continuing the Series, by this far, you should have Asterisk PBX and Vtiger CMR installed on your server and now we are ready to integrated them.

Setting up PBX Manager with Asterisk

Step 1: Install & Configure Asterisk

Configure:

Take backup of sip.conf and extensions.conf file in /etc/asterisk folder

root@host$ sudo cp sip.conf old-sip.confuser-ThinkPad-T410:~ user$ sudo cp extensions.conf old-extensions.conf

Edit sip.conf file

root@host$ sudo vi /etc/asterisk/sip.conf

Configure the sip.conf file with the sample-sip.conf file

Edit extensions.conf

root@host$ sudo vi /etc/asterisk/extensions.conf

Configure the sip.conf file with the sample-extensions.conf file

Edit Asterisk cdr configuration file: (cdr_manager.conf) : download sample-cdr_manager.conf file to configure

Edit Asterisk manager configuration file: (manager.conf) :download sample-manager.conf file

To apply changes restart Asterisk

root@host:~ user$ sudo /etc/init.d/asterisk restart

Launch Asterisk CLI

root@host:~ user$ sudo asterisk -rvvv

V’s are verbose level

root@host*CLI> sip show peers /* It lists registered users in sip.conf with status unmonitored */

Step 2: Install Softphone — ZoIPer

1. Create an account in ZoIPer
2. Choose SIP option.

Credentials:

user/user@host : 7002@10.2.1.20

Password : 7002login

Domain / Outbound Proxoy : 10.2.1.20

3. Click Next → Account Name (7002@10.2.1.20) → Next

Now your account has been registered in your Asterisk server. You can verify the request and response in Asterisk CLI window.

Step 3: Install Vtiger Asterisk Connector

Vtiger Asterisk connector is a gateway to connect Asterisk server and your Vtiger CRM. It helps to make interaction over HTTP when it handles incoming or outgoing calls.

Features:

1. Pops out notification on incoming call.
2. Transfers the input from Vtiger to Asterisk.
3. Manages call record file.

Installation & Configuration:

1. Download Vtiger Asterisk Connector
2. Unzip the downloaded package in CRM root directory
3. Edit VtigerAsteriskConnector/VtigerAsteriskConnector.properties file to make the following changes

Location where the application server will be running.

Call Recordings storage path

Location where the applications database files will be stored.

Asterisk Server Details

Vtiger CRM URL

Step 4: Configure PBX Manager in Vtiger

1. Login to your Vtiger CRM.

2. Click CRM Settings → Integration → PBX Manager.

3. Edit Asterisk Server Details.

Configure user extension number:

1. Open My Preferences.

2. In “More Information” block configure the user number in CRM Phone Extension field. Eg. 7001

3. Start Asterisk Connector. In terminal execute lines one by one

root@host$ cd VtigerAsteriskConnector/bin/user-ThinkPad-T410:~ user$ ./start.sh /* To start Asterisk Connector */

Note:

To refresh Asterisk connector

root@host$ ./start.shuser-ThinkPad-T410:~ user$ ./stop.sh

To verify, you can run Protocol://Asterisk_Server_IP:Port (http://10.2.1.20:8585/)

Troubleshooting Tips:

If you make any changes in sip.conf restart

root@host*CLI> sip reload

If you make any changes in extensions.conf restart

root@host*CLI> dialplan reload

If you need to track you can use the logs from VtigerAsteriskConnector in Logs folder

We believe this guide helped you integrate your Asterisk with your Vtiger CRM and get the best out of your CRM. We have given a sample of integration, you can enhance it further more and do more. You can extend it to add lots of features and make your work simple. If you have any questions or further help in extending your Vtiger CRM with advanced functionalities, you can get help from us.