A Few Helpful Hints
If you are installing an AllStarLink node you need to provide your registration password at the time of install in order to link up with the master server and then in turn with other stations in the AllStarLink network. This password is in the e-mail that was originally sent to you with your AllStarLink node number.
Your radio interface hardware must remain connected to the computer during the installation process and for normal operation. If you need to remove the radio interface hardware you must comment out its provisioning section in the configuration files and restart Asterisk. Blocks of statements in Asterisk configuration files can be commented out using ;-- to start the block and --; to close the block.
You can update the core software packages with releases that we have tested for stability using the 'updater' script.
Please do not use the FreePBX update utility to update FreePBX unless it is recommended on this site. As of 2013/03/01 you can update FreePBX to any 2.9 version but not to 2.10. After updating FreePBX, run the "Upgrade" utility on the web gui under the "System" tab.
If you have a dynamic DNS address you may get a free dynamic DNS account at http://www.noip.com. The inadyn dynamic DNS update client is installed on your server. It is configured in the file /etc/inadyn.conf. Instructions for editing that file with your information are on the noip site. In order for it to be started automatically by the server when it boots, add the line "#ENABLED=1" at the top.
Our default installation assumes that the server will be on a NAT LAN behind a router with only ports 22 TCP, 4569 UDP and if necessary for SIP, ports 5060 UDP and 10000-20000 UDP forwarded to the server. Here is a good article about getting to other ports such as port 80 for the web gui and 10000 TCP for Webmin using ssh tunnels http://souptonuts.sourceforge.net/sshtips.htm.
If you connect the server directly to the Internet on a public WAN we assume you know enough about Linux server security to protect your machine.
For good security we recommend strong passwords. These can be generated by the online tool at http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/. Immediately after the installation you should change the root password from the default to a strong, private password!
Also the Shorewall firewall from http://www.shorewall.net/ is very good. There are rpm's for Fedora on that site and there is one installed on your server in "/usr/src/EVB/pack/shorewall/".
And the Fail2Ban utility as described at http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Fail2Ban+%28with+iptables%29+And+Aste... does a good job at catching failed login attempts to services such as ssh, SIP and others.
The XIPAR developers generously support systems using software and updates distributed via this web site and various utilities. Feel free to contact us for assistance. If you download, compile and install custom versions of the software you have struck off on your own independent path. Good luck and have fun!