FreePBX Devices and Users Under the Hood

FreePBX is often referred to as a GUI to manage Asterisk configuration files. This misconception leads to confusion when Asterisk knowledgeable users begin to dig into a FreePBX system and find so many things that look foreign or different from what they are used to.
FreePBX Users & Devices
About Device & User Mode
By default, FreePBX operates in "Extension Mode." In Extension Mode, devices (such as phones) and users (people) both use the same identification number, i.e. their extension number. Each Device (Phone) is assigned one User (Extension) and they cannot be easily changed, without accessing the FreePBX User Interface. A single module, entitled "extensions" will appear on the left hand side of the FreePBX interface, and all settings relating to both the phone and the user will appear in the same place.
Related Content
Voicemail Module
The Voicemail Module is a required for the system to work properly. For
that reason, once installed it can not be un-installed. This module
provides the functionality to the Extensions or Users Page to configure
Voicemail. It also provides the Feature Codes used to dial into a users
Voicemail box.
Related Content
Extensions
Information
This area is for handsets, softphones, paging systems, or anything
else that could be considered an 'extension' in the classical PBX
context.
Overview
Defining and editing extensions is probably the most common task
performed by a PBX administrator, and as such, you'll find you'll
become very familiar with this page. There are presently four types of
devices supported - SIP, IAX2, ZAP and 'Custom'. This page also
configures how voicemail is handled on a per-extension basis.


