NodeRemote Setup for AllStarLink 3 (ASL3)

Quick Start Guide for Enabling NodeRemote on Your ASL3 Raspberry Pi Node

This guide will help you set up the NodeRemote mobile app to control your AllStarLink 3 node from your smartphone or tablet.

What is NodeRemote?

NodeRemote is a mobile application (iOS and Android) that allows you to:

• Connect and disconnect from other nodes remotely
• Monitor active connections in real-time
• View node information and status
• Control your node from anywhere with internet access

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• ✓ Raspberry Pi running AllStarLink 3 (ASL3)
• ✓ SSH access to your Raspberry Pi
• ✓ Your node is configured and working
• ✓ Internet connection on your Raspberry Pi
• ✓ NodeRemote app installed on your mobile device

Get the NodeRemote App

• iOS: Search "Node Remote" in Apple App Store
• Android: Search "Node Remote" in Google Play Store

Installation Steps

Step 1: Download the Configuration Script

SSH into your Raspberry Pi and download the script:

cd ~
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/G1LRO/node-remote-setup/refs/heads/main/enable-noderemote.sh
chmod +x enable-noderemote.sh

Step 2: Run the Configuration Script

Run the script with sudo (default credentials: username=rln, password=radioless):

sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh

Or with custom credentials:

# Custom password only (username defaults to 'rln'):
sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh mypassword

# Custom password AND username:
sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh mypassword myusername

Step 3: Wait for Completion

The script will:

• ✓ Backup your existing configuration files
• ✓ Configure Asterisk manager interface
• ✓ Update Allmon3 credentials (if installed)
• ✓ Open firewall port 5038
• ✓ Enable astdb.txt automatic updates
• ✓ Restart Asterisk service

You'll see output like this:

================================================
NodeRemote Configuration Complete!
================================================

Configuration Summary:
  Manager Port:     5038
  Manager Username: rln
  Manager Password: radioless
  Bind Address:     0.0.0.0 (all interfaces)
  Firewall:         Port 5038 open
  astdb.txt:        Enabled and accessible
  Allmon3:          Credentials synchronized

Step 4: Find Your Raspberry Pi IP Address

Note the IP address shown in the output, or find it with:

hostname -I

Example output: 192.168.1.100

Configure NodeRemote App

Step 1: Open NodeRemote App

Launch the NodeRemote app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Add Your Node

1. Tap the + (Add Node) button

2. Enter the following information:

   Field	Value
   Node Name	Your choice (e.g., "Home Node" or your callsign)
   Host/IP Address	Your Raspberry Pi IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
   Port	5038
   Username	rln (or your custom username)
   Password	radioless (or your custom password)

3. Tap Save or Connect

Step 3: Test Connection

• The app should connect and show your node status
• You should see your node number and any active connections
• The astdb.txt database will load (may take a few moments on first connection)

Verification

Check if Everything is Working

Run the included test script:

sudo bash test-noderemote.sh

You should see all tests pass:

================================================
NodeRemote Configuration Verification
================================================

1. Checking manager.conf configuration... PASS
2. Checking if port 5038 is listening... PASS
3. Checking firewall configuration... PASS
4. Checking astdb.txt symlink... PASS
5. Checking astdb.txt source file... PASS
6. Checking astdb update service... PASS
7. Checking Asterisk service... PASS
8. Testing manager interface connection... PASS
9. Checking allmon3.ini configuration... PASS

================================================
Test Results: 9 passed, 0 failed
================================================

Manual Verification

You can also manually verify the configuration:

# Check manager interface is listening:
sudo netstat -tulpn | grep 5038

# Check Asterisk status:
sudo systemctl status asterisk

# View manager configuration:
sudo cat /etc/asterisk/manager.conf

# Test manager interface locally:
telnet localhost 5038

Troubleshooting

App Shows "Cannot Connect to Node"

Check 1: Verify IP Address

hostname -I

Make sure you're using the correct IP in the app.

Check 2: Verify Port is Listening

sudo netstat -tulpn | grep 5038

Should show asterisk listening on port 5038.

Check 3: Verify Firewall

sudo firewall-cmd --list-ports

Should show 5038/tcp in the list.

Check 4: Test Local Connection

telnet localhost 5038

Should show "Asterisk Call Manager" message.

Check 5: Verify Credentials

sudo grep -A 3 "^\[rln\]" /etc/asterisk/manager.conf

Verify the username and password match what you entered in the app.

App Shows "ASTDB.TXT Not Found"

This usually resolves automatically after a few minutes. If it persists:

# Check if service is running:
sudo systemctl status asl3-update-astdb.timer

# Manually trigger download:
sudo systemctl start asl3-update-astdb.service

# Check if file exists:
ls -la /var/www/html/allmon2/astdb.txt

Force close and reopen the NodeRemote app after running these commands.

Connection Works But Can't Control Node

Check Asterisk is Running:

sudo systemctl status asterisk

Check Asterisk Logs:

sudo asterisk -rx "core show version"
journalctl -u asterisk -f

Verify Manager Permissions:

sudo cat /etc/asterisk/manager.conf

Ensure the user has both read and write permissions.

Allmon3 Stopped Working After Setup

The script updates Allmon3 credentials to match NodeRemote. If Allmon3 isn't working:

# Check allmon3.ini:
sudo cat /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini

# Restart allmon3:
sudo systemctl restart allmon3

Need to Change Password

Run the script again with your new password:

sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh newpassword rln

This will update both Asterisk manager and Allmon3 configurations.

