[ Notice ]  Not all accounts/packages have full access to Inbound Routes. If you can not locate 'Inbound Routes' under the 'Connectivity' drop-down in FreePBX you will need to contact support to request access or get clairification on your service(s).

[ Reminder ]  FreePBX has an incredible amount of flexibility. In our examples if we don't mention a field or a tab in a configuration example, then we're recommending you leave it default/blank unless it's a feature you understand and need.

Inbound Routes are the very first steps FreePBX takes when receiving an inbound call. The system looks at the number dialed by the caller and then determines on how to direct the call in the system.

A 'DID' (meaning 'Direct Inward Dial') is the term for the phone number dialed by your caller, the phone number for which you own and is being hosted in your PBX.

In MOST cases, you'll want to use an 'ANY' Route that way all inbound calls travel the same pathway. In more rare situations that you are using your PBX to service a couple of branded companies you manage, or if you want a special back-door number to go directly to an extension, then it's very important to set up your Inbound routes with detail. Adding A Generic Route (Catch Everything) :

Description: General Inbound (Cosmetic, call this anything you want) DID Number: <Leave as 'Any'>
CallerID Number: <Leave as 'Any'>
Music on Hold: Default
Set Destination: <Choose One - Typically a 'Time Condition'>

Click [Submit] to save your selections, and the red 'Apply Config' to get the PBX Server to make them live.

Tips:

1. Typically you set the route to a Time Condition which you had already set up - that way you give a different response (menu system or voicemail) for after-hours callers.

2. If you want to set destinations based on number dialed because you do own different numbers and want them to go to different places in the PBX, then create multiple inbound routes, and for DID use the full 10-digit number (IE 2105551212)

3. Normally you will never set a CallerID Number unless you need a specific caller (such as an answering service or other non-published number) calling you and needing special re-directed access such as call priority.