Install ChanSkype on FreePBX/Trixbox | Toronto Asterisk Users' Group

This is my first posting (ever) so please, go easy on me. I will state up front that this work is based on the input of several people and draws on those resources including the excellent script by Tim Hunt as well as feedback from ChanSkype themselves.

Once again, this is for a FreePBX (confirmed installation on Centos 4.4/4.5 and Trixbox 2.0/2.2 systems)

I've posted in bold the actual text to type. Hopefully split lines are not a problem.

Begin, by ensuring the necessary packages are available...gcc, qt-devel, kernel-devel, asterisk-devel
yum install gcc qt-devel kernel-devel.i686 asterisk-devel

Next, download and install the Tim Hunt chanskype installation package
wget http://www.timhunt.net/stuff/chanskype/chanskype-trixbox.tgz tar -zxf chanskype-trixbox.tgz cd chanskype.trixbox ./install.sh

Once installed, you need to create accounts (aka channels in ChanSkype language...remember the personal license only supports 1, the business license is however many channels you buy
./makeaccount.sh 1


Now, based on the advise from ChanSkype their recommendation is to use RatPoison, a low overhead windows manager.  Tim's script already installed TWM.  The next stage removes TWM and replaces it with RatPoison



yum remove twm

wget http://savannah.nongnu.org/download/ratpoison/ratpoison-1.4.1.tar.gz

tar -zxf ratpoison-1.4.1.tar.gz

cd ratpoison-1.4.1

./configure

make

make install


Next, check to ensure the vncserver service will automatically start.  I've seen this already configured over half the time, but this will simply ensure it.



/usr/sbin/ntsysv


Find vncserver in the list, and mark it for autostart.
Next, the package itself...ChanSkype ... download latest release of chanskype located at  ftp://ftp.chanskype.com/download/packages/ ... find the RedHat enterprise version (usually FC3), ie ends with FC3-RHEL4.bin, ie...  chanskype-1.2.9-FC3-RHEL4.bin



wget ftp://ftp.chanskype.com/download/packages/chanskype*FC3-RHEL4.bin

chmod +x chanskype*

./chanskype-x.x.x.-FC3-RHEL4.bin


where x.x.x is the release you downloaded.
If it fails (ie, running TrixBox) repeat with 1DOT2 after the command



./chanskype-x.x.x.-FC3-RHEL4.bin 1DOT2


Next, I know...we hate to do them, but I've not found a way to get everything going right so please reboot (yes, one of two I'm going to make you do....instructions on avoiding this welcome...)



reboot


Access vnc for your server using a vnc viewer for each channel / account you installed and log into skype with your account info.  ie my server is 192.168.101.150:1 (first port assigned for skype1 account)  Nothing seems to install at port 0, the vnc default.
If when you log in, you don't see the Skype program visible but instead have a black console window with a series of errors about "pidof not found", use an editor like nano and add the following line to each of the .bash_profile files in each of the skype directories... ie:



nano /home/skype1/.bash_profile


Now add the following line:



export PATH=/sbin/:/usr/sbin/:$PATH



save it (in the case of nano, type a Ctrl-X).  Now restart vncserver by typing:



/etc/init.d/vncserver restart


log in again to the vnc account and see if Skype started...it should be running now.
Now, for each account created, assign user account in Skype.  You can close your VNC session now.
Next, edit /etc/asterisk/skype.conf for number of channels in use (same as the number from makeaccount).



nano /etc/asterisk/skype.conf



Find the line specifying the number of channels and set it accordingly...ie



channels=1


Now open freepbx...create custom trunk...add dial plan as desired...preface any dial with 00+ i.e.



001+nxxnxxxxxx

00+1nxxnxxxxxx


Then under outgoing settings, custom dial string... add:



Local/$OUTNUM$@skype


Using your editor again...add following 3 lines to extensions_custom.conf if you call it via any other contexts (ie, Dundi)



[skype]

exten => _X.,1,Dial(Skype/any/${EXTEN})

exten => _X.,2,Hangup


Remember to save settings as I've so often done by moving away without doing that...
And remember I promised one more reboot...here it is...last one...I promise...



reboot


One of the issues in Skype is it's a gui program taking it's queue from Windows Vista requiring you to validate other programs controlling it.. this is the only real quirk I've come across...albeit until I found this little hack, a real nuisance to say the least.
The next step allows ChanSkype to control it so you don't have to log in every time and "allow" ChanSkype to use Skype.#cd to your account created for skype (repeat for each account)...i.e.:



cd skype1


Now to traverse the rest of the path to allow the authentication process to be automatic in Skype's startup



cd .Skype


Don't miss the period in front of the word Skype as it's a hidden folder..next your login account on skype i.e.:



cd davebour


Edit the config.xml:



nano config.xml


Find the line:



<Authorizations></Authorizations>


Change to:



<Authorizations>chan_skype</Authorizations>


If you purchased a new license, run the registration with your code:



ivregister CS-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Now remember to backup your license file somewhere off this system should something happen.  You get two attempts at running ivregister.
Restart the vncserver once again:



/etc/init.d/vncserver restart


That's it, you should be ready to go. Log into your box, and connect to the asterisk session and check your channels...should show as 1 (or however many you purchased) licensed channels:



/usr/sbin/asterisk -rvx "skype status"


Now go make an outgoing trunk to use the Skype channel(s).  Try a test call.  You should be good.
Since Skype has a little issue in that if the internet drops, it doesn't automatically re-login when the internet becomes available, I created a basic hack script to test if Skype dropped, and by killing (albeit not gracefully - better suggestions welcome) Skype, which is monitored by ChanSkype.  When ChanSkype detects Skype is no longer running, it restarts the program.
Create the following crontab entry:



* * * * * /usr/sbin/skypetracker.sh


now using your favorite editor...



nano /usr/sbin/skypetracker.sh


enter the following



#! /bin/sh

#

/usr/sbin/asterisk -rvx "skype status" |grep "Licensed channels" |awk '{print $3}' >/skypechan

exec < /skypechan

while read SKYPECHAN

do

   # if SKYPECHAN < 1, restart vncserver triggering

   echo $SKYPECHAN

   if [ $SKYPECHAN -lt 1 ]; then

      /etc/init.d/vncserver restart

   fi

done


Save and finish off by added execute permissions to the file...



chmod +x /usr/sbin/skypetracker.sh


That's it.  You've now got Skype running on your FreePBX/Trixbox with a simple monitor to ensure the channel stays connected in the event Skype loses the connection for whatever reason.