How to Install Asterisk with WebRTC

Introduction

Asterisk is an open-source communication platform that allows you to build powerful telephony applications. With the integration of WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), you can enhance your Asterisk installation to support real-time audio and video communication directly in web browsers. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Asterisk with WebRTC.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• A Linux-based server (Ubuntu, CentOS, or Debian)
• Root access to the server
• Asterisk installed on your server

Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

First, we need to install some dependencies to support WebRTC in Asterisk. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev libncurses5-dev libnewt-dev libxml2-dev libsqlite3-dev uuid-dev

These packages are necessary for the compilation and installation of Asterisk modules.

Step 2: Download and Compile Asterisk

Next, we will download the latest version of Asterisk from the official website. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

cd /usr/src
sudo wget http://downloads.asterisk.org/pub/telephony/asterisk/asterisk-.tar.gz
sudo tar -zxvf asterisk-.tar.gz
cd asterisk-

Replace <version> with the desired version number.

Once the files are extracted, we can start the compilation process:

sudo contrib/scripts/install_prereq install
sudo ./configure
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo make samples

This process might take a while, depending on your server’s specifications.

Step 3: Configure WebRTC Support

Now that Asterisk is installed, we need to configure it to support WebRTC. Open the Asterisk configuration file using your preferred text editor:

sudo nano /etc/asterisk/sip.conf

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

[webrtc]
type=friend
host=dynamic
context=default
encryption=yes
avpf=yes
force_avp=yes
icesupport=yes
directmedia=no
transport=udp,ws,wss
dtlsenable=yes
dtlsverify=fingerprint
dtlscertfile=/etc/asterisk/keys/asterisk.pem
dtlsprivatekey=/etc/asterisk/keys/asterisk.key
dtlssetup=actpass
dtlsrekey=0
disallow=all
allow=opus
allow=vp8
allow=h264

Save the changes and exit the text editor.

Step 4: Generate SSL Certificates

WebRTC requires SSL certificates for secure communication. To generate the necessary certificates, run the following commands:

cd /usr/src/asterisk-/contrib/scripts
sudo ./ast_tls_cert -C  -O "Your Organization" -d /etc/asterisk/keys

Replace <your_server_ip> with your server’s IP address and <Your Organization> with your organization’s name.

Step 5: Restart Asterisk

Once the certificates are generated, we can restart Asterisk to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart asterisk

Step 6: Test WebRTC Integration

Now it’s time to test if WebRTC is working correctly with Asterisk. Open your web browser and enter the following URL:

https://:8088/ws

Replace <your_server_ip> with your server’s IP address.

If you see a webpage with “Asterisk WebSocket Server” at the top, congratulations! You have successfully installed Asterisk with WebRTC.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can install Asterisk with WebRTC support and enable real-time audio and video communication in web browsers. This integration opens up a wide range of possibilities for building innovative telephony applications. Experiment with different features and explore the potential of Asterisk and WebRTC.

Remember to regularly update your Asterisk installation and stay informed about the latest security patches and updates.