This information is outdated. Do not follow this procedure. I am keeping it for historical reference -JA 2022

     The steps you will need to take:

• Find an unused PC that you can dedicate to this task. While it is possible to use the PC for other purposes, it makes the most sense to locate the PC near the phone system, which is not always right next to the collector's favorite desk. All that is required of this PC is that it be capable of running Linux and have an available PCI 2.2 slot (and interrupt). Any PC with a processor of Pentium or newer (or AMD K5 or newer) will most likely fill the bill.
• Install hardware for the interface back to your analog switch. Be sure that you get the cards appropriate to your configuration. You will probably want to have a path inbound to your legacy switch, and one outbound path as well. That most probably will involve the need for one FXO circuit and one FXS circuit. There are a number of ways of accomplishing this feat, from a four-port FXO card with at least one of those ports having an add-on FXS module to a full-blown 4-T1 card (in the event that you have a spare channel bank or two laying around gathering dust). DON'T ASSUME that you know which is needed for your application. The zapata.conf t iki page at voip-info.org would be your best starting place in making that determination. A list of Zapata-compatible and DiaLogic Communication Solutions hardware is available at the Asterisk hardware page. That page also lists a number of other types of cards that will work in Asterisk. My personal experience with the "other" boards only includes the VoiceTronix OpenLine4 circuit board. It proved itself to be a very good quality 4-port FXO card. The tech support was knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. On the downside, from a US-Centric point of view, they are located in Australia, which made coordinating their business hours with my free time to be a bit tricky.
• Obtain the Asterisk@Home Software. Here, you have a choice. You can either download the file from Sourceforge, or you can ask one of the switchers to burn a CD for you.
  1. To have a CD burnt and sent to you, please send $5 to cover the cost of the CD, jewel case, and shipping.
     Greg Blakely
     14812 Hickory Ct.
     Eden Prairie, MN 55346
  2. To download from Sourceforge and burn your own CD, the ISO image can be found at http://asteriskathome.sourceforge.net/.
• Install Asterisk@Home. Put the CD into your future Asterisk PC, and turn on the power. If you have your computer configured to be able to boot from the CD drive, the Asterisk@Home installation will start. If not, restart your computer, and push the appropriate key to get you into system setup (or BIOS setup), usually one of DELETE, F1, F3, F10, or F12. Then, find the option labeled "boot order," and make sure that "CD" is the first device to boot. Also, be sure that your hard drive is listed as either the second or third device to boot once you are done. Press F10 to save your changes. Then, reboot your computer. The Asterisk@Home installation should begin.
• Configure your Asterisk Switch. At this point, I only have my configuration model posted here, and I welcome additional models, too. Please email me if you have others. The types I currently have are:
  • Asterisk as a Front-End to a Legacy Switch, using a Zaptel Device
• Turn it up. I put an entry in my /etc/inittab so that it always restarts, even when I kill it or the power dies. My entry is:
  ax:2345:respawn:/usr/sbin/asterisk -cf.
  To edit the /etc/inittab file, use the "vi" program that was installed when you installed your Linux distribution.
  The vi editor cheat sheet gives you all the possible commands you can use, but is a bit of overkill for what we want. Just do these things to get the job done:
  
  1. Back up your /etc/inittab file so that you can go back to it if you make a goof in your editing.
     

     [root@lizzie etc]# cp /etc/inittab /etc/inittab.old

  2. Open /etc/inittab with the vi editor.
     

     [root@localhost etc]# vi /etc/inittab

  3. Arrow down to the end of the file.
  4. Push i to enter "insert" mode.
  5. Add a new line at the end that says
     

     ax:2345:respawn:/usr/sbin/asterisk -cf

  6. Save it by pressing and releasing the escape key, and then type :wq and press enter.
  7. Now, start Asterisk:
     

     [root@localhost etc]# telinit q

  
  To watch the system running, and to be able to issue commands, log in as root, and issue the following command:
  

  [root@localhost etc]# asterisk -vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvr

  
  (the more "v's," the more verbose it will be. Also, don't overlook the "r" on the tail end of those "v"s.)
• Test your installation.
  Choose one of the test numbers listed on the Test Numbers Page. If your calls complete to the test you dialed, you're almost ready to start receiving incoming calls. To do so, you fill need to visit the Wiki to see what office codess are still available, and claim your particular slice of the pie by editing it, and adding a line. Next, register yourself as one of us by filling out the form on the "Register Yourself" link. Once your information is entered into the database by the system administrator, you will be given access to the "members" area at ckts.info. You can then log in and fill out the Activate Your Office Code. Once the administrators enters that info into the ENUM DNS server, you will be reachable from other members. Be sure to create a listing or listings for your installation.