Synway AST Series User manual

Synway AST Series
Version 1.0
Synway Information Engineering Co., Ltd
www.synway.net

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Quick Guide for Changing to Synway AST Boards (Ver 1.0) Page i
Contents
Contents..................................................................................................................... i
Copyright Declaration.............................................................................................. ii
Revision History ...................................................................................................... iii
Chapter 1 Overview.................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 2 Digital Boards.......................................................................................... 2
Chapter 3 Analog Boards......................................................................................... 3
Chapter 4 Installation, Configuration and Dialing.................................................. 5
4.1 Installation .................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Configuration................................................................................................ 6
4.3 Dialing Test ................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Others............................................................................................................ 6
Chapter 5 Changing to Synway Boards.................................................................. 8
Appendix A Software Dependency for Asterisk Boards .......................................... 10
Appendix B Technical/Sales Support..................................................................11

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Copyright Declaration
This manual is provided by Synway Information Engineering Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as
‘Synway’) as the support file for ‘Synway AST Series board driver software. Both the software and
this manual are copyrighted and protected by the laws of the People's Republic of China.
All rights reserved; no part of this manual may be extracted, modified, copied, reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission
from Synway. By using this manual, you agree to the following Software License Agreement.
Synway reserves the right to revise this manual without prior note. Please contact Synway for the
latest version of this manual before placing an order.
Synway has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this manual but does not guarantee the
absence of errors. Moreover, Synway assumes no responsibility in obtaining permission and
authorization of any third party patent, copyright or product involved in relation to the use of this
manual.
Note: Asterisk and Digium mentioned in this book are registered trademarks of Digium Inc.

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Revision History
Version Date Comments
Version 1.0 2011-12 Initial publication

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Chapter 1 Overview
All types of Asterisk voice boards work under Asterisk service and software. Despite the
differences in technology, they share common operating modes and basic functions in both
hardware and software.
The following chapters provide a brief introduction to the similarities and differences in the
installation and startup of some types of Asterisk boards.

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Chapter 2 Digital Boards
Users who are familiar with Asterisk digital boards will find it easy to use Synway products, since
they are quite the same.
Herein below we contrast some types of Asterisk digital boards to our Synway AST board for your
reference. See Table 2-1.
Port Sangoma Digium OpenVox Synway
1 AFT A101 TE1XX D1XXX/DEXXX TEJ 101
2 AFT A102 TE2XX D2XXX/DE2XXX TEJ 201
4 AFT A104 TE4XX D4XXX/DE4XXX TEJ 401
8 AFT A108 —— —— TEJ 801
Table 2-1
In this table, the four boards listed in the same line have the same number of ports and are similar
to each other in operation. They all can use the same file extensions.conf to make and obey the
same dial plans. That is, as long as the hardware environment has no problem, the way to make
calls by using whichever board of the four is the same. In spite of the biggest difference lying in
driver installation, the four digital boards all support T1, E1 and J1 modes, Libpri and Asterisk
environments, as well as SS7, SS1 and ISDN signaling protocols.
Below are some major parameters for your comparison:
Sangoma Digium OpenVox Synway
Operating
System Windows, Linux Linux
Open-source
Software Asterisk, Yate, CallWeaver, FreeSwitch
Signaling
Mode T1/E1/J1
Installation
Sangoma driver
+zaptel/dahdi +
libpri+asterisk or
Sangoma+libpri+asterisk
zaptel/dahdi + libpri
+asterisk
zaptel/dahdi + libpri
+asterisk
Synway driver
+zaptel/dahdi +
libpri +asterisk
Table 2-2

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Chapter 3 Analog Boards
All analog boards use two modules for calling, FXO and FXS.Although the products from different
companies vary in appearance, their functions are similar to each other. Moreover, as they all work
in zaptel/dahdi, the software interfaces they use are the same.
Herein below we contrast some types of Asterisk analog boards to our Synway AST board for your
reference. See Table 3-1.
Port Digium OpenVox Sangoma Synway
4 TDM410/AEX410 A400
8 TDM800/AEX800 A800
12 —— A1200
16 —— A1610
24 TDM2400/AEX2400 A2410
A200 A400,
expandable,
2-24 ports
support
FXM32,
expandable,
2-32 ports
support
Table 3-1
Due to the limitation on analog voice technology, analog boards have few voice channels.
Therefore, manufacturers always try to expand the board capability. Some manage to integrate
multiple channels on a board, and some manage to connect several boards together. However, no
matter which way is used for extension, the applications in software are the same.
Below are some major parameters for your comparison:
4-channel Analog
Board
Sangoma Digium OpenVox Synway
Module and Channel 2 modules
4 channels
4 modules
4 channels
4 modules
4 channels
2 modules
4 channels
Operating System Windows, Linux Linux
Open-source
Software Asterisk, Yate, CallWeaver, FreeSwitch
Supported Module FXO/FXS
Echo Cancellation Integrated on
board
Echo
cancellation
module
Echo
cancellation
module
Integrated on
board
Installation
Sangoma driver
+zaptel/dahdi
+asterisk or
Sangoma+asterisk
zaptel/dahdi +
asterisk
Zaptel/dahdi +
asterisk
Synway driver
+
zaptel/dahdi +
asterisk

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Table 3-2
Like Sangoma boards, the Synway analog boards integrate two channels on a module and have
the echo cancellation feature designed in the board. Compared with Digium boards, the Synway
analog boards are lighter and handier. In addition, Synway boards have the FXC module which is
a composite module integrating FXS and FXO, having a station channel and a trunk channel at the
same time.

