AllStar View

AllStar View is a standalone, read-only web monitor for AllStarLink 3 / app_rpt systems, tested on Debian 13.

It provides a clear view of current connections, live activity, and downstream node paths without connecting or disconnecting nodes, changing link modes, restarting Asterisk, or altering node operation.

AllStar View is designed for desktop and cellphone use, with light and dark themes.

AllStar View dark mode with direct connections, grouped downstream paths, live activity, and node details.

AllStar View light mode with the Light/Dark switch and the same responsive monitoring layout.

AllStar View can display:

• current AllStarLink connections
• current EchoLink connections
• Web/Phone clients
• live Connect, Key, Unkey, and Disconnect activity
• grouped downstream trees for each directly connected node
• color-coded downstream branches that make multi-level paths easier to follow
• movable, resizable expanded Current Connections, Downstream Nodes, and Live Activity windows on desktop
• private nodes beneath the connection path they belong to
• full clickable connection paths
• node and callsign details
• QRZ links for recognized amateur callsigns
• AllStar Stats links for valid AllStarLink nodes
• optional spoken connection alerts

When several direct nodes are connected, each downstream tree remains grouped beneath its own direct connection so it is clear which nodes belong to which path.

The Downstream Nodes panel includes filters for:

• All
• Nodes
• Pvt Nodes
• Web/Clients
• EchoLink

Each filter shows the matching live count.

Clicking a direct connection brings that connection's downstream group into view. Clicking a downstream row opens its available details.

On desktop, Current Connections, Downstream Nodes, and Live Activity each include Expand. Their floating windows can be moved, resized, scrolled, opened together, and layered over one another while staying synchronized with the main panels. On cellphone, Current Connections stays compact and scrolls internally when the list grows.

When another downstream node reports the configured local node, AllStar View may show that local node in the downstream path and attach its other known local direct connections beneath it. It does not remotely rescan the local node, which prevents loops while preserving the visible connection flow.

When directly connected nodes both run AllStar View and can reach each other, each node can use the other node's read-only local status for faster Web/Phone, EchoLink, and direct-node updates.

If the peer status is not available, AllStar View continues with normal AllStar Stats scanning.

AllStar View uses live connection information and EchoLink lookups to show the callsign and assigned EchoLink node number.

When a directly connected peer also runs AllStar View, its live local status is used instead of temporary relay data when available.

AllStar View does not:

• connect or disconnect nodes
• restart Asterisk
• change link modes
• modify AllStarLink or EchoLink configuration
• alter node operation

It uses a narrowly restricted helper to read only the Asterisk status information needed for monitoring.

You should already have:

• a working AllStarLink 3 / app_rpt node
• Apache
• PHP
• Asterisk installed at /usr/sbin/asterisk
• internet access for AllStar Stats and EchoLink identity lookups

AllStar View does not configure or repair an AllStarLink installation.

cd /var/www/html
sudo git clone https://github.com/TerryClaiborne/allstar_view.git allstar_view
cd allstar_view
sudo ./setup_allstar_view.sh

The installer creates config.ini from config.ini.example only when config.ini does not already exist.

When AllTune2 is already installed, first-time setup can copy only MYNODE, DVSWITCH_NODE, and HIDE_NODES from the existing AllTune2 configuration as a one-time convenience. AllStar View does not depend on AllTune2 after installation.

Review the configuration before using the application:

sudo nano /var/www/html/allstar_view/config.ini

Then open:

http://YOUR-NODE-IP-ADDRESS/allstar_view/public/

Example:

http://192.168.1.120/allstar_view/public/

Replace 192.168.1.120 with the IP address or hostname of your node.

The live configuration file is:

/var/www/html/allstar_view/config.ini

Starter layout:

MYNODE="YOUR NODE"
DVSWITCH_NODE=""
HIDE_NODES=""
ALLSTAR_VIEW_AUTH_ENABLED=0
ALLSTAR_VIEW_ADMIN_USER="admin"
ALLSTAR_VIEW_ADMIN_PASSWORD_HASH=""

MYNODE is the local AllStarLink node number being monitored.

