A2Billing v2.2 Install Guide on CentOS 7

This guide will show how to install A2Billing v2.2 on CentOS v7.  It is assumed you already have Linux and Asterisk and Freepbx installed using a procedure similar to this one.  It is also assumed you have compiled asterisk realtime driver module (res_config_mysql) by selecting it in asterisk menuselect before compiling asterisk. We do not cover the installation of the callback daemon.

Tested using the following software:

Assumptions:

Console text mode (multi-user.target)
Installation done as root user (#)

The following 2 diagrams illustrate A2billing inbound and outbound call flow.

Install additional required packages if not already installed

yum -y update && yum -y groupinstall core && yum -y groupinstall base && yum -y install epel-release
yum -y install php-mcrypt php-xml perl-DBD-Pg git
Get A2Billing source
cd /usr/src
git clone -b 'v2.2.0' --single-branch https://github.com/Star2Billing/a2billing.git

Get vendor packages using composer.

cd /usr/src/a2billing
curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
php composer.phar update
php composer.phar install

Create MySQL root password

If you did not create a mysql root password during the asterisk install you should create one now.

mysqladmin -u root password 'rootmysqlpassword'

Create A2Billing Database

cd /usr/src/a2billing
mysql -u root -p < DataBase/mysql-5.x/a2billing-createdb-user.sql

which, after you enter your root password, will create:

Database name: mya2billing
Database user: a2billinguser
Database user password: a2billing

Now run script to create tables and insert some basic configuration data

cd /usr/src/a2billing/DataBase/mysql-5.x
./install-db.sh

Answer questions as follows:

  • Enter Database Name: mya2billing
  • Enter Hostname: localhost
  • Enter UserName: root
  • Enter Password: {mysql-root-password…not a2billing db password}

Now check that the database and 90+ tables have been created

mysql -u root -p mya2billing
>show tables;

Should produce

+-------------------------+
| Tables_in_mya2billing    
| +-----------------------+
| cc_agent                |
| cc_agent_commission     |
| cc_agent_signup         |
. . .                     |
| cc_ui_authen            |
| cc_version              |
| cc_voucher              |
+-------------------------+
97 rows in set (0.00 sec)
\q
cp /usr/src/a2billing/a2billing.conf /etc/

Make sure the following parameters are set as shown.

nano /etc/a2billing.conf
[database]
hostname = localhost
port = 3306
user = a2billinguser
password = a2billing
dbname = mya2billing
dbtype = mysql

Create files and set permissions

Only required if not using Asterisk realtime.  We are including this section for legacy purposes.  

Some of these files assume you have FreePBX installed and not just Asterisk.  If you just have Asterisk installed then use the files specified in the INSTALL.rst instructions included with A2billing source files.

touch /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_iax.conf
touch /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_sip.conf
echo \#include additional_a2billing_sip.conf >> /etc/asterisk/sip_custom.conf
echo \#include additional_a2billing_iax.conf >> /etc/asterisk/iax_custom.conf
chown -Rf asterisk. /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_iax.conf
chown -Rf asterisk. /etc/asterisk/additional_a2billing_sip.conf
chmod -R 640 /etc/asterisk

Run sound installation script

cd /usr/src/a2billing/addons/sounds
./install_a2b_sounds.sh
chown -R asterisk:asterisk /var/lib/asterisk/sounds/

Add the following to /etc/asterisk/manager_custom.conf

You can also do it via the Freepbx Asterisk API module.  If you don’t have Freepbx installed then you should follow the INSTALL.rst instructions included with the a2billing source files.

