With the launch of the new version of Asterisk 21, which is promoted as a regular release, with updates implemented over a period of two years, which differs from LTS versions, such as the previous Asterisk 20 version, these LTS versions have 5-year support.
The Asterisk community has officially released Asterisk 21.0.0 for Asterisk users. It is one of the standard releases of this popular open-source VoIP telephony framework. If you are using any Asterisk based solution or offering Asterisk solution development, you must know about this telephony platform.
For those who do not know about Asterisk, you should know that This is used to implement software PBX, voice communication systems, VoIP gateways, organize IVR (voice menu) systems, voice mail, conference calls and call centers.
In this blog post, we are going to cover major details of Asterisk 21. You will learn about new features in this latest release. Moreover, you will learn some necessary facts to make the maximum out of this popular open-source VoIP platform.
What is Asterisk?
In the VoIP industry, Asterisk is a popular telephony stack. Moreover, it is popular as a telephony kit because it provides a complete suite of features to build powerful telephony solutions. Additionally, it is an open-source VoIP framework. In short, you get access to this platform for free with a general public license (GPL).
According to the shared statistics by the official website of Asterisk, annually Asterisk has registered 2,000,000 downloads.
Moreover, 1,000,000 servers are configured with this open-source platform. In addition to that, every year, 1,300,000 new endpoints are registered. Furthermore, across 170 countries across the world, Asterisk users are using this platform to meet their communication needs or to provide communication services using this platform.
Asterisk is also a popular open-source tool with 86,000 community members contributing to empowering this open-source platform in one way or another.
Originally, it was available as a PBX platform with all PBX features. However, now it is one of the most advanced platforms to build any type of telephony solution. For example, a VoIP Softphone, IP PBX solution, call center solution, fax server solution, class 4 Softswitch, and similar VoIP software are developed in Asterisk. Companies like Dialerking Technology, offering Asterisk development services also develop custom telephony solutions to meet the business needs of other companies.
What’s New in Asterisk 21?
While there are several new additions to Asterisk, there have been quite a few removals as well. Many modules that were deprecated in older versions have been removed. Some have alternatives, whereas others have become outdated. In this new version of Asterisk 21, various improvements have been integrated into the modules, their capabilities have been expanded, as well as modules and functions have been eliminated.
And in Asterisk, on the part of the module improvements highlight the improvements in the module. In which its capabilities have been expanded when adding additional SIP stack to PJSIP for distributed data exchange device status via the Jabber/XMPP PubSub extension (sending notifications via subscription).
It is mentioned that the existing APIs are somewhat limited in what they can do, but thanks to the additional capabilities implemented, they have gained more feature-rich functions.
Another module that received improvements in this new version is the module sig_analog for analog FXS channels, which include the CASH feature, which allows the user to put an initiated call on hold, hang up and resume the conversation by lifting the handset of another telephone on the same line. To manage call retention, a configuration called subscriber on hold is proposed.
In addition to this, now the applications SLAStation and SLATrunk have been moved from the app_meetme module to app_sla, as well as that the users.conf configuration is now deprecated and will be removed in a future version of Asterisk.
Regarding the modules that have become obsolete in this new version, mention is made of res_monitor, which has been deprecated since Asterisk 16 and is now being removed in accordance with
the Asterisk module deprecation policy. This also removes the ‘w’ and ‘W’ options for app_queue. With this, MixMonitor should now be the default and only option for all configurations that previously used Monitor or MixMonitor.
Major Reasons to Upgrade to Asterisk 21
According to industry experts, using the most recent version of any cloud communication platform is always great. In the case of Asterisk service as well, it is recommended to use the latest version, which is Asterisk 21.0.0.
More Powerful Platform
Certainly, this is much more powerful than its earlier versions. It has several new features. Moreover, it has removed several unwanted features and modules. Furthermore, it is a major standard release, unlike minor changes in the earlier version. Therefore, Asterisk 21 provides a powerful tool to build any custom telephony stack. Furthermore, it also increases features for an existing telephony app developed using Asterisk.
Get Rid Of Bugs
Bugs are major concerns for developers. Moreover, known yet unresolved platform bugs often become a major drawback for development companies because developers can’t get rid of these bugs. As a result, users face some challenges and bad experiences. However, by upgrading to the latest version of Asterisk, you can get rid of several known bugs. This helps in getting rid of issues occurring due to these bugs. Moreover, the removal of bugs makes the platform more lightweight for users. As a result, better performance and quality service are easily achievable.
Access To Advanced Features
As mentioned earlier, Asterisk 21 has some major new features. Moreover, it has added compatibility for some platforms that were not available in earlier Asterisk versions. Therefore, by upgrading to the latest version, you will get access to advanced and never-used features. In addition to that, an Asterisk development company can think of building custom communication solutions with advanced features.
Added Stability
A majority of version releases add more stability to the platform. As a result, its users can receive better-quality solutions and features. This is the case with Asterisk 21, too. Therefore, you can enjoy better stability and related benefits by using the latest version of Asterisk or by upgrading to it.
Challenges in Upgrading to Asterisk 21
There are two major challenges that you may face while upgrading the version of Asterisk. Therefore, it is necessary to understand these challenges and how you can overcome them.
Lack Of Technical Expertise
It is pretty simple to upgrade to Asterisk if you have the required expertise in the technical aspects of Asterisk. However, if you do not have technical knowledge, then it will be difficult to upgrade the version because it would be a long learning curve. However, you can take the help of a company or developer like DialerKing that can help you with their technical expertise to make the upgrade process seamless.
Some Modules Or Features Stop Working
Generally, the Asterisk software development process considers the existing version. Therefore, the dialer software is developed accordingly. However, when you upgrade the version, some features may stop working and those will need a fix. Therefore, it is necessary to keep this aspect in mind. Moreover, there has to be a plan to ensure the system doesn’t stop working completely. In addition to that, if it stops working, then there has to be a plan to recover as soon as possible.
Tips to Upgrade To Asterisk 21
It is always great to make a plan for a successful upgrade. It will keep you prepared for the upcoming challenges. As a result, you can easily manage these challenges.
Take Backup
The first piece of advice is to keep yourself prepared to face catastrophe. You need to know what to do if your upgrade fails. Therefore, you must take a backup, which you can upload to use existing settings if your upgrade process fails.
Take Expert Help
If you don’t have expertise in upgrading the Asterisk version, then don’t play around with a live system. Certainly, you must hire an expert like DialerKing Technology for an upgrade. Moreover, you can also keep an expert on standby. As a result, in case you get stuck at a certain point, you can get the immediate help of the expert.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Asterisk 21 is a more robust and feature rich version of Asterisk. Therefore, it is a good idea to upgrade to this latest Asterisk version. However, you must keep the major facts shared in this blog post in mind.
We, DialerKing Technology, are renowned for our services in Asterisk. Furthermore, we have a range of offerings in Asterisk 21.
We have a team of experienced developers for Custom Product Development and support engineers in Asterisk. We offer multiple services specific to the Asterisk version such as:
➡ Version upgrade
➡ Asterisk software development
➡ Migration to Asterisk
➡ Technical support
➡ Consultation
To learn more about Asterisk solution development and Asterisk 21 related services, connect with our expert engineers. We Are Waiting to Serve You!
