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Installation of A2Billing on Trixbox

This installation was tested on Trixbox version 2.2, Earlier versions of Trixbox need to have A2Billing removed.

The usual caveats apply, e.g. the author takes no responsibility for any damage done to an existing installation.

It also assumes that this is a default installation in respect of database passwords.

The guide should take you as far as making calls on A2Billing and provide a base for experimentation and learning, but for more advanced topics like callback, routing and billing DID, and other customisations, then there is documentation available, links to some of which are at the bottom of this page.

Scripted Trixbox Install

If you choose to use the installer script this will configure a FRESH install of trixbox with A2b v1.3 Beta

To use type the following after logging into trixbox:

cd ~/
wget http://www.efirehost.com/a2b_trixbox_2.2_installer_FRESH.sh
sh a2b_trixbox_2.2_installer_FRESH.sh

After that script finishes you MUST continue by clicking HERE (don't scroll down)

Remove the remnants of the old A2Billing install on Trixbox

In versions of Trixbox earlier than 2.2, a much older version of A2Billing was installed, and before proceding with the following steps, the remnants of the old A2Billing should be removed.

The directories and files to be removed are as follows: -

/var/www/html/a2billing/
/var/www/html/a2customer/
/var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/a2billing.php
/var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/libs_a2billing/
/etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_iax.conf
/etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_sip.conf

rm  /etc/asterisk/a2billing.conf

Drop the old database (if it exists)

mysqladmin drop  mya2billing -u root -ppassw0rd

Install PHP-PCNTL - a requirement of A2Billing

wget http://dfn.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/phprpms/php-pcntl-4.3.11-2.5.1.i386.rpm

rpm -iv php-pcntl-4.3.11-2.5.1.i386.rpm

Get A2Billing

Now get the latest version of A2Billing. At the time of writing this was 1.3 Beta 1

http://a2billing.net/download.php?get=a2billing-v1-3-Beta.tar.gz

Copy the file into /root/ then Untar it: -

NB. A useful application for moving, copying and editing files on linux machine and moving files from Windows to Linux is WinSCP http://winscp.net

tar zxfv a2billing-v1-3-Beta.tar.gz

Install the A2Billing Database

cd 1.3.0-Beta/DataBase/mysql/Mysql-3.x_4.x/

echo "GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'a2billinguser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'a2billing' WITH GRANT OPTION;" | mysql -ppassw0rd

mysqladmin create mya2billing -u a2billinguser -pa2billing

mysql mya2billing -u a2billinguser -pa2billing < a2billing-mysql-schema-MYSQL.3.X-4.X_v1.3.0.sql

Install the User Interface

cd ..
cd ..
cd ..

mv ./A2Billing_UI /var/www/html/A2Billing_UI 
mv ./A2BCustomer_UI/ /var/www/html/A2BCustomer_UI

Install the default a2billing configuration file

mv a2billing.conf /etc/asterisk/a2billing.conf

Install the AGI

cd A2Billing_AGI

mv a2billing.php /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/a2billing.php

mv  libs_a2billing /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin

Install the extra sounds required.

cd ..
cd /addons/sounds/

mv  * /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/

Setup the IAX and SIP conf files

cd /etc/asterisk/
touch additional_a2billing_iax.conf
touch additional_a2billing_sip.conf
touch extensions_a2billing.conf

Set permissions and ownersip

chmod 666 /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_iax.conf
chmod 666 /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_sip.conf
chmod 666 /etc/asterisk/extensions_a2billing.conf

chown -R asterisk:asterisk /etc/asterisk/
chown -R asterisk:asterisk /var/www/html/
chown -R asterisk:asterisk /var/lib/asterisk/

The next job is edit the conf files to fit the Trixbox installation

Edit Conf Files to Suit A2Billing

This assumes the default Trixbox installation

Edit A2Billing.conf

The file a2billing.conf, located in /etc/asterisk/ is where all the defaults are set for the A2Billing system. It is recommended that most of the defaults are left as are, unless you are trying to achieve something specific. Changes to the file, when saved have an instant effect on the behaviour of A2Billing.

This file can be editted using your favourite editor, such as vi, via winSCP or via Config Edit included with Trixbox.

