If you enter into your Asterisk configuration directory, /etc/asterisk, you’ll see 62 files by default. If you’re taking over a previous installation administered by someone else, you may see more than that. Looking at the file names, you’ll see they have cryptic labels like rtp.conf, or file names that seem to be the same thing, like
asterisk.adsiand adsi.conf. When trying to configure your system, finding the right file to edit can be like unearthing the proverbial needle in a haystack. (See Table3.1 for information on what each file controls.)
Table 3.1 Asterisk Configuration Files
Filename Role
adsi.conf Controls Asterisk Analog Display Services Interface set-tings
adtranvofr.conf Contains settings related to Voice over Frame Relay and AdTran equipment
agents.conf Contains settings for call agents that work call queues alarmreceiver.conf Contains settings for the Alarm Receiver application alsa.conf Contains settings for the CLI sound system if using ALSA
sound drivers
Continued
Table 3.1 continued Asterisk Configuration Files
Filename Role
amd.conf Contains settings for answering machine detection on outbound calls
asterisk.adsi Asterisk Analog Display Services Interface script cdr.conf Contains settings for Call Detail Records (CDRs)
cdr_custom.conf Contains settings for custom Call Detail Record mappings cdr_manager.conf Contains settings for sending CDRs to the Asterisk
Management Interface
cdr_odbc.conf Contains settings for storing your CDRs into a database connected via ODBC
cdr_pgsql.conf Contains settings for storing your CDRs into a PostgreSQL SQL database
cdr_tds.conf Contains settings for storing your CDRs into a FreeTDS database
CODECs.conf Contains CODEC settings
dnsmgr.conf Contains settings about Domain Name System (DNS) lookups done by Asterisk
dundi.conf Controls Distributed Universal Number Discovery connec-tions and settings
enum.conf Controls Telephone Number Mapping/E164 connections and settings
extconfig.conf Contains mappings for external database connections for configuration settings
extensions.ael Contains the dial plan settings, written in Asterisk Extension Language
extensions.conf Contains the dial plan settings Features.conf Contains settings for call parking
festival.conf Contains settings for the connection between Asterisk and the Festival TTS Engine
followme.conf Contains settings for the FollowMe application func_odbc.conf Contains settings for template-based SQL functions
accessed via ODBC
gtalk.conf Controls Google Talk connections and settings h323.conf Controls H323 Protocol connections and settings
Table 3.1 continued Asterisk Configuration Files
Filename Role
http.conf Contains settings for Asterisk’s integrated HTTP server iax.conf Controls Inter Asterisk eXchange Protocol Connections
and Settings
iaxprov.conf Contains settings for IAXy provisioning
indications.conf Contains settings for the system’s Ring, Busy, Reorder, and Special Information tones
jabber.conf Controls Jabber Protocol connections and settings logger.conf Contains settings about where and what to log
manager.conf Contains settings for the Asterisk Management Interface meetme.conf Contains settings for the MeetMe conferencing system mgcp.conf Controls Media Gateway Control Protocol connections
and settings
misdn.conf Controls Integrated Serial Digital Networks (ISDNs) con-nections and settings
modem.conf Controls ISDN modem settings
modules.conf Controls which applications and modules are loaded when the server is started
musiconhold.conf Contains Music on Hold settings
muted.conf Contains settings for the Mute Daemon
osp.conf Controls settings and connections for the Open Settlement Protocol
oss.conf Contains settings for the CLI sound system if using OSS sound drivers
phone.conf Contains settings for Linux Telephony devices
privacy.conf Contains settings for the PrivacyManager application queues.conf Contains settings for call queues
res_odbc.conf Contains settings for external database connections for configuration settings
res_snmp.conf Contains Simple Network Management Protocol settings for the SNMP application
rpt.conf Controls settings of the app_rpt application, which enables radio systems to be linked via VoIP
rtp.conf Contains Real-time Transport Protocol settings
Continued
Table 3.1 continued Asterisk Configuration Files
Filename Role
say.conf Contains string settings for the various say_* applications sip.conf Controls Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) connections and
settings
sip_notify.conf Contains settings for SIP’s NOTIFY command
skinny.conf Controls Skinny Client Control Protocol connections and settings
sla.conf Controls Shared Line Appearance connections and set-tings
smdi.conf Contains settings for the Simplified Message Desk Interface
telcordia-1.adsi Default Telcordia Analog Display Services Interface script udptl.conf Contains settings for UDPTL, one of the transports for
Faxing over IP Networks
users.conf A file that controls a combination of settings, allowing for easier user maintenance
voicemail.conf Contains voice mail settings and mailbox details vpb.conf Contains settings for VoiceTronix hardware zapata.conf Controls settings for Zapata hardware
To say Asterisk has a lot of settings would be an understatement of mammoth proportions. While this is a plus when you want to tweak Asterisk to fit your needs exactly, it is a bit overwhelming. However, don’t fret. Certain configuration files can be ignored if you don’t have certain hardware, and other files can be ignored if you do not need to enable certain features of Asterisk.