[myasterisk]
secret=mycode
deny=0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0
permit=127.0.0.1/255.255.255.0
read=system,call,log,verbose,command,agent,user
write=system,call,log,verbose,command,agent,user

Add fwconsole blacklist

This is very important. Without this, a reboot or fwconsole restart or fwconsole chown command will delete necessary symlinks in a2billing.

nano /etc/asterisk/freepbx_chown.conf
[blacklist]
directory=/var/www/html/a2billing/

Set up a2billing web folders

A2billing has 3 GUI sections.  adminagent, and customer.

mkdir /var/www/html/a2billing
cp -rf /usr/src/a2billing/admin /var/www/html/a2billing
cp -rf /usr/src/a2billing/agent /var/www/html/a2billing
cp -rf /usr/src/a2billing/customer /var/www/html/a2billing
cp -rf /usr/src/a2billing/common /var/www/html/a2billing
cp -rf /usr/src/a2billing/vendor /var/www/html/a2billing
chown -R asterisk. /var/www/html/a2billing
chmod 755 /var/www/html/a2billing/admin/templates_c
chmod 755 /var/www/html/a2billing/customer/templates_c
chmod 755 /var/www/html/a2billing/agent/templates_c
Prevent public access to /common and /vendor folders.  This has not been exhaustively tested.  If it causes internal access problems please let us know. 
echo 'Deny from all' > /var/www/html/a2billing/common/.htaccess
echo 'Deny from all' > /var/www/html/a2billing/vendor/.htaccess

Check admin web interface

From a web browser go to http://{my-ip-address}/a2billing/admin and make sure you get the authentication screen.  Log in as follows.

user: root
password: changepassword

Once logged in click change password link at bottom left and change it.

Set up AGI

mkdir /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin
cd /usr/src/a2billing/AGI               
cp a2billing.php /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin
cp a2billing_monitoring.php /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin
chown -R asterisk. /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin
chmod 755 /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/a2billing.php
chmod 755 /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/a2billing_monitoring.php
ln -s /var/www/html/a2billing/common/lib /var/lib/asterisk/agi-bin/lib
ln -s /var/www/html/a2billing/vendor /var/lib/asterisk/vendor

Add the following extensions to /etc/asterisk/extensions_custom.conf

If not using Freepbx then this would go into /etc/asterisk/extensions.conf.  Customize this to your needs.

The 1 in a2billing.php,1 refers to the default agi-conf1 configuration in a2billing system settings.  It is possible to add additional agi-conf such as agi-conf2 etc. via System Settings > Add agi-conf.

nano /etc/asterisk/extensions_custom.conf
[a2billing-did]
exten => _X.,1,AGI(a2billing.php,1,did)
exten => _X.,n,Hangup()

[a2billing-out]
exten => _X.,1,AGI(a2billing.php,1)
exten => _X.,n,Hangup()

Add custom destinations to FreePBX via FreePBX GUI>Admin>Custom Destinations

These destinations are referring to the custom extensions created above in /etc/asterisk/extensions_custom.conf

Target: a2billing-did,${EXTEN},1 
Description: A2Billing - Inbound

Target: a2billing-out,${EXTEN},1 
Description: A2Billing - Outbound

Create inbound route

We are creating a universal DID inbound route.  This requires _. in the DID number field.  That is underscore character followed by period or dot character. 

Connectivity > Inbound Routes

Description: Some descriptive name

DID number: _.

Set Destination: Custom Destinations
                               A2Billing - Inbound

Start or restart FreePBX

fwconsole restart

Cron

Copy cron files to some permanent location such as /usr/local

mkdir -p /usr/local/a2billing
cp -R /usr/src/a2billing/Cronjobs /usr/local/a2billing/
ln -sf /var/www/html/a2billing/common/lib /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/lib
chown -R asterisk. /usr/local/a2billing

Add the cron jobs to /var/spool/cron/asterisk as follows

crontab -e -u asterisk
# update the currency table
0 6 * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/currencies_update_yahoo.php

# manage the monthly services subscription
0 6 1 * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_subscription_fee.php

# Check the account of each user and send an email if the balance is below mimimum.
0 * * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_notify_account.php

# Browse all the DID's that are reserved and check if the customer need to pay.
# Bill them or warn them via email that they need to pay in order to keep their DIDs.
0 2 * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_bill_diduse.php

# This script will take care of the recurring service.
0 12 * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_batch_process.php

# Generate invoices and for each user
0 6 * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_batch_billing.php

# Process the autodialer.
*/5 * * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_batch_autodialer.php

# Manage alarms
0 * * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_alarm.php

# Manage archive
0 12 * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_archive_data_cront.php

#Autorefill
0 10 21 * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_autorefill.php
15 * * * * php /usr/local/a2billing/Cronjobs/a2billing_batch_cache.php