The Database section

comment out dbtype = postgres

remove the ; from ;dbtype = mysql

should look like this : -

[database]
hostname = localhost
port = 5432
user = a2billinguser
password = a2billing
dbname = mya2billing
;dbtype = postgres
dbtype = mysql

Manager Connection Parameters

In the webui section, identify the Manager connection parameters. This allows A2Billing to communicate with Asterisk.

The values here should be set to the same as those in manager.conf, and its associated files. In the case of Trixbox, we have an entry for a2billinguser in manager_custom.conf. The existing parameters are: -

username = a2billinguser
Secret = a2billing

So we need to edit a2billing.conf manager connection credentials to match those in manager_custom.conf so that it looks like this: -

; MANAGER CONNECTION PARAMETERS
manager_host = localhost
manager_username = a2billinguser
manager_secret = a2billing

Now save a2billing.conf

There are plenty of other options that can be changed within a2billing.conf, and they are reasonably well documented and commented in the file.

Includes

During the install process, three new files were created: -

additional_a2billing_sip.conf - SIP friends
additional_a2billing_iax.conf - IAX Friends
extensions_a2billing.conf - A2Billing contexts

We need to ensure that the values in these files are picked up by Asterisk.

Edit /etc/asterisk/sip.conf and include additional_a2billing_sip.conf so that the last few lines of sip.conf look like this: -

; #, in this configuration file, is NOT A COMMENT. This is exactly
; how it should be.
#include sip_nat.conf
#include sip_custom.conf
#include sip_additional.conf
#include additional_a2billing_sip.conf

Then do the same for iax.conf so that it looks like this

#include iax_registrations_custom.conf
#include iax_registrations.conf
#include iax_custom.conf
#include iax_additional.conf
#include additional_a2billing_iax.conf

NB - If using FreePBX 2.3, then do not edit sip and and iax.conf, but create two new files: -

sip_custom.conf, which should contain #include additional_a2billing_sip.conf

and

iax_custom.conf which contains #include additional_a2billing_iax.conf

you must then set the ownership:-

chown asterisk:asterisk /etc/asterisk/iax_custom.conf 
chown asterisk:asterisk /etc/asterisk/sip_custom.conf

Finally, we need to include extensions_a2billing.conf in extensions_custom.conf

Edit extensions_custom.conf and add #include extensions_a2billing.conf under the other includes, so that it looks like this: -

#include extensions_trixbox.conf
#include extensions_hud.conf
#include extensions_a2billing.conf

A2Billing Contexts

In extensions_a2billing.conf, add the following lines: -

[a2billing]

exten => _X.,1,Answer
exten => _X.,n,Wait(1)
exten => _X.,n,DeadAGI(a2billing.php|1)
exten => _X.,n,Hangup

NB. Note the 1 after a2billing.php - The 1 refers to which agi-conf to use in a2billing.conf if you want a2billing to react in a different way to the default, copy everything from agi-conf1 to the end of the file, and paste at the end of the file, then rename your new agi-conf to agi-conf2. Your new defaults can then be called with (a2billing.php|2)

Save this file, and issue a reload on Asterisk to apply the new asterisk config files.

You now have a basic A2Billing platform set up, so we need to create some defaults in A2Billing GUI.

Setting up A2Billing_UI

Before we can start adding accounts to the system,we need to set up some basic defaults within the Graphical User Interface.

This set of instructions is only providing a basic working system with no frills.

If the instructions above have gone well, you should be able to log into A2Billing Adminstration portal which is to be found at http://<your_ip_address>/A2Billing_UI/

You will be presented with a username and password enter: -

username = root
password - myroot

Other passwords that are setup by default are admin and mypassword. Clearly, it is a good idea to change these.

Click Administrator on the sidebar, show administrator -> edit

Trunks

In order to make outbound calls, it is necessary to create a trunk.

It is assumed that you already have a working trunk in the Trixbox / FreePBX, and this trunk can be used in A2Billing.

