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== What is AllStarLink Asterisk (ASL)? ==

== What is AllStarLink Asterisk (ASL)? ==

:ASL is the software used to create an AllStar node. It consists of Linux, Asterisk and app_rpt. ASL uses the Debian version of Linux. Asterisk is the OpenSource PBX. App_rpt is an Asterisk application giving it the radio node functions. ASL runs on x86 or on the Raspberry Pi (ARM version).

:ASL is the software used to create an PTTLink node. It consists of Linux, Asterisk and app_rpt. ASL uses the Debian version of Linux. Asterisk is the OpenSource PBX. App_rpt is an Asterisk application giving it the radio node functions. ASL runs on x86 or on the Raspberry Pi (ARM version).

== What does ASL stand for? ==

== What does ASL stand for? ==

:AllStarLink

:AllStarLink

== How do I install ASL? ==

== How do I install PTTLink? ==

:ASL is available as a installer for i386/AMD (PC) and as a SD card image for Raspberry Pi and other ARM boards.If you have ever installed Linux you know how to install ASL. The images are available from the [[Main Page]] Related Links.  

:PTTLink is available as a installer for i386/AMD (PC) and as a SD card image for Raspberry Pi and other ARM boards.If you have ever installed Linux you know how to install PTTLink. The images are available from the [[Main Page]] Related Links.  

== Can ASL be installed on an existing Linux install, for example on a VM running Debian? ==

== Can PTTLink be installed on an existing Linux install, for example on a VM running Debian? ==

:Yes it can. More information to follow. But if you have no other option you could do this:

:Yes it can. More information to follow. But if you have no other option you could do this:

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== Will ASL run on Windows? ==

== Will PTTLink run on Windows? ==

: No, ASL is a Linux application.

: No, PTTLink is a Linux application.

== How do I login to ASL once it is installed? ==

== How do I login to PTTLink once it is installed? ==

:The initial user  login ID is '''repeater''' with a password of '''allstarlink'''. When you login the first time you will be forced to change the password. The user repeater has sudo rights. You can then continue the customization process. To enable console root login you will need to set a password for user root.

:The initial user  login ID is '''repeater''' with a password of '''pttlink'''. When you login the first time you will be forced to change the password. The user repeater has sudo rights. You can then continue the customization process. To enable console root login you will need to set a password for user root.

==How is a ASL Node configured? ==

== How is a PTTLink Node configured? ==

:Briefly, a single node configuration is straight forward. Once you are logged in run asl-menu. The system will walk you through a first time setup of your node by asking you a number of questions. You'll need to have created an AllStar account, created a server, requested a node number and have your node's password.  

:Briefly, a single node configuration is straight forward. Once you are logged in run ptt-menu. The system will walk you through a first time setup of your node by asking you a number of questions. You'll need to have created an PTTLink account, created a server, requested a node number and have your node's password.  

== How many nodes can ASL support on a single server? ==

== How many nodes can PTTLink support on a single server? ==

:It depends on the hardware. A high power Intel box may support 25 or more RTCM clients. A the other end of the spectrum, a Raspberry Pi 3 would be good for 2 USB nodes.

:It depends on the hardware. A high power Intel box may support 25 or more RTCM clients. A the other end of the spectrum, a Raspberry Pi 3 would be good for 2 USB nodes.

== When using ACID I had (insert feature here) Now it's gone. When will ASL support this feature? ==

== When using ACID I had (insert feature here) Now it's gone. When will PTTLink support this feature? ==

:ASL supports all the same channel drivers, features and apps that ACID supported. Under ASL, modules are not loaded by default. They must be enabled in /etc/asterisk/modules.conf.  

:PTTLink supports all the same channel drivers, features and apps that ACID supported. Under PTTLink, modules are not loaded by default. They must be enabled in /etc/asterisk/modules.conf.  

== Will ASL run as a hub / reflector? ==

== Will PTTLink run as a hub / reflector? ==

: Yes, ASL will run as a hub. To build a hub set rxchannel = dahdi/pseudo in rpt.conf and set noload => chan_simpleusb.so in modules.conf

: Yes, PTTLink will run as a hub. To build a hub set rxchannel = dahdi/pseudo in rpt.conf and set noload => chan_simpleusb.so in modules.conf

== Do I need a monitor and keyboard to run ASL? ==

== Do I need a monitor and keyboard to run PTTLink? ==

:No, ASL can be managed via SSH on port 22. The port can be changed in /etc/ssh/sshd.conf. ASL for the Raspberry Pi does require a monitor and keyboard to install.

:No, PTTLink can be managed via SSH on port 22. The port can be changed in /etc/ssh/sshd.conf. PTTLink for the Raspberry Pi does require a monitor and keyboard to install.

