Installing FreeSWITCH on Alma Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

FreeSWITCH is a highly flexible and powerful open-source communications platform used for voice, video, and messaging across a variety of protocols. For those using Alma Linux—a reliable RHEL-based distribution—installing FreeSWITCH allows organizations to leverage a sophisticated telephony solution for VoIP applications, PBX systems, and conferencing. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough for installing FreeSWITCH on Alma Linux.

Prerequisites

Before beginning the installation, make sure you have:

- ***A server or virtual machine running Alma Linux*** (preferably version 8 or newer).
• Root access to the server or a user with sudo privileges.
• Basic understanding of Linux commands .
• An internet connection to download necessary packages.

Step 1: Update the Alma Linux System

Start by updating your Alma Linux system. This ensures you have the latest security patches and package updates.

sudo dnf update -y

Once the update is complete, reboot the system if necessary:

sudo reboot

Step 2: Install Development Tools and Dependencies

FreeSWITCH relies on multiple development tools and libraries. You can install these packages with the following command:

sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
sudo dnf install git wget cmake autoconf automake libtool -y

Next, install additional dependencies that FreeSWITCH requires:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf install libedit-devel sqlite-devel pcre-devel speex-devel openssl-devel -y

Step 3: Set Up FreeSWITCH User and Directories

For security and management, it’s best to create a dedicated user for running FreeSWITCH.

sudo adduser --system --no-create-home --group freeswitch

Create necessary directories for FreeSWITCH:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/freeswitch
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/freeswitch/log
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/freeswitch/run

Assign appropriate permissions to the FreeSWITCH user:

sudo chown -R freeswitch:freeswitch /usr/local/freeswitch
sudo chmod -R 775 /usr/local/freeswitch

Step 4: Download FreeSWITCH Source Code

Head to the FreeSWITCH GitHub repository to download the latest stable version of FreeSWITCH.

cd /usr/src
sudo git clone https://github.com/signalwire/freeswitch.git
cd freeswitch
sudo git checkout v1.10

The checkout command will switch to the stable version 1.10, which is suitable for production use.

Step 5: Build and Compile FreeSWITCH

FreeSWITCH offers various configuration options; the default configuration works for most installations. First, install the necessary codecs, modules, and configurations:

./bootstrap.sh
./configure

After configuring, compile the source code using:

make

This process may take several minutes. If there are any errors, ensure that all dependencies are correctly installed. After successfully compiling FreeSWITCH, install it by running:

sudo make install

Step 6: Install Additional FreeSWITCH Modules

FreeSWITCH’s functionality can be extended by adding modules. Here’s how to install the basic modules often needed in a standard telephony environment:

sudo make cd-sounds-install cd-moh-install
sudo make samples

The samples command installs sample configuration files in /usr/local/freeswitch/conf.

Step 7: Configure Systemd Service for FreeSWITCH

To ensure FreeSWITCH starts automatically and runs as a background service, create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/freeswitch.service

Insert the following configuration into the file:

[Unit]
Description=FreeSWITCH Service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=forking
ExecStart=/usr/local/freeswitch/bin/freeswitch -ncwait -nonat
ExecStop=/usr/local/freeswitch/bin/freeswitch -stop
PIDFile=/usr/local/freeswitch/run/freeswitch.pid
User=freeswitch
Group=freeswitch
Restart=always
LimitNOFILE=100000

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and exit the file. Reload the systemd daemon to recognize the new FreeSWITCH service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Enable the FreeSWITCH service to start automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable freeswitch

Step 8: Start FreeSWITCH Service

Start FreeSWITCH by executing:

sudo systemctl start freeswitch

To confirm it’s running, check the status:

sudo systemctl status freeswitch

If the service is running, you should see an “active (running)” message.

Step 9: Configure Firewall for FreeSWITCH

To allow external access to FreeSWITCH, open the necessary ports on your firewall. By default, FreeSWITCH uses:

- ***5060 (UDP)*** for SIP
• 5061 (UDP) for secure SIP (SIP-TLS)
• 16384–32768 (UDP) for RTP (Real-Time Protocol)

Use the following commands to open these ports:

sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5060/udp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5061/udp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=16384-32768/udp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 10: Test FreeSWITCH Installation

To verify the FreeSWITCH installation, connect to the FreeSWITCH CLI by running:

/usr/local/freeswitch/bin/fs_cli

Once inside the CLI, you can test a few commands, such as:

status
sofia status

These commands should display FreeSWITCH’s current status and protocol details, confirming that it’s correctly set up.

Step 11: Basic Configuration Tips

FreeSWITCH’s default configuration may not suit all needs. Here are a few tips to help configure it:

- ***Edit SIP Profiles*** : Modify SIP profiles in /usr/local/freeswitch/conf/sip_profiles to suit your network setup.
• Set Up Extensions : Define extensions in /usr/local/freeswitch/conf/dialplan/default.xml.
• Configure NAT : If behind NAT, add your public IP and local network information in the SIP profiles.
• Add Security Features : Enable password protections, and consider limiting IP access to the FreeSWITCH server.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are a few common issues that might arise during installation and their solutions:

- ***Missing Dependencies*** : Ensure all libraries are installed, especially openssl-devel and libedit-devel.
• Firewall Blocks : Confirm all required ports are open on the firewall.
• FreeSWITCH Doesn’t Start : Check the system log (journalctl -xe) for details on errors-preventing startup.

Conclusion

Installing FreeSWITCH on Alma Linux gives users access to a highly flexible telephony platform for handling voice, video, and messaging services. By following this guide, you’ll be able to successfully set up FreeSWITCH on Alma Linux, allowing your organization or personal projects to take advantage of its powerful communication capabilities. With FreeSWITCH running, you can begin configuring and customizing it to meet your specific telephony requirements.

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***FAQs***

***1. What is FreeSWITCH used for?***
FreeSWITCH is an open-source telephony platform used for handling voice, video, and messaging over various protocols, ideal for creating VoIP, PBX, and conferencing solutions.

***2. Why use Alma Linux for FreeSWITCH?***
Alma Linux is a stable, RHEL-compatible OS, making it a reliable choice for hosting applications like FreeSWITCH that require enterprise-level stability.

***3. How much RAM is recommended for FreeSWITCH?***
For basic setups, 1 GB of RAM is sufficient, but for larger deployments, consider 4 GB or more to handle higher call volumes and multiple concurrent calls.

***4. Can FreeSWITCH run alongside other VoIP software?***
Yes, but it’s generally recommended to run it on a dedicated server to avoid port conflicts and performance issues.

***5. How do I secure FreeSWITCH?***
Implement strong password policies, restrict access to SIP ports, and enable TLS for secure communication.

***6. Where can I get additional FreeSWITCH modules?***
Modules can be installed from the FreeSWITCH source repository, and the FreeSWITCH documentation provides details on individual module functions and configurations.