Hi Gurus and Newbies, hope you can help me on figuring out my setup problem.

I''ve read a couple of postings related to the above subject, depending on the situation, my Spark connection works perfectly supporting the Dialling function.

This is a bit long... so please bear with me.

*

My Server setup:*

CentOS Linux 4.3

Co-located Asterisk@Home 2.7 and Wildfire 2.6.2

Asterisk IM Plug-in ver 1.1

Hostname : asterisk1

Host IP: 10.0.0.8

Subnet: 10.x.x.x

Domain: headoffice

*My Laptop Setup

*WINDOW$ 2K

Spark 1.1.4

My Switch/AADSL modem:

Local DNS Domain Name: headoffice

Local DNS table list: asterisk1 - 10.0.0.8

NAT: 0.0.0.0 <--> 10.0.0.8 (making my test setup visible from the web when testing with friends via my public IP)

- the Asterisk-IM plugin has been configured properly, communicating with the Asterisk Manager

-  In the Asterisk IM /General settings, I had the Server box filled with "10.0.0.8" (also tried it with "asterisk1.headoffice", with the same result noted below)

- All Phone Mappings are working OK (I think)

- Wildfire defines Domain/Server name as "asterisk1.headoffice"

Situation:

(ON-NET)

1.  using Spark and 10.0.0.8 on the Server Address: the "Phone Dial" icon/option is MISSING

2. using "asterisk1.headoffice" on the "Server Address, the "Phone Dial" icon SHOWS UP

(OFF-NET)

1.  As I have no registered Domain name to date, my only option connecting to the system is via my public IP address.

2. Doing so, the Phone Dial icon is always missing

On the positive side:

when on calls (using VOIP client to dial/receive calls), the user status changes to "ON-Phone" for both IAX2 and SIP extension (and back to stand-by mode when call is released)

Checking the Server Log when I do not see the  Phone Icon,

1.  it always refer to "Host Name resolution" problem on "warn tab"

2.  on trace log, Asterisk IM sends the querry to "asterisk1.headoffice", Asterisk responds to "asterisk1".. then the Host Name resolution error..

3.  yet, whenever I ping either "asterisk1" or "asterisk1.headoffice", it always get resolved to "10.0.0.8" (using any other PC sitting on the same subnet)

Thus, back to my original question...

Where is the bug?

- Is it in the Asterisk IM plug-in?  Or Wildfire? or Spark? or Asterisk Manager maybe?

Oppsss... not really asking where is the bug... but more on Please help... i want the "Phone icon" to appear on either scenario...

again, apology for the litany

Cheers

erick