Asterisk 1.6 [Paperback]

Barrie Dempster (Author), David Gomillion (Author), David Merel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2009

The book offers readers both a detailed description as well as step by step instructions on deploying software solutions as well as Asterisk configurations. Screenshots are provided in sections to give a visual perspective of the instructions. For Asterisk configurations actual sample code is listed in the book which can be directly inserted into your Asterisk solution. This book is aimed at anyone who is interested in building a powerful telephony system using the free and open source application, Asterisk, without spending many thousands of dollars buying a commercial and often less flexible system. This book is suitable for the novice and those new to Asterisk and telephony. Telephony or Linux experience will be helpful, but not required.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barrie Dempster

Barrie Dempster is currently employed as a Senior Security Consultant for NGS Software Ltd a world-renowned security consultancy well known for their focus in enterprise-level application vulnerability research and database security. He has a background in Infrastructure and Information Security in a number of specialised environments such as financial services institutions, telecommunications companies, call centres, and other organisations across multiple continents. Barrie has experience in the integration of network infrastructure and telecommunications systems requiring high calibre secure design, testing and management. He has been involved in a variety of projects from the design and implementation of Internet banking systems to large-scale conferencing and telephony infrastructure, as well as penetration testing and other security assessments of business critical infrastructure.

David Gomillion

David Gomillion currently serves as Director of Information Technology for the Eye Center of North Florida. There, he orchestrates all of the technological undertakings of this four-location medical practice, including computers, software (off-the-shelf and custom development), server systems, telephony, networking, as well as specialized diagnostic and treatment systems. David received a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science from Brigham Young University in August, 2005. There he learned the theory behind his computer experience, and became a much more efficient programmer. David has worked actively in the Information Technology sector since his freshman year at BYU. He has been a Networking Assistant, an Assistant Network Administrator, a Supervisor of a large Network and Server Operations unit, a Network Administrator, and finally a Director of Information Technology. Through his increasing responsibilities, he has learned to prioritize needs and wants, and applies this ability to his Asterisk installations.

David Merel

David Merel is the founder and CEO of Thinkbright LLC a local/long distance telephone company as well as a cutting-edge Voice Over IP carrier, providing businesses of all sizes with sophisticated and low cost VOIP solutions. David started Thinkbright in 2005 and continues to manage the company and its employees, all of whom are dedicated IT professionals. He acts as the company's chief architect, designing new technologies that have added significant revenues to the company's operations. During his many years at Thinkbright, David has worked with the latest Voice Over IP technology, including all VOIP equipment from major manufacturers such as Cisco, Polycom, Grandstream, and Aastra. He also works with customers ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, and interacts with system integrators and IT consultants who call Thinkbright on a daily basis for assistance with all of the VOIP solutions that Thinkbright offers. Thinkbright manages its own PBX system, providing customers with PBX features such as Auto Attendants, Waiting Rooms, and Ring Groups, or assists customers in managing their own PBX network while providing these customers with the service for incoming and outgoing calls. David has many years of experience with Trixbox and Asterisk, and has installed countless custom configurations and deployments using those solutions. David earned a Bachelor of Arts triple majoring in philosophy, politics and law from SUNY Binghamton. David holds a CCNA (a Cisco Certified Network Associate) certificate and is proficient in over 10 languages and databases, various operating systems, VOIP and related protocol, and other business applications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Packt Publishing (September 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847198627
• ISBN-13: 978-1847198624
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,937,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good overview but lacking in detail, October 9, 2009

By 

Colo Dweller (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asterisk 1.6 (Paperback)

I purchased this book specifically because it claimed to cover up to Asterisk 1.6. While there were single sentence references to some of the new features, few if any were described. To put the quality of this book into perspective, if you search the book for "realtime" you'll find absolutely no references.

There are a number of other topics that seem to be completely missing from this book - the Asterisk Manager Inferface (AMI), the Asterisk Gateway Interface (AGI), and call-files. The book doesn't even have so much as a mention of "templates" for dialplan development. There are no descriptions of the new jitterbuffer settings and as for stun support, the ONLY mention of it in the book is, "Improved NAT support and support for STUN: This provides improved connectivity capability with phones located behind a router or firewall." Well that certainly proves enlightening...

For anyone looking for an Asterisk "reference" manual, this book won't do.

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the next revolution, December 15, 2009

By 

p143 (Marbella,Spain) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asterisk 1.6 (Paperback)

Probably, this book doesn't cover all about Asterisk, but as early bird, I found it clear and accurate in all the subjects it covers. A must for anyone interested in getting Asterisk working. A solid understanding of Asterisk main concepts. A solicited gift that helps in clarifying this sometimes obscure subject for knowledge that Asterisk my happens to be. An excellent present for the incomming Christmas.