out more about each of them here: Standard Modules.
Consider the Paid Modules
The FreePBX Distro includes all of the modules you need to set-up a first class PBX. There are, however, some additional modules available that you may wish to purchase. You can find out more about the Paid Modules here: http://www.freepbx.org/commercial-modules
...