Identify the name of the trunk in FreePBX - in this instance, we'll assume its called MYIAXTEL

On the Sidebar, Trunks -> Add Trunk
Give the trunk a useful name - for example in this case, MYIAXTEL_Trunk
Enter the type of trunk you are using in FreePBX (SIP / IAX2 / ZAP)and enter the type of trunk in "Provider Tech" In this case, we'll assume it's an IAX trunk, so enter IAX2.
In the Provider IP section, simply type the name of the trunk you have already set up in FreePBX. In this example MYIAXTEL
Click "confirm data" in the bottom right hand corner of the screen

Create Some Rates

There are a number of steps to creating the rates. The relationships are as follows.

One customer / Card has one call plan
A Call Plan can have many Rate Cards
A Rate Card can have Many Rates.

Create a Call Plan

On the sidebar, click Ratecard -> Create call plan
Give the call plan a name, e.g. StandardCallPlan
You have two options, LCR and LCD - LCR will route the call at the cheapest rate for you, and LCD will route the call at the cheapest rate for the customer.
Leave Package set to "No Package Offer" as we have not created one yet.
Remove Inter Prefix should be set to yes if your VoIP provider demands that the numbers be dialled in IETF format. Leave it to NO if you just want the calls dialled as is.
We will assume in this case that you have a VoIP provider that demands IETF format e.g. to dial the UK you would dial 44 xxx xxx xxx rather than 0044... or 01144... so set the Remove Inter Prefix to YES and click confirm data.

Create New Ratecard

We now have to create a new ratecard. For demonstration purposes, we'll call it StandardRates

Click "Create new Ratecard" on the sidebar.
In TariffName enter StandardRates
Select MYIAXTEL_trunk in the trunk field and confirm data.

Add Rate Card to Call Plan

Go back and click "List Call Plan" and if everything is still going well, you should see StandardCallPlan listed. Click Edit at the end of the line, and at the boittom of the page, in the dropdown, select the previously created StandardRates Click Add, and confirm data.

As you get rates from different providers, they can be added into the call plan and selected on the basis of price.

Add Some Rates

We now have to add some rates. Rates can be imported in bulk from a CSV file, or typed in one at a time. If a rate for a destination does not exist, then A2Billing cannot deliver the call.

Each dialling code for each destination needs to be added. It is important to be accurate with the dialling codes. For instance, if there is a destination, say a premium rated dialling code in East Africa that you are under charging, someone can make a lot of money at your expense.

Unfortunately, there is not a definitive dialling code list with sufficient granularity that I can find on the internet. However, your carrier should be able to supply you with a list of dialling codes and the charges they make.

A country list with dialling codes is included with A2Billing under Misc -> Browse Prefix. This list however, does not take into account destinations such as Mobile and Premium Rated Numbers.

So for the moment, we are testing via VoIP, our VoIP provider demands that we send them the digits in IETF format, and we want to make a out first call over A2Billing to a UK national number. UK National numbers only begin with either 441 or 442

So we will add the first rate. Assume billing to the nearest second, the cost is 1 US cent per minute and we are selling at 2 cents per minute. We are assuming everything is in US Dollars for the moment because we have not changed the default currency.

NB. To change the default currency, Edit a2billing.conf base_currency = <currency of your choice> Each currency has a unique 3 letter identifier. To find the identifier, click Billing -> Currency List on the sidebar, then hunt for your country. When a2billing.conf is saved, you can update the exchange rates in the currencies screen.

Click Ratecard -> Add Rate
Select the ratecard you are adding the rate to in the ratecard dropdown
Enter the dial prefix as 441-442. This will allow any calls dialled as 441... and 442...
Enter a name for the destination - UK National
Set the buying rate - in this case 0.01
Set the minimum duration - assume 1 as in 1 second
Set the Buyrate Billing Block, assume 1 again. If you are chaged to the nearest minute, then put 60.
Put in the selling rate - 0.02
The Sellrate min duration - 1
The sellrate Billing Block - 1 for per second billing.
The connect charge and disconnect charge can be left blank for the moment
Leave the Trunk to not defined, as we defined it earlier for the ratecard as a whole.
and finally confirm data.

The system is now ready to create a customer, and make the first call.

Creating the First Customer

The customer can be created one at a time from the Admin interface, created in bulk from the admin screens, or created from the customer signup page at http://<Your_IP_Address>>/A2Billing_UI/Signup

In order to create a customer from the signup page, outbound email has to be working (type setup-mail from the command line)

In this example - we will create a new customer from the admin interface.