== What is the IP address of my new node? ==

== What is the IP address of my new node? ==

:ASL configures the machine via DHCP. Check your DHCP server for the address. The machine defaults to repeater.allstarlink.org. This can be changed with asl-menu.

:PTTLink configures the machine via DHCP. Check your DHCP server for the address. The machine defaults to repeater.pttlink.org. This can be changed with ptt-menu.

== Does my remote access program (insert IAXRPT, Web Transceiver, Zoiper, AndroidIAX here) work with ASL? ==

== Does my remote access program (insert IAXRPT, Web Transceiver, Zoiper, AndroidIAX here) work with PTTLink? ==

:Yes, either using the sample configuration files or your custom files.

:Yes, either using the sample configuration files or your custom files.

:By default, SIP is not enabled. If you want to enable it, see /etc/asterisk/modules.conf

:By default, SIP is not enabled. If you want to enable it, see /etc/asterisk/modules.conf

== What audio file format does ASL use? ==

== What audio file format does PTTLink use? ==

:By default, ASL installs the ulaw formatted audio files installed in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/.

:By default, PTTLink installs the ulaw formatted audio files installed in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/.

== What version of app_rpt is ASL built with? ==

== What version of app_rpt is PTTLink built with? ==

: ASL is built from the current version of asterisk taken from the github. As of now, The version of the code from the github is 1.01 2/13/2018

: PTTLink is built from the current version of asterisk taken from the github. As of now, The version of the code from the github is 1.01 2/13/2018

== ASL is built on Debian 9, why Debian, why not (insert distro here)? ==

== PTTLink is built on Debian 9, why Debian, why not (insert distro here)? ==

: There are a lot of great Linux distributions available. Debian is a 20+ year old distribution with a large developer base. Many of the other distributions are based on Debian.

: There are a lot of great Linux distributions available. Debian is a 20+ year old distribution with a large developer base. Many of the other distributions are based on Debian.

== I run a custom script (insert script here). Does it work with ASL? ==

== I run a custom script (insert script here). Does it work with PTTLink? ==

: Unless the script does something really strange or uses something specific to only one Linux distribution, The script should be made to work. We will be happy to work with script writers to move their script to ASL.

: Unless the script does something really strange or uses something specific to only one Linux distribution, The script should be made to work. We will be happy to work with script writers to move their script to PTTLink.

== I updated my kernel now what? ==

== I updated my kernel now what? ==

:ASL uses DKMS to manage the installation of kernel modules. DKMS will update when you install a new kernel.

:PTTLink uses DKMS to manage the installation of kernel modules. DKMS will update when you install a new kernel.

== I need a Linux program that is not in ASL, what do I do? ==

== I need a Linux program that is not in PTTLink, what do I do? ==

:apt-get is the Debian utility to install, remove and upgrade programs. apt-get install foo will install the program foo if it is available.

:apt-get is the Debian utility to install, remove and upgrade programs. apt-get install foo will install the program foo if it is available.

== I have a question not covered in this FAQ, how do I get an answer? ==

== I have a question not covered in this FAQ, how do I get an answer? ==

: There is a wealth of information on AllStar Asterisk at on this [[Main Page|wiki]] There is also a user mail list at [http://lists.allstarlink.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users http://lists.allstarlink.org/]

: There is a wealth of information on PTTLink Asterisk at on this [[Main Page|wiki]] There is also a user mail list at [http://lists.keekles.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users http://lists.keekles.org/]

== How do I change my network (adapter) setup? ==

== How do I change my network (adapter) setup? ==

:Use asl-menu

:Use ptt-menu

== How do I change my DNS setup?==

== How do I change my DNS setup?==

:Use asl-menu

:Use ptt-menu

:

:

==  How do I restart Asterisk? ==

==  How do I restart Asterisk? ==

== On some x86 and some raspberry pi2's, I have noticed dtmf falsing and would like to recompile app_rpt to set the radio relax feature off to reduce/eliminate the false dtmf tones that get decoded from voice transmissions. ==

== On some x86 and some raspberry pi2's, I have noticed dtmf falsing and would like to recompile app_rpt to set the radio relax feature off to reduce/eliminate the false dtmf tones that get decoded from voice transmissions. ==

: ASL has radio relax turned off..

: PTTLink has radio relax turned off..

== I exited the firsttime script for setting up a ASL system, and would now like to run it. How is this accomplished? ==

== I exited the first-time script for setting up a PTTLink system, and would now like to run it. How is this accomplished? ==

: Do the following:  sudo touch /etc/asterisk/firsttime && sudo /usr/local/sbin/first-time

: Do the following:  sudo touch /etc/asterisk/firsttime && sudo /usr/local/sbin/first-time

== Q. How do I obtain the software? ==

== Q. How do I obtain the software? ==

:The easy way is to download the iso image from [[Main Page#Downloads|Allstarlink.org]], make an install CD, follow the instructions, and run the auto install disk.