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Chapter 4 Installation, Configuration and Dialing
As to the installation of Synway boards, please refer to the file SynAST_UserManual.pdf in the
installation package.
4.1 Installation
Although different types of Asterisk voice boards vary in installation all of them (except Sangoma
boards) must have the core software of Asterisk-zaptel/dahdi-be installed. Compared with
Sangoma boards which have more installation steps and provide a series of prompts to users
during the installation, other boards are installed in an easier way. Digium is the owner of
zaptel/dahdi. To other manufacturers like OpenVox and Synway, the board driver installation relies
on the third-party software zaptel/dahdi. Now for Synway boards, only one way of installation is
supported, i.e. Synway driver + zaptel/dahdi + Asterisk.
Below shows the exact way to install the SynwayAST driver. See Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1
To install drivers for Digium and OpenVox boards, just go to the ‘dahdi’ directory and execute the
three commands ‘make’, ‘make install’ and ‘make config’. To install the Sangoma driver, use the
commands ‘./Setup install’ and ‘./Setup dahdi’, and you will be provided with many options during
the installation.
The installation of the Synway AST driver is similar to that of the Sangoma driver, and much
simpler. Enter the directory ‘for_zaptel’ or ‘for_dahdi’ according to which one you’re using. Then,
use the command ‘./Setup install’ to start installation. For detailed information, refer to the file
SynAST.UserManual.EN.pdf in the installation package.
Just like other Asterisk products, the Synway driver must be bound with zaptel/dahdi for
installation. During the installation, Synway boards will compile zapte/dahdi together with its own
driver. We suggest users to choose dahdi, as zaptel has no longer been updated.

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Zaptel/dahdi is an Asterisk oriented interface. To use Asterisk for voice calling, Synway boards
have to rely on this interface.
Note:
To ensure the successful installation of the Synway driver, we suggest you install the
Synway driver with zaptel/dahdi first, and then libpri and Asterisk. If Asterisk is already
installed, make sure it is closed. You can use “asterisk –r” to check the operation status of
Asterisk, and use “core stop now” to stop it.
4.2 Configuration
Synway boards and other asterisk boards are all installed on the basis of Asterisk and zaptel/dahdi,
so they have the same configuration files, such as ’zapata.conf’ and ‘chan_dahdi.conf’, and share
the same way of configuration, such as ‘dahdi_cfg –vv’. Besides, the Synway driver has an
auto-configuration command ‘astcfg_zaptel’ or ‘astcfg_dahdi’ which can work almost the same as
‘dahdi_genconf’. For detailed information, refer to the file SynAST.UserManual.EN.pdf.
4.3 Dialing Test
Generally speaking, Synway boards call in the same way as other Asterisk boards in software,
controlled by the upper layer software of Asterisk. If you have used other Asterisk boards to make
calls successfully on your computer, just install the Synway AST driver without modifying the
Asterisk configuration file (note: for Synway boards, the default setting is context=text in
‘chan_dahdi.conf’)and you can easily use Synway boards to make calls successfully. If you are
using the Synway analog boards, remember to check whether FXS and FXO modules in hardware
match those on Asterisk boards you used previously. In addition, via the dialing plans you write to
extensions.conf for Sangoma boards or other Asterisk boards, you can quite easily grasp the use
of Synway boards.
4.4 Others
Although Digium is the pioneer of Asterisk technology, Sangoma’s development is more mature.
Sangoma boards have plenty of commands under Linux, such as the widely used
commands ’wanrouter’, ‘wancfg’ and ‘wanconfig’ which all begin with ‘wan’ and constitute an
independent system. Some other Asterisk boards, such as the Synway Asterisk boards, are new
comers. They rely heavily on dahdi, have less configuration commands and can be used in a
simpler way.
The Sangoma driver is a bit too complex as many new files will be created after installation, e.g.
the ‘wanpipe’ folder under the /etc directory with some configuration files. Comparatively, the
Synway AST driver can be regarded as the ’Compact Edition’ of Sangoma which creates few extra
files except the necessities for installation.
Other voice boards, such as OpenVox boards, are well compatible with Digium. Among them,

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analog boards can use the modules from Digium Company directly, which brings a great
convenience to users.

