System information

How to Install It
With the source files downloaded you can compile the software and install it. The order
for installing is:
1. LibPRI
‡
2. DAHDI
§
3. Asterisk
‖
Installing in this order ensures that any dependencies for DAHDI and Asterisk are
installed prior to running the configuration scripts, which will subsequently ensure that
any modules dependent on LibPRI or DAHDI will be built.
So, let’s get started.
LibPRI
LibPRI is a library that adds support for ISDN (PRI and BRI). The use of LibPRI is
optional, but since it takes very little time to install, doesn’t interfere with anything,
and will come in handy if you ever want to add cards to a system at a later point, we
recommend that you install it now.
Check out the latest version of LibPRI and compile it like so:
$ cd ~/src/asterisk-complete/
$ mkdir libpri
$ cd libpri/
$ svn co http://svn.asterisk.org/svn/libpri/tags/1.4.<your version number>
$ cd 1.4.<your version number>
$ make
$ sudo make install
You can also download the source via wget from http://downloads.aster
isk.org/pub/telephony/libpri/.
With LibPRI installed, we can now install DAHDI.
‡ Strictly speaking, if you are not going to be using any ISDN connections (BRI and PRI), you can install Asterisk
without LibPRI. However, we are going to install it for the sake of completeness.
§ This package contains the kernel drivers to allow Asterisk to connect to traditional PSTN circuits. It is also
required for the MeetMe() conferencing application. Again, we will install this for completeness.
‖ If you don’t install this, none of the examples in this book will work, but it could still make a great bathroom
reader. Just sayin’.
48 | Chapter 3: Installing Asterisk