Example:

MYNODE="67040"

DVSWITCH_NODE is the local private DVSwitch node, when one is used. Setting it keeps that local private node from appearing as a normal direct connection or as part of the downstream topology.

Example:

DVSWITCH_NODE="1957"

Leave it empty when there is no private DVSwitch node:

DVSWITCH_NODE=""

HIDE_NODES is an optional comma- or space-separated list of additional node numbers to suppress from the downstream display.

Examples:

HIDE_NODES=""
HIDE_NODES="1234,5678"

Authentication is optional and disabled by default.

The setup script manages these values:

ALLSTAR_VIEW_AUTH_ENABLED=0
ALLSTAR_VIEW_ADMIN_USER="admin"
ALLSTAR_VIEW_ADMIN_PASSWORD_HASH=""

Do not place a plain-text password in config.ini, and do not manually edit the saved password hash.

When authentication is disabled, the header shows Normal Mode. When enabled and signed out, it shows View Only and Login. After login, it shows Signed In and Logout.

Set or replace the administrator password and enable login:

sudo /var/www/html/allstar_view/setup_allstar_view.sh --set-admin-password

The password is requested twice. If the two entries do not match, the command exits without changing config.ini.

Disable login while preserving the saved password hash:

sudo /var/www/html/allstar_view/setup_allstar_view.sh --disable-auth

Re-enable login later with the preserved password hash:

sudo /var/www/html/allstar_view/setup_allstar_view.sh --enable-auth

The login username is:

admin

Run normal setup before using the authentication commands on a new installation.

cd /var/www/html/allstar_view
sudo git pull origin main
sudo ./setup_allstar_view.sh

Normal setup and updates preserve:

• config.ini
• the saved authentication password hash
• activity history
• current snapshots
• downstream scan state
• AllStar Stats cache
• EchoLink cache

The setup script may be run again safely to refresh permissions, Apache protection, and the restricted read-only helper.

AllStar View keeps bounded local runtime data for:

• current snapshots
• downstream scan progress
• activity history
• AllStar Stats lookups
• EchoLink identity lookups

Writable data stays under:

/var/www/html/allstar_view/run/
/var/www/html/allstar_view/logs/
/var/www/html/allstar_view/cache/

History and caches are automatically limited so they do not grow without bounds.

Use the Light / Dark switch in the header to change themes.

The selected theme is stored in the browser. Theme selection does not change node configuration or server files.

The Audio Alerts button enables or disables browser speech announcements for connection changes.

Audio alerts are optional and depend on browser speech support. Some browsers require user interaction with the page before spoken announcements are allowed.

The installer provides:

• Apache protection for private source, runtime, log, and cache directories
• a narrowly restricted read-only Asterisk helper
• source files that are not writable by the web server
• writable access limited to AllStar View's own bounded runtime directories
• optional password-protected web login
• preservation of existing configuration during updates

AllStar View does not require broad Asterisk control permissions.

For access from outside the local network, prefer Tailscale, a VPN, or trusted HTTPS.

A large downstream tree builds in stages. The last completed tree stays visible while a new scan runs, and one failed lookup does not stop the rest of the queue.

Use the Audio Alerts control and interact with the page once. Browser autoplay rules can prevent speech until the page receives user input.

Authentication is disabled by default. Enable it with:

sudo /var/www/html/allstar_view/setup_allstar_view.sh --set-admin-password

When the password was previously set and later disabled, use:

sudo /var/www/html/allstar_view/setup_allstar_view.sh --enable-auth

Confirm that:

• MYNODE contains the correct local node number
• Asterisk is running
• the read-only helper is executable
• Apache and PHP can run the application
• the installer completed without errors

AllStar View is intentionally focused:

Monitor the node clearly, preserve runtime data, and avoid changing node operation.

Questions or reports:

[email protected]