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Chapter 5 Changing to Synway Boards
If you have already got Dahdi and Asterisk installed in your computer and have made normal calls
while using other Asterisk boards, to use the Synway board now, the only thing you need to do is
the installation and configuration based on Dahdi.
See below for exact steps.
1) Get the Synway driver and dahdi prepared. Here below we use ‘SynAST-1.8.0.0_en.tar.gz’
and ‘dahdi-linux-complete-2.3.0.1+2.3.0.tar.gz’.for example.
2) Put the Synway driver and dahdi to a user-defined directory. Here we use the ‘/opt’
directory.
3) Enter the directory, decompress the package and install.
#cd /opt
#tar zxvf SynAST-1.8.0.0.tar.gz
#tar zxvf dahdi-linux-complete-2.3.0.1+2.3.0.tar.gz
Skip this step if the directory ‘dahdi-linux-complete-2.3.0.1+2.3.0’ already exists.
#cd /opt/SynAST-1.8.0.0.tar.gz/for_dahdi
#./Setup install
Next you’ll see the following prompts.
Would you like to install SynAST AST package now? y #Enter y to install the driver.
Please enter working dahdi directory [q](exit install):
/opt/dahdi-linux-complete-2.3.0.1+2.3.0
# Enter the complete path where the dahdi source codes are located.
Would you like to open hardware echocan on boards? y
# Enter y to enable echo cancellation in hardware; enter n to disable it.
If you have TEJ series boards on your PC, you’ll see the following options.
SELECT TEJ MODE [t, e, j] :e #Choose the TEJ mode; or the default value is E1.
SELECT TEJXAPCI [75, 120]ohm # Set impedance for the tejxapci board. Choose
75 ohm for coaxial cables, and 120 ohm for
twisted pair cables.
SELECT TEJ201E [75, 120]ohm #Set impedance information for the tej201e board.
Choose 75 ohm for coaxial cables, and 120 ohm
for twisted pair cables.
4) After installation, use ‘dahdi_tool’ to check if the Synway board has been installed.

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successfully before further configuration.
#astcfg_dahdi asterisk #Configure ’/etc/dahdi/system.conf’ and
‘/etc/asterisk/chan_dahdi.conf’.
#dahdi_cfg –vv
5) Modify the dial plan.
Open the file ’/etc/asterisk/extensions.conf’, and you may see an existed dial plan named
‘[from-pstn]’, ‘[from-internal]’ or the like provided you have used other boards to make calls.
Just change the name of the dial plan to ‘[text]’, and you can use the Synway board to
make calling tests. Sure if the existed dial plan is only applicable to analog boards before,
now it is only applicable to Synway analog boards. The same goes for digital boards.
Note:
The port position of Synway boards is opposite to that of Sangoma boards. For example,
ports of a Sangoma AFT A104 board are ordered by 1, 2, 3, 4, and the corresponding ports
of a Synway TEJ401 board are ordered by 4, 3, 2, 1. Therefore you may need to change
the connections while using the same dial plan.
If there is no dial plan available in the ‘/etc/asterisk/extensions.conf’ file, you may create a simple
one. Below are two examples of adding new dial plans respectively for analog boards and digital
boards.
Analog boards:
[text]
exten => 3000,1,Dial(DAHDI/3,50);
exten => 3000,n,playback(hello-world);
exten => 3000,n,Hangup();
Then use station 4 to dial 3000 to test whether it can be connected with channel 3.
Digital boards:
[exten]
exten => 3000,1,Dial(DAHDI/2/3000,50);
exten => 3000,2,Hangup();
Use Channel 1 to dial 3000 to test whether it can be connected with Channel 2.
If you finished all the steps above and have the Synway board passing the calling test, it means
you’ve done proper installation and configuration. Enjoy your work with the Synway AST series
boards.

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Appendix A Software Dependency for Asterisk Boards
Asterisk is a kind of telephone technology based on Linux, as well as a user-oriented top-layer
application software.
Asterisk works under the user space and cannot take a direct control of the bottom-layer hardware.
Thus to use Asterisk to control the hardware, you need a traction software. And Dahdi (or zaptel
for old versions) is just the traction software. Dahdi, with the full name of Digium Asterisk
Hardware Device Interface, is an engine for Asterisk to control the voice boards. Asterisk voice
boards rely on this traction software to achieve the Asterisk phone applications. Since dahdi
contains the driver for products from Digium company, you can use Digium hardware right after
installing dahdi. Voice boards from some companies are totally compatible with dahdi, while those
from other companies need their own drivers for running.
The complete installation for Synway Asterisk boards includes:
1) Install Synway boards;
2) Install Dahdi;
3) Install Synway driver;
4) InstallAsterisk.
For the specific steps of installation, refer to the former chapters in this guide.
Asterisk is an application layer
software. It relies on the
connection via the adaption layer
to control the underlying hardware.
Driver DAHDI
+
Asterisk
Voice Board

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Appendix B Technical/Sales Support
Thank you for choosing Synway. Please contact us should you have any inquiry
regarding our products. We shall do our best to help you. However, our technicians
and salesmen are mainly responsible for maintaining our boards and providing
relative technical support. If there are problems about Asterisk, please keep touch
with Digium Inc. for help.
Headquarters
Synway Information Engineering Co., Ltd
http://www.synway.net/
9F, Synway D&R Center, No.3756, Nanhuan Road, Binjiang District,
Hangzhou, P.R.China, 310053
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Technical Support
Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Email: [e-mail]
MSN: synway[email protected]
Sales Department
Tel: [phone]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]