Extensions

Information

This area is for handsets, softphones, paging systems, or anything else that could be considered an 'extension' in the classical PBX context.

Overview

Defining and editing extensions is probably the most common task performed by a PBX administrator, and as such, you'll find you'll become very familiar with this page. There are presently four types of devices supported - SIP, IAX2, ZAP and 'Custom'. This page also configures how voicemail is handled on a per-extension basis.

Adding a new extension

Phone Protocol

Pick one of SIP, IAX, ZAP or Custom

• SIP is the Standard protocol for VoIP handsets and ATA's.
• IAX is 'Inter Asterisk Protocol', a newer protocol supported by only a few devices (eg, PA1688 based phones, and the IAXy ATA)
• ZAP is a hardware device connected to your Asterisk machine - Eg, a TDM400, TE110P.
• Custom is a 'catch all', for any non standard device, eg H323. It can also be used for "mapping" an extension to an "outside" number. For example, to route extension 211 to 1-800-555-1212, you could create a custom extension 211 and in the "dial" text box you could enter: Local/18005551212@outbound-allroutes

Extension Number

This must be unique. This is the number that can be dialled from any other extension, or directly from the Digital Receptionist if enabled. This
may be any length, but conventionally a three or four digit extension is used.

Secret, aka 'Extension Password'

This is the password used by the telephony device to authenticate to the Asterisk server. This is usually configured by the administrator before giving the phone to the user, and is usually not required to be known by the user. If the user is using a soft-phone, then they'll need to know this password to configure their software.

Full Name

This is the Caller-ID Text presented to called parties. It should be any ISO8859-1 (or ASCII) string, but will accept UTF-8. Note that some phones will have problems with multi-byte (eg, UTF-8) names, possibly crashing the phones. If using mutli-byte characters, experiment cautiously.

Record Incoming

Option to record the calls received on this extension. There are three options:

• Always
• Never
• On-Demand (User can dial '*1' to enable whilst in a call)

Record Outgoing

Same as above but for outgoing calls

Voicemail and Directory

Selecting 'Disabled' turns off voicemail for this extension totally, and these further options are hidden.

Voicemail Password

This is the password used to access the voicemail system (*98). It can be changed by the user when they log into their voicemail (after logging in, they dial 0 then 5).

NAT

very important to set this to 'yes' if you want to be able to use your phone behind a nat firewall seperate from the lan that your asterisk box is on.

Disallow

disallow any codec you do not want to use. common setting for this if you want to make sure a device only uses the codec set in the allow section is "all" (without the quotes).

Allow

allow a codec of your choice. primarily as an example i would use "g729" or "GSM" (without the quotes), only one codec can be set here. This is usefull if used with the disallow option set to "all" and you set the definitive codec you want to use on allow, garunteing that you will use that codec.

Mailbox

This option allows you to set what mailbox you would like to use. Normally you would use 'your extension'@device . but if you want to say have an extension's phone's light or dial tone indicate when a different box has voicemail you can set it to 'extension vm'@device. so say extension 1002 wants to know when 1001 has vm, then set this to 1001@device on 1002's mailbox setting.

Email Address

The address that voicemails notifications will be sent to

Pager email address

This email address will be sent a small message notifying of voicemail messages, suitable for an email-to-pager service.

Play CID

Read back caller's telephone number prior to playing the incoming message, and just after announcing the date and time the message was left.

Play Envelope

Envelope controls whether or not the voicemail system will play the message envelope (date/time) before playing the voicemail message. This settng does not affect the operation of the envelope option in the advanced voicemail menu.

Delete Vmail

If set to "yes" the message will be deleted from the voicemailbox (after having been emailed). Provides functionality that allows a user to receive their voicemail via email alone, rather than having the voicemail able to be retrieved from the Webinterface or the Extension handset.
CAUTION: You must have email attachment set to yes if you don't want your voicemail system to email you a notification saying 'You have a voicemail' and then immediately delete the voicemail. Make sure you've fully tested voicemail-to-email before you turn this on. See Email Problems for hints.