:The easy way is to download the iso image from [[PTTLink|https://github.com/pttlink/Asterisk/releases]], make an install CD, follow the instructions, and run the auto install disk.

For those who are technically savvy, and want to control the installation process to a fine level of granularity, app_rpt is an application which comes bundled with Asterisk, however, a later version may be available on our source repository. All you need to do is go to asterisk.org, download asterisk, configure the asterisk to build app_rpt by modifying the Makefile in the asterisk/apps directory, and then compile and install it. You can get the latest version of app_rpt.c along with the sound files, and sample configuration files from our repository mentioned in the developers section of this website.

For those who are technically savvy, and want to control the installation process to a fine level of granularity, app_rpt is an application which comes bundled with Asterisk, however, a later version may be available on our source repository. All you need to do is go to asterisk.org, download asterisk, configure the asterisk to build app_rpt by modifying the Makefile in the asterisk/apps directory, and then compile and install it. You can get the latest version of app_rpt.c along with the sound files, and sample configuration files from our repository mentioned in the developers section of this website.

== Does app_rpt work through NAT routers? ==

== Does app_rpt work through NAT routers? ==

Yes. Port 4569 should be forwareded to the Asterisk machine behind the router to accept incoming connections. In addition, it will work when both ends are behind a NAT router.

Yes. Port 4569 should be forwarded to the Asterisk machine behind the router to accept incoming connections. In addition, it will work when both ends are behind a NAT router.

== Is a static IP address required? ==

== Is a static IP address required? ==

  No. In fact, direct dynamic-IP to dynamic-IP connections are possible using standard authentication (see next question).

  No. In fact, direct dynamic-IP to dynamic-IP connections are possible using standard authentication (see next question).

== How are incoming Allstar Link connections authenticated? ==

== How are incoming PTTLink connections authenticated? ==

: Authentication is done by verifying source and destination node number and IP address and the intrinsic security features of the IAX2 protocol. A table of valid Allstar nodes is periodically downloaded from one of several Allstar Link servers. No call will be connected unless the IAX2 call is completed without failure, and the calling node number, called node number, and source IP address all match what is in the table.

: Authentication is done by verifying source and destination node number and IP address and the intrinsic security features of the IAX2 protocol. A table of valid PTTLink nodes is periodically downloaded from one of several PTTLink Link servers. No call will be connected unless the IAX2 call is completed without failure, and the calling node number, called node number, and source IP address all match what is in the table.

== How does a node know how to connect to another node on Allstar Link? ==

== How does a node know how to connect to another node on PTTLink? ==

: Allstar link has an IP address distribution mechanism to periodically update all valid allstar link nodes. This information is automatically retrieved from a set of redundant Allstar node servers by a script which runs in the background on the Allstar link node. Additionally, each node periodically informs an Allstar registration server of its current IP address using the IAX register statement in iax.conf. In this way, all nodes in the Allstar link system are kept up to date with everyone's latest IP address.

: PTTLink has an IP address distribution mechanism to periodically update all valid PTTLink nodes. This information is automatically retrieved from a set of redundant PTTLink node servers by a script which runs in the background on the PTTLink node. Additionally, each node periodically informs an PTTLink registration server of its current IP address using the IAX register statement in iax.conf. In this way, all nodes in the PTTLink system are kept up to date with everyone's latest IP address.

== Will app_rpt interconnect with Echolink? ==

== Will app_rpt interconnect with Echolink? ==

:Yes. There are two channel drivers chan_echolink for Echolink connections. Echolink incoming and outgoing connections are supported through this channel driver. Incoming connections are made from any Echolink node in the usual manner. An app_rpt user dials an additional prefix digit in the connect command to distinguish between Allstar ([2,4-5]), Echolink (3) node numbers.

:Yes. There are two channel drivers chan_echolink for Echolink connections. Echolink incoming and outgoing connections are supported through this channel driver. Incoming connections are made from any Echolink node in the usual manner. An app_rpt user dials an additional prefix digit in the connect command to distinguish between PTLink ([2,4-5]), Echolink (3) node numbers.

== Do I have to join the Allstar Link Network? ==

== Do I have to join the PTTLink Network? ==

:No. You may implement your own private network, or allow connections to many networks including or not including All Star Link.

:No. You may implement your own private network, or allow connections to many networks including or not including PTTLink.

== Can I use app_rpt/Asterisk on an existing Asterisk PBX setup? ==

== Can I use app_rpt/Asterisk on an existing Asterisk PBX setup? ==