Update README documentation (bug #5463, with mods)

git-svn-id: https://origsvn.digium.com/svn/asterisk/trunk@6822 65c4cc65-6c06-0410-ace0-fbb531ad65f3

README

 The Asterisk Open Source PBX
 by Mark Spencer <markster@digium.com>
+and the Asterisk.org developer community
+
 Copyright (C) 2001-2005 Digium, Inc.
+and other copyright holders.
 ================================================================
+
 * SECURITY
   It is imperative that you read and fully understand the contents of
-  the SECURITY file before you attempt to configure an Asterisk server.
+the SECURITY file before you attempt to configure and run an Asterisk
+server.
 
-* WHAT IS ASTERISK
+* WHAT IS ASTERISK ?
   Asterisk is an Open Source PBX and telephony toolkit.  It is, in a
 sense, middleware between Internet and telephony channels on the bottom,
 and Internet and telephony applications at the top.  For more information
@@ -19,7 +24,12 @@ community on this Wiki:
 
            http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk
 
-* OPERATING SYSTEMS
+There is a book on Asterisk published by O'Reilly under the
+Creative Commons License. It is available in book stores as well
+as in a downloadable version on the http://www.asteriskdocs.org
+web site.
+
+* SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS
 
 == Linux ==
   The Asterisk Open Source PBX is developed and tested primarily on the
@@ -41,18 +51,34 @@ ANY special hardware, not even a soundcard) to install and run Asterisk.
 	* All Wildcard (tm) products from Digium (www.digium.com)
 	* QuickNet Internet PhoneJack and LineJack (http://www.quicknet.net)
 	* any full duplex sound card supported by ALSA or OSS
-	* ISDN4Linux compatible ISDN card
         * VoiceTronix OpenLine products
 
-Hint: CAPI compatible ISDN cards can be run using the add-on channel chan_capi.
+The are several drivers for ISDN BRI cards available from third party sources.
+Check the voip-info.org wiki for more information on chan_capi, chan_misdn and 
+zaphfc.
+
+* UPGRADING FROM VERSION 1.0
 
-  Second, ensure that your system contains a compatible compiler and development
+  If you are updating from a previous version of Asterisk, make sure you
+read the UPGRADE.txt file in the source directory. There are some files
+and configuration options that you will have to change, even though we
+made every effort possible to maintain backwards compatibility.
+
+  In order to discover new features to use, please check the configuration
+examples in the /configs directory of the source code distribution. 
+To discover the major new features of Asterisk 1.2, please visit 
+http://www.astricon.net/asterisk1-2/
+
+* NEW INSTALLATIONS
+
+  Ensure that your system contains a compatible compiler and development
 libraries.  Asterisk requires either the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) version
 3.0 or higher, or a compiler that supports the C99 specification and some of
 the gcc language extensions.  In addition, your system needs to have the C
-library headers available, and the headers and libraries for OpenSSL and zlib.
+library headers available, and the headers and libraries for OpenSSL,
+ncurses and zlib.
 On many distributions, these files are installed by packages with names like
-'libc-devel', 'openssl-devel' and 'zlib-devel' or similar.
+'glibc-devel', 'ncurses-devel', 'openssl-devel' and 'zlib-devel' or similar.
 
   So let's proceed:
 
@@ -73,10 +99,10 @@ the sample PBX, with demonstration extensions, etc.  If so, run:
 
 3) "make samples"
 
-  Doing so will overwrite any existing config files you have. If you are lacking a
-soundcard you won't be able to use the DIAL command on the console, though.
+  Doing so will overwrite any existing config files you have.
 
-  Finally, you can launch Asterisk with:
+  Finally, you can launch Asterisk in the foreground mode (not a daemon)
+ith:
 
 # asterisk -vvvc
 
@@ -95,6 +121,10 @@ Remember that if you don't have a full duplex sound card (and Asterisk
 will tell you somewhere in its verbose messages if you do/don't) then it
 won't work right (not yet).
 
+  "man asterisk" at the Unix/Linux command prompt will give you detailed
+information on how to start and stop Asterisk, as well as all the command
+line options for starting Asterisk.
+
   Feel free to look over the configuration files in /etc/asterisk, where
 you'll find a lot of information about what you can do with Asterisk.
 
@@ -196,12 +226,14 @@ that starts Asterisk.
 
 * MORE INFORMATION
 
-  See the doc directory for more documentation.
+  See the doc directory for more documentation on various features. Again,
+please read all the configuration samples that include documentation on
+the configuration options.
 
   Finally, you may wish to visit the web site and join the mailing list if
 you're interested in getting more information.
 
-   http://www.asterisk.org/index.php?menu=support
+   http://www.asterisk.org/support
 
   Welcome to the growing worldwide community of Asterisk users!