Click Customers -> Create Customers
Add a balance, say 10
Select the StandardCallPlan we created earlier
Activated = yes
Signup Confirmation = yes
Enter your Name and email address in the appropriate fields
and confirm data.

Create a SIP Account

Assume we are using a SIP phone for demonstration purposes. The same principles apply to an IAX phone as well.

Under List customers, click the SIP button
Click "Generate Additional_A2Billing.conf
Click to reload the asterisk server.
Click Customers -> List SIP Friend, and there should be a new entry in there.
Click edit at the end of the line.

Your SIP phone needs to be configured with the following parameters: -

Hostname is the IP Address of your Trixbox
Your Extension / Username will be the numbers in the "Username" Field
Your Secret will be the numbers in the "Secret" Field
And ensure that the DTMF mode is the same on your phone as it is in the DTMFMODE field.

Your phone should now be registered to the Asterisk Server. You can check this by looking at the Asterisk Info screen in Trixbox.

Make the call

There is one small change to made to a2billing.conf in this application - set "use_dnid = yes" in a2billing.conf and save the file.

Dial the number you want to try - in our example, you can only dial numbers begining with 441 and 442, or 00441 or 00442. The call plan settings will strip the international prefix numbers off the call, if they exist.

Press send, and you will hear your current balance, the number of minutes you can dial that destination, and then if everything has gone well, you should then be connected to the distant end.

Make A2Billing accessable from the outside world

In order to call into A2Billing from the outside world, we will need a DID pointed at trixbox, or indeed a normal telephone line.

We capture the call in Inbound Routes in Trixbox / FreePBX and send it into A2Billing.

Because FreePBX only allows you to send calls to a custom context that is prefixed with "Custom-" in we need to add a custom context in extensions-a2billing.conf

So in config edit, vi or your favourite text editor, add the following lines to extensions-a2billing.conf so that the entire file looks like this: -

[a2billing]

exten => _X.,1,Answer
exten => _X.,n,Wait(1)
exten => _X.,n,DeadAGI(a2billing.php|1)
exten => _X.,n,Hangup

[custom-a2billing]
exten => _X.,1,Answer
exten => _X.,n,Wait(1)
exten => _X.,n,DeadAGI(a2billing.php|1)
exten => _X.,n,Hangup

Then go to Inbound Routes in FreePBX / Trixbox and add a new inbound route

Enter your DID in the DID number.
Select the Custom App: radio button and in the Custom App field enter the following string: -

custom-a2billing,${EXTEN},1

then submit and apply configuration changes.

NB. In FreePBX version 2.4 and greater, there is a new module called Custom Destinations under the tools section. The above string should be entered into the custom destination, then it will appear as a dropdown in the inbound route, and from other sections such as IVR's and Announcements.

You should be able to dial the number, and you will hear, "Please enter your account number" Type in your card number. That is the first field in A2Billing -> Customers -> List Customers -> Edit

Your balance will then be read out to you, then you can dial the number, the maximum duration will be read out to you, then you should be connected to the number you dialled.

NB. You should add your access number to no_auth_dnid in a2billing.conf, so A2B knows to never try to dial this number out.

Conclusion

This guide should have put you into a position to make calls out of A2Billing, and get a basic configuration going.

But it is only the tip of the iceberg as to what the system can do.

For further reading there are a number of sources: -

The logic of how it works can be found at User Guide
A description of all the pages is at User Manual
More information about configuring the call back elements and other features such as customising the look and feel of A2Billing, not described in this document, can be found in the installation files under Addons/Docs
Further information and help can be found in the A2Billing forum at http://forum.asterisk2billing.org
Commercial Support, sales and special projects are available from the A2Billing Team. Email support@asterisk2billing.org and sales@asterisk2billing.org

As ever, to help this project develop, then please report any bugs or any ommisions / errata in the documentation.

And finally, if you found this documentation and the A2Billing product useful, we'd really appreciate it if you showed your appreciation with a small donation to help support costs of broadband etc.

Attachments

a2b_trixbox_2.2_installer_FRESH.sh (5.1 kB) - added by crshman on 06/04/07 08:37:28.

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