Add log files

mkdir -p /var/log/a2billing
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_alarm.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_autorefill.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_batch_process.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_archive_data.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_bill_diduse.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_subscription_fee.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_currency_update.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_invoice.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/cront_a2b_check_account.log   
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_paypal.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_epayment.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_api_ecommerce_request.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_api_callback_request.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_api_card.log
touch /var/log/a2billing/a2billing_agi.log
chown -R asterisk. /var/log/a2billing

Add index file to prevent browsing of folders

touch /var/www/html/a2billing/index.html

Log into the webpage

http://{my-ip-address}/a2billing/admin
  • user:  root
  • pass: mynewpassword

Or use default password changepassword if you have not changed it yet and then click the change password link at the bottom left.

Set Asterisk version in A2Billing

Go into System settings>Global list.  Go to the bottom left and set to display all.  From your web browser search for “asterisk_version”.  It will find that setting twice.  One for Global group and one for agi-conf1 group.  Change both accordingly.  If using Asterisk v11 or v13 then use “1_11”

Disable Asterisk Realtime if not setting up the following Asterisk Realtime procedure. Go to System settings>Global search for “realtime”.  Change that setting to “no”.

Asterisk Realtime

If using Asterisk Realtime you do not need to reload every time you add/remove/change a customer.  It also allows you to share the A2billing database between multiple Asterisk/Freepbx servers.  If you need to create many customers it makes more sense to use a database rather than a flat text file.

Double check you have the Asterisk Realtime module installed. 

cd /usr/lib64/asterisk/modules
dir

There should be a file there called res_config_mysql.so.  If not you need to re-compile Asterisk and set it to compile the res_config_mysql.so realtime module in menuselect.

Add the following to /etc/asterisk/extconfig.conf

nano /etc/asterisk/extconfig.conf

NOTE: [settings] is already included and uncommented in this file in asterisk sample configurations.  So if you installed asterisk samples or Freepbx and this file already exists and you are trying to add to it, do not add this line twice.

[settings]
iaxusers => mysql,general,cc_iax_buddies
iaxpeers => mysql,general,cc_iax_buddies
sipusers => mysql,general,cc_sip_buddies
sippeers => mysql,general,cc_sip_buddies

Add the following to /etc/asterisk/res_config_mysql.conf

nano /etc/asterisk/res_config_mysql.conf

NOTE: [general] is already included and uncommented in this file in asterisk samples.  So if you installed asterisk samples or Freepbx and this file already exists and you are trying to add to it, do not add this line twice.

[general]
dbhost = 127.0.0.1
dbname = mya2billing
dbuser = a2billinguser
dbpass = a2billing
dbport = 3306
;dbsock = /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

Assuming (as we did in this guide) that the dbname=mya2billing, dbuser=a2billinguser, dbpassword=a2billing.  Double check that these settings match /etc/a2billing.conf and substitute as necessary.

Now restart freepbx/asterisk

fwconsole restart

To check if realtime is working:

From Asterisk CLI>

asterisk -vvvr
 
core show config mappings

Should produce:

Config Engine: mysql
===> iaxpeers (db=general, table=cc_iax_buddies)
===> iaxusers (db=general, table=cc_iax_buddies)
===> sippeers (db=general, table=cc_sip_buddies)
===> sipusers (db=general, table=cc_sip_buddies)

After you add a customer to A2Billing, and assuming that customer’s account number is, for example, 1234567890

realtime load sipusers name 1234567890

should produce:

Column Name  Column Value
-----------  ------------
id           1 
id_cc_card   1 
name         1234567890
accountcode  1234567890
regexten     1234567890
amaflags     billing
callgroup
callerid . . .
maxcallbitrate
outboundproxy
rtpkeepalive  0 
useragent
callbackextension
...
...
...

In the A2Billing GUI go into System settings>Global and search forrealtime. Change that setting to yes if no. If already yesand having problems try change it to no and save and then change back to yes and save.