How to install 3cx on Google cloud.

To install 3CX on Google Cloud, you need to set up a Google Cloud VM and then install 3CX, a popular IP PBX software for voice communication. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get 3CX up and running on Google Cloud:

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud VM Instance

1. Log in to Google Cloud Console:
   • Go to the Google Cloud Console.
   • If you don’t have a Google Cloud account, sign up and create a new project.
2. Create a New VM Instance:
   • Navigate to Compute Engine -> VM instances.
   • Click Create Instance to create a new virtual machine.
3. Choose the Operating System:
   • Select an operating system for your VM. 3CX supports Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
   • For example, choose Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
4. Configure VM Specifications:
   • Machine type: Choose a machine type suitable for your needs (e.g., e2-medium with 2 vCPUs and 4GB of RAM).
   • Boot disk: Choose the operating system image (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04 LTS).
   • Firewall: Enable Allow HTTP traffic and Allow HTTPS traffic.
5. Create the VM:
   • Click Create to launch the VM instance.
6. Access the VM:
   • Once the VM is created, click SSH to open a terminal window and connect to the VM.

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Step 2: Install 3CX on the Google Cloud VM

Now that your VM is up and running, let’s install 3CX.

1. Update the System

Before installing 3CX, ensure that your system packages are up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install Prerequisites

Install necessary dependencies for 3CX:

sudo apt install -y wget curl lsb-release

3. Add 3CX Repository and Install 3CX

To install 3CX, follow these steps:

1. Add the 3CX repository:

   echo "deb http://packages.3cx.com/debian/ 3cx main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/3cx.list
   

2. Add the 3CX repository key:

   wget -qO - https://packages.3cx.com/keys/3cx.asc | sudo apt-key add -
   

3. Update your package list:

   sudo apt update
   

4. Install 3CX:

   sudo apt install 3cxpbx -y
   

This will install the 3CX PBX system and all required components.

4. Open the Necessary Ports for 3CX

For 3CX to work properly, you need to open specific ports for both HTTP/HTTPS and SIP/Media traffic.

You can configure the firewall by using the ufw command (Ubuntu’s firewall manager):

sudo ufw allow 5000,5001/tcp   # HTTP/HTTPS ports
sudo ufw allow 5060,5061/udp   # SIP ports
sudo ufw allow 9000:9299/udp   # Media ports

You also need to allow SSH and other necessary ports based on your requirements.

5. Start and Enable 3CX

Once the installation is complete, you can start the 3CX service:

sudo systemctl start 3cxpbx
sudo systemctl enable 3cxpbx

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Step 3: Access 3CX Management Console

After the installation, you can access the 3CX Management Console through the following URL:

http://<your-vm-ip>:5000

For example, if your VM’s public IP is 34.56.78.90, access 3CX via:

http://34.56.78.90:5000

You should be greeted with the 3CX setup wizard.

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Step 4: Configure 3CX

1. Set Up the 3CX System:
   • Once you access the 3CX Management Console, you’ll be prompted to complete the setup.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name), set up email notifications, configure extensions, and configure your VoIP provider or SIP trunks.
2. Assign a Static IP (Optional): It’s best practice to assign a static external IP address to your Google Cloud VM to ensure the IP doesn’t change over time.
3. Configure SSL (Optional): If you’re setting up the system for external access or want to secure the web interface, you can configure SSL/TLS using Let’s Encrypt or a purchased SSL certificate.

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Step 5: Configure Google Cloud Firewall and Networking

To ensure proper connectivity, you may need to configure Google Cloud’s firewall and networking settings.

1. Go to Google Cloud Console and navigate to VPC Network -> Firewall rules.
2. Create a new rule to allow traffic on the ports used by 3CX (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS, SIP, and media ports).
   • Source IP: 0.0.0.0/0 (or limit it to specific IP ranges).
   • Protocols and ports: Open the necessary ports for 3CX (usually 5000, 5001 for web access, 5060 for SIP, and 9000–9299 for media).

You can also use Static IP if you want to bind a specific external IP address to the 3CX instance.

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Step 6: Complete the 3CX Setup

1. Access the 3CX Web Interface again after completing the initial setup.
2. Log in using the credentials you created during the installation.
3. Configure your extensions, VoIP providers, users, and IVR systems.
4. Test the system by making internal and external calls.

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Conclusion

After completing the steps above, you should have 3CX installed and running on your Google Cloud VM. You can now configure your IP PBX, set up extensions, and integrate with your VoIP provider.

Let me know if you encounter any issues or need further assistance!