Digium's Skype For Asterisk README
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Skype For Asterisk (SFA) is the first and only native channel driver to
connect Asterisk to the Skype network. The channel driver supports an
unlimited number of simultaneous users and an unlimited number of simultaneous
calls per user (subject to license key restriction). Please visit the following
web address to read more about this product and to purchase license keys:
   http://www.digium.com/skype/

Then follow the instructions below to download and install Digium's Skype For
Asterisk. More detailed usage instructions can be found in the README included
with each Skype For Asterisk package.

===[ Installation Overview ]===================================================

Skype For Asterisk is available for Linux only. In addition, it is required
that the proper version of Asterisk be installed prior to installing Skype For
Asterisk. Skype For Asterisk is currently supported on the following versions
of Asterisk:

   Asterisk 1.4 versions >= 1.4.25
   Asterisk 1.6.0 versions >= 1.6.0.6
   Asterisk 1.6.1 versions >= 1.6.1.5

Previous versions of Asterisk WILL NOT work properly with Skype For Asterisk.
It is also important to make sure that the major version of Skype For Asterisk
downloaded matches the version of Asterisk installed on the system. Trying to
compile Skype For Asterisk 1.4 versions on Asterisk 1.6.0 while fail, etc.
There is no version of Skype For Asterisk for Asterisk trunk.

Once you have a supported version of Asterisk installed and have your Skype For
Asterisk license key there are several tasks to complete the install for Skype
For Asterisk.

1) Download and execute the 'register' tool to generate a valid license.
2) Download and install the correct Skype For Asterisk version for your system

===[ Instalation Instructions for AsteriskNOW ]================================

1) # yum install register
2) # register
3) # yum update asterisk14
4) # yum install asterisk14-skypeforasterisk
5) Restart Asterisk
6) Run "skype show licenses" from the Asterisk CLI to verify proper licensing

===[ Installation Instructions for Source-based Asterisk ]=====================

1) Download the 'register' tool to generate a valid license from:
   http://downloads.digium.com/pub/register/linux/register

   As an example, logged in as root:
      cd ~
	  wget http://downloads.digium.com/pub/register/linux/register

2) Make the downloaded file executable by running:
   chmod 500 ~/register

3) Run the register tool and follow the interactive instructions. Internet
   access is required from your Asterisk server in order to register your
   Skype For Asterisk key for use. Outgoing network traffic to TCP port 443
   (SSL) must be allowed in order for the register utility to successfully
   communicate with Digium's license server and complete the registration
   process. The registration utility will prompt you for your Skype For
   Asterisk license key.

   As an exmple:
      ~/register

4) Download Skype For Asterisk from:
      http://downloads.digium.com/pub/telephony/skypeforasterisk

   Navigate the subdirectories choosing the versions that match the version of
   Asterisk already installed on the target machine and the architecture of the
   Linux distribution that is installed.

5) Extract and install Skype For Asterisk. For example, if the file downloaded
   is for a 32-bit install on Asterisk 1.4 and the version of Skype For
   Asterisk is 0.9.12, the commands for installation (as root) would be:

      tar -xvzf skypeforasterisk-1.4_0.9.12-x86_32.tar.gz
	  cd skypeforasterisk-1.4_0.9.12/
	  make
	  make install
	  make samples

6) Asterisk must be restarted in order to load your new Skype for Asterisk
   licensed channels.

      asterisk -rx "restart when convenient"

      Notes:

      - Asterisk will automatically restart once there are no active calls.

7) Verify that Skype For Asterisk is loaded and properly licensed by running
   the Asterisk CLI command:
      skype show licenses

===[ Backup Instructions ]=====================================================

** It is VERY IMPORTANT to backup the license(s) generated by your system.

The /var/lib/asterisk/licenses directory contains the Host-ID specific
license files for your system. These license files are tied to the MAC
address of all the ethernet devices installed in your system. Creating a
backup of this directory will allow you to restore your Skype For Asterisk
license file in case you need to reinstall your operating system. This will
help prevent you from needing to contact Digium to request authorization to
increment your Skype For Asterisk key and from needing to purchase a new Skype
For Asterisk key if you exceed the maximum number of Skype For Asterisk key
increments allowed.

===[ General Notes ]===========================================================

 - Multiple Skype For Asterisk keys may be registered to the same Asterisk
   server. This will allow you to increase the total number of available
   Skype For Asterisk licensed channels on your Asterisk server. New Skype For
   Asterisk keys may be registered to your Asterisk server using the same
   instructions provided in the Installation Instructions section. There
   will be an additional Skype For Asterisk license file generated in the
   /var/lib/asterisk/licenses directory for each Skype For Asterisk key that
   is successfully registered to your Asterisk server. It is extremely
   important that you follow the instructions provided in the Backup
   Instructions section whenever a new Skype For Asterisk key is successfully
   registered to your Asterisk server.
 
 - A Skype For Asterisk key must be re-registered if any of the Ethernet
   devices in your Asterisk server are changed, added, or removed. The
   unique Skype For Asterisk license file which is located in your
   /var/lib/asterisk/licenses directory is tied to the MAC address of all
   the Ethernet devices installed in your system. A Skype For Asterisk key
   can only be re-registered once without authorization from Digium.
   Digium must be contacted by phone in order to request authorization to
   have your Skype For Asterisk key incremented. Digium reserves the right to
   deny authorization for having a Skype For Asterisk key incremented.
   
 - Asterisk loads modules according to the /etc/asterisk/modules.conf file. By
   default, the "autoload" option is enabled, which loads all the modules
   Asterisk can find upon startup. If autoload is disabled (or managed by an
   Asterisk GUI interface), please explicitly enable the
   res_skypeforasterisk.so and chan_skype.so modules, then restart Asterisk.

===[ Technical Support ]=======================================================

For more help, please visit the Skype For Asterisk category of the Digium
Knowledgebase:
   http://kb.digium.com/?CategoryID=273
   
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Digium Technical Support by
phone, either toll-free within the US at 1.877.DIGIUM.1(1.877.344.4861) or
directly at +1.256.428.6000.  You may also contact Digium Technical Support by
visiting http://www.digium.com/support.

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