Endpoint Configuration Manager for FreePBX

[jmullinix]

Ed Macri (mac) and I are introducing a FreePBX module that creates phone config files at the Atlanta Asterisk User's group meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. You can attend on the conference bridge if you like. Instructions are here.

http://atlaug.com/drupal/meetme

Here is a copy of the press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Endpoint Configuration Manager Released for FreePBX
EPWORTH, GEORGIA and PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN (May 25, 2009)-Ed Macri and John Mullinix, with help from Tony Shiffer and Joe Roper, have developed an Endpoint Configuration Manager Module for FreePBX that will automatically generate configuration files for many brands of SIP phones.


Bulk configuration of SIP phones required manual manipulation of several, not too easy to understand, text files, until now. This module presents the user with a simple, web-based user interface. The user selects the phone's manufacturer from a drop-down list, selects its extension number from a drop-down list, enters its hardware mac address and clicks the add button. The software then generates the required configuration files and places them in the boot folder of the t*f*t*p server on the system. This software, with a properly configured DHCP server, will allow you to take a phone out of the box, plug it in and it will configure itself.


Release 1.0.0 of the module provides support for Snom, Polycom, Linksys, Aastra and Grandstream phones. More models and manufacturers will be added to future versions. The software is designed to work with a bar-code scanner by either bulk scanning all of the mac addresses into the software for extension assignment later, or by scan and assign each extension. Ease of use and simplicity was built into this module by its developers helping the end user streamline large installations.


Ed and John are integrators of FreePBX/Asterisk based phone systems. They have developed several smaller dial plan applications such as PBX time clock and the delayed paging script. The Endpoint Configuration Manager will expedite both large and small installations allowing endpoint management from the phone server itself. The module will be officially introduced at the Atlanta Asterisk User's Group meeting Tuesday, May 26, 2009 (http://www.atlaug.com) and will be available for download at that time from the ColSolGrp's website (http://projects.colsolgrp.net/projects/list_files/endpointman).


Contact:
John Mullinix, Ed Macri
1-706-632-3343

 

[Boolah]

This is terrific! I can hardly wait to get my hands on it and start playing. :clapb:

 

[tshif]

Its live! Give it a read here

 

[completetech]

just what i have been looking for. except I seem to need to be a developer in order to get registered and download it.

 

[tshif]

Nope - Downloads are open to everyone. The link on the press release is a little messed up.

Its live! Give it a read here - Important info you will want, and a working download link.

-Tony

 

[cosmicwombat]

I am signed in as a dev and am denied?

 

[tshif]

I am signed in as a dev and am denied?

No, Never! We deny our developers nothing!

I see the problem. The Project Manager had not marked it as public yet. I just got permission to do that - and the project is now visible.

Honest to goodness - you don't have to be logged in at all to download the built modules!

Give it a try now everyone - sorry for the confusion.

 

[cosmicwombat]

Ahhh... Much better now. Thanks.

 

[cosmicwombat]

This looks really cool and Phone config is the missing piece of the puzzle for sure. I do have a few questions:

1) While I installed it as a FreePBX Module, it looks as if it is operating in a frame (within a frame maybe?) Or maybe I am not seeing that. I think there is a FreePBX "contributed_modules directory" and I am pretty sure you could get svn to that... Which in turn may allow for things like DUNDI extension conflict detection and such when creating an extension, etc...

2) Can X-Lite also be provisioned? Zopier? Any softphones?

I am going to try an Aastra 1st. Like I said, very cool stuff.

 

[tshif]

1. Yup - Release 1.0.0 is operating in an iframe. This may change in future releases.

"I think there is a FreePBX "contributed_modules directory" and I am pretty sure you could get svn to that... Which in turn may allow for things like DUNDI extension conflict detection and such when creating an extension, etc..."

Not following you - ask again differently please.

2. Provisioning relies upon the Mac address of the telephone, and a Special DHCP directive. Sofphones unfortunately use neither.

Give it a read here - make sure you got the entire installation accomplished - its more than just a module install - at least the first time.

 

[completetech]

side note/question..

will this work with a polycom ip500?

the reason i ask is i just did this install of t*f*t*p install by doing "install-polycom" and then the module install and then add the type of phone then the add of the mac address.

phone still says it can not connect.

maybe a better question for the help section.

 

[tshif]

I don't think you install t*f*t*p by running "install-polycom". What are you trying to say?

I don't believe the instruction say anything about that script - can you tell me why you did that?

Did you set the dhcp option 66 as outlined inthe instructions?

 

[tshif]

Everyone - If you are having troubles with the End Point Manager, be certain you have read and followed the installation steps here.

 

[mruge]

Tony,

When will the Polycom problem be resolved? Bug 125

Thanks,
Michael Ruge

 

[tshif]

Tony,

When will the Polycom problem be resolved? Bug 125

Thanks,
Michael Ruge

Hi Michael - I just saw the ticket. There's not so much detail to it.

I'm not sure if its talking about a problem upon install, or a problem when your trying to create config files in the Mac address screen of the module. Can you shed some light?

 

[mruge]

Whats happening is the folder structure and some of the config files are not being created. One example of this are the sip.cfg.

Michael

 

[tshif]

Whats happening is the folder structure and some of the config files are not being created. One example of this are the sip.cfg.

Michael

But When is the failure occurring? During install, or during use of the End Point Manager program? When are they supposed to be created?

 

[mruge]

But When is the failure occurring? During install, or during use of the End Point Manager program? When are they supposed to be created?

Sorry... I was multi-tasking. I need to not do that!

It seems to be happening during the use of the Endpoint Manager. After you create the phone and add the MAC address you submit it and it should copy the folders and create the files from the templates. It is only creating the customized templates with the <macaddress>-<extension>.cfg, <macaddress>.cfg, and I think a custom file.

I hope that helps!

Michael

 

[tshif]

Yep - perfect. Exactly what I needed to know. THANKS Michael.

 

[jmullinix]

If I am not mistaken, the Polycom 500 is an end of life phone. We did not test it. If it uses the same config files as current Polycoms, it should work fine. If it doesn't, you are going to be out of luck.