Skype Sip Gateway (PE) Version 3.2 using Pulse Audio

12 May 2010 - Released

Skype Sip Gateway, Personal Edition:

  • To understand more about Skype Sip Gateway, Personal Edition, read this.

Release Summary:

  • Runs on Ubuntu 10.04. No special configuration for Ubuntu.
  • Use only Pulse Audio server.
  • Connection is fast and reliable.
  • Audio quality is excellent.
  • New graphical user interface that shows status and other enhancements.
  • Easily integrate as a trunk to FreePBX.
  • Quick recovery when problems do arise, for example, when Pulse Audio server dies.
  • Does NOT USE Jackd for audio connection management. There were problems with using Jackd in the previous release.
  • Uses DBUS for communication with Skype instead of X11. This reduces segmentation problem tremendously.

Installation:

  • Install Ubuntu: Use a relatively fast computer. This is because Pulse Audio and Skype are quite CPU intensive. When the two programs are active, they consistently top the various processes as shown under “top” program. I am using an “Acer Aspire L320″, which uses Intel Core 2 Duo, CPU 2140 @ 1.6GHz with 1.5 GB memory. I have tested on old P4 and the performance is not good.
  • Download and install Ubuntu 10.04 Desktop Edition. Do not use the server edition.
  • Install Skype: Once you have Ubuntu up and running, download and install Skype for Ubuntu. The latest version can still run under 10.04. Hopefully Skype can release a newer copy soon.
  • Log into your Skype account and test that it is working properly. Ensure the following for Skype:
    • The box “Sign me in when Skype starts” should be checked.
    • Under “Options->Sound Devices”, check that PulseAudio is used for microphone, speakers and ringing. You can choose to uncheck the box for “Allow Skype to automatically adjust my mixer levels”.
    • Under “Options->Public API”, ensure “DBUS” is checked. You can leave “X11″ checked too.
    • Under “Options->Video Devices”, disable Skype video. SSGWPE does not currently support video routing.
    • These are optional. “Options->General”, change the values in the boxes for “Show me as Away when I am inactive for” and “Show me as Not Available when I am inactive for” to “Off”. This is supposed to keep your Skype status constant. I think this does not work very well. “Options->Privacy”, check the box for “Allow my status to be shown on the web”.

  • Install SSGWPE: Created a directory, say “release” under your home directory. Now download SSGWPE and saved it in “release” directory.
  • Unzip the downloaded file and extract all files and saved under “release” directory.
  • Open a “terminal” can change directory to “release” directory. Now run “sudo ./install.sh”. This should get and install the necessary software and files.
  • Now run “./safe_ssgwpe.sh”. This should run ssgwpe which should automatically run Skype too.
  • Configure ssgwpe as follows:
    • Under “Registration” tab, enter the “Skype Login ID” that corresponds to the Skype account that you are using. In trial mode, you do not need to enter “Registration Key”. Without the key, you get to test the gateway but calls are limited to 1 minute time span. When Skype indicates that a program “skypegw” wants to connect to it, allow it to connect with the box “Remember this selection” checked.
    • Under “SIP” tab, you need to make ssgwpe a SIP client to a server. You should have already created a corresponding SIP account in the server for this gateway. If the server is also on this computer and it uses 5060, then make sure that “Sip UDP Port” for this gateway should not be 5060. You can use 5061.
    • Under “Skype” tab, you can configure the destinations that groups of “Skype callers” should be directed to.
  • That’s it. You can now start testing the gateway.

Integration to Free PBX

Read the article here.




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