Remote Access (Internet Access)

To access your node from outside your home network:

Option 1: Port Forwarding (Direct Access)

1. Log into your router's admin interface

2. Set up port forwarding:

   • External Port: 5038 (or choose another for security)
   • Internal Port: 5038
   • Internal IP: Your Raspberry Pi's IP address
   • Protocol: TCP

3. Find your public IP address:

   • Visit https://whatismyip.com

4. In NodeRemote app, use:

   • Host: Your public IP address
   • Port: 5038 (or your chosen external port)
   • Username: rln
   • Password: radioless

⚠️ SECURITY WARNING: This exposes your node to the internet. Use a strong password!

Option 2: VPN (Recommended for Security)

Set up a VPN server on your home network (like WireGuard or OpenVPN) and connect to your VPN before using NodeRemote. This is much more secure than direct port forwarding.

Security Best Practices

Change Default Password

The default password radioless is fine for home use, but if you're exposing your node to the internet:

# Use a strong password with mixed case, numbers, and symbols:
sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh "MyStr0ng!P@ssw0rd" rln

Restrict Access by IP (Advanced)

If you want to limit which IP addresses can connect:

1. Edit /etc/asterisk/manager.conf
2. Add under the [rln] section:

   deny = 0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0
   permit = 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0
   

3. Restart Asterisk: sudo systemctl restart asterisk

Use VPN for Remote Access

Instead of exposing port 5038 to the internet, set up a VPN and connect to your home network first. This is much more secure.

What the Script Configures

The enable-noderemote.sh script automatically configures:

1. Asterisk Manager Interface

• File: /etc/asterisk/manager.conf
• Port: 5038
• Bind Address: 0.0.0.0 (all interfaces)
• User and password as specified

2. Allmon3 Configuration (if installed)

• File: /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini
• Updates credentials to match manager.conf
• Ensures Allmon3 continues working

3. Firewall

• Opens port 5038/tcp
• Uses firewall-cmd (ASL3 standard)

4. astdb.txt Service

• Enables automatic node database downloads
• Creates symlink at /var/www/html/allmon2/astdb.txt
• Required for NodeRemote's node search feature

5. Backups

All modified files are backed up with timestamps:

• /etc/asterisk/manager.conf.backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS
• /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini.backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS

Uninstalling / Reverting

To revert to your previous configuration:

# Find your backup files:
ls -la /etc/asterisk/manager.conf.backup-*
ls -la /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini.backup-*

# Restore from backup (replace date/time with your backup):
sudo cp /etc/asterisk/manager.conf.backup-20240207-160109 /etc/asterisk/manager.conf
sudo cp /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini.backup-20240207-160109 /etc/allmon3/allmon3.ini

# Restart Asterisk:
sudo systemctl restart asterisk

To close the firewall port:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --remove-port=5038/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Advanced Usage

Custom Manager Username

If you want to use a different username (e.g., "admin"):

sudo bash enable-noderemote.sh radioless admin

Multiple Users

You can add multiple manager users by manually editing /etc/asterisk/manager.conf:

[rln]
secret = radioless
read = all
write = all

[admin]
secret = differentpassword
read = all
write = all

Then restart Asterisk:

sudo systemctl restart asterisk

Check Connected Clients

To see who's connected to your manager interface:

sudo asterisk -rx "manager show connected"

Getting Help

Useful Commands

# Check Asterisk status:
sudo systemctl status asterisk

# View Asterisk logs:
journalctl -u asterisk -f

# Test manager interface:
telnet localhost 5038

# View current manager users:
sudo asterisk -rx "manager show users"

# Check connected manager sessions:
sudo asterisk -rx "manager show connected"

# Check firewall status:
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all

Log Files

Check these log files if you're having issues:

• Asterisk: journalctl -u asterisk
• Allmon3: journalctl -u allmon3
• System: journalctl -xe

Support Resources

• AllStarLink Community: https://community.allstarlink.org/
• NodeRemote Documentation: https://dstarcomms.com/node-remote/
• ASL3 Documentation: https://docs.allstarlink.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this affect my existing Allmon3 installation?

A: The script updates Allmon3 to use the same credentials as NodeRemote. Your Allmon3 will continue working with the new credentials.

Q: Can I use NodeRemote and Allmon3 at the same time?

A: Yes! Both can connect simultaneously using the same credentials.

Q: Do I need to run this script again after updating ASL3?

A: Generally no, but if an ASL3 update resets your manager.conf, you may need to run it again.

Q: Can I access my node from the internet?

A: Yes, but you'll need to set up port forwarding on your router and use a strong password. VPN access is recommended for better security.

Q: Will this work on other platforms besides Raspberry Pi?

A: Yes, this script works on any Linux system running ASL3, including x86/x64 computers.

Q: Does this require a static IP address?

A: Not required for local network access. For internet access, you'll need either a static IP or dynamic DNS service.

Q: What if I forget my password?

A: Simply run the script again with a new password. Or check the current password with:

sudo grep "^secret" /etc/asterisk/manager.conf

License

This script is licensed under:

• MIT License
• Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-4.0)

Free to use and modify for non-commercial purposes. Original copyright notices must be retained.

Credits

Script Author: GU1LRO NodeRemote App: dstarcomms.com AllStarLink: AllStarLink.org

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Last Updated: February 2026 Script Version: 1.0 Compatible with: AllStarLink 3 (ASL3) on Raspberry Pi and compatible platforms