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= Scalability =
{{DISPLAYTITLE:FAQ & Common Issues}}
== How does voipmonitor scale? ==
[[Category:GUI manual]]


Read this: [[Scaling]]
'''Quick answers to frequently asked questions. For detailed troubleshooting, see [[Sniffer_troubleshooting|Sniffer Troubleshooting]] and [[GUI_troubleshooting|GUI Troubleshooting]].'''


== Quick Navigation ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin-bottom:20px;"
|-
! style="width:25%; background:#e6f2ff;" | General
! style="width:25%; background:#e6ffe6;" | Configuration
! style="width:25%; background:#fff2e6;" | Licensing
! style="width:25%; background:#ffe6e6;" | Audio & Files
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:8px;" |
* [[#General_&_Architecture|Architecture]]
* [[#Platform_Support|Platform Support]]
* [[#CDR_View|CDR View]]
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:8px;" |
* [[#Protocols_&_Ports|Protocols & Ports]]
* [[#RTP_&_Quality_Metrics|RTP & Quality]]
* [[Capture_rules|Capture Rules]]
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:8px;" |
* [[#Licensing|Channels & Limits]]
* [[#Licensing|HWID Issues]]
* [[#Licensing|License Transfer]]
| style="vertical-align:top; padding:8px;" |
* [[#Audio_&_PCAP_Files|Recording Limits]]
* [[#Audio_&_PCAP_Files|Codec Support]]
* [[#Compliance|PCI/CALEA]]
|}


== How to clean old data and database? ==
== General & Architecture ==


Read this: [[Data Cleaning]]
;How does VoIPmonitor scale for high traffic?
:For hardware recommendations and optimization of CPU, Disk I/O, and Database bottlenecks, see [[Scaling|Scaling and Performance Tuning]].


= CDR =
;How do I manage disk space and database retention?
== What is the red small icon in CDR? ==
:See [[Data_Cleaning|Data Cleaning and Retention]] for PCAP cleanup (cleanspool) and CDR retention settings.
[[File:Cdrcolumnsredflag.png]]
The red icon in those columns signalize which side sends BYE first.


== How to interpret two charts in the cdr detail? ==
;Can I run multiple GUI instances for redundancy?
:Yes. Requirements:
:* All GUIs connect to the same database
:* PCAP storage accessible via NFS/SSHFS
:* Same <code>key.php</code> license file on each GUI


See this: [http://www.voipmonitor.org/downloads/graph_cheat_sheet.pdf Graph cheat sheet]
:{{Warning|1='''CRITICAL:''' Enable the cron job on '''only ONE''' GUI instance. Multiple active cron jobs cause duplicate alerts and reports.}}
:<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"># Disable on secondary GUIs:
# * * * * * root php /var/www/html/php/run.php cron</syntaxhighlight>


== Regexps examples usable in CDR view ==
;Can one GUI display data from multiple sensors?
!R(^[+]?[0-9]+$) - to get all weird CDRs (where callerNum have letters or special chars in its number)
:Yes. Use the '''Client-Server architecture''' (v20+):
:* '''Local Processing''' (<code>packetbuffer_sender=no</code>): Sensors analyze locally, send CDRs only
:* '''Packet Mirroring''' (<code>packetbuffer_sender=yes</code>): Sensors forward raw packets to central server
:See [[Sniffer_distributed_architecture|Distributed Architecture]] for full configuration.


= Supported architectures =
== Platform Support ==


== What architectures are tested? ==
;What architectures are supported?
:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Component !! Supported !! Notes
|-
| Sensor || x86 (32/64-bit), ARMv7/v8 || Compile from source for ARM64
|-
| GUI || x86 only || '''Not supported''' on ARM64/aarch64
|}


x86 32 and 64, ARMv5 - (if you have error with missing "__sync_fetch_and_sub_8" you have to upgrade GCC compiler to version 4.8)
;Can I run VoIPmonitor on AWS?
:Yes. For license detection: <code>chmod 644 /dev/root</code>
:* '''Stop/Start instance:''' HWID usually preserved
:* '''Terminate/Launch new:''' HWID changes, requires new license key


= Configuration =
;Is Docker supported?
== Why I do not see sip packets other then port 5060? ==
:Yes, but ensure <code>/proc/self/cgroup</code> content doesn't change between restarts (affects HWID stability).
Voipmonitor sniffer by default sniffs packets only on port 5060 from or to. If you need to sniff more SIP ports you need to specify it in configuration. Please see this: [[Sniffer_configuration#sipport]]


== How to disable timezone check ==
;Are cloud databases (RDS, Azure) supported?
:Yes. Requires MySQL-compatible database with <code>SUPER</code> privilege. If unavailable, set:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">log_bin_trust_function_creators = ON</syntaxhighlight>


Go to settings -> System configuration -> Advanced section -> Hide timezone information -> Enable and set to TRUE
;Why is mysql_native_password deprecated?
:PHP 7.4.4+ supports <code>caching_sha2_password</code> natively. Upgrade PHP and reinstall IonCube Loader. See [[GUI_installation|GUI Installation]].


= Licensing =
== CDR View ==
== How to know how many license channels do we need? ==


You can have unlimited number of phones / endpoints but you need to buy channels according to your maximum number of calls at the same time during peak.
;What does the red icon mean?
:Indicates which party sent the <code>BYE</code> message (ended the call).


Go to GUI -> Tools -> concurrent calls which will show peaks past 14 days. All multiple legs are already aggregated into single channel so you do not need to buy extra channels in case you have two or more CDR per one real call. The intention is to scale pricing based on real concurrent calls not accounting multiple legs of the same calls.
;How do I filter with regular expressions?
:Prefix with <code>R()</code>. Example: <code>R(^500[0-9]{4}$)</code>


== How does having multiple sensors affect the licensing? If I add a 2-3 remote sensors to the system, would they use the same license pool? ==
;How do I exclude values from filters?
:Use <code>!</code> prefix:
:* <code>!123456</code> – exclude specific number
:* <code>!00420%</code> – exclude prefix
:* <code>222%, !223%</code> – include 222*, exclude 223*


Central GUI calculates connected channels for the whole database but groups all calls legs as a single call so multiple legs are not counted twice etc.
;How do I search multi-word strings in custom headers?
:Use underscore for spaces: <code>%normal_call_clearing%</code>


== accident / unwanted spikes ==
;Why are caller/called numbers swapped?
:VoIPmonitor extracts from SIP headers (<code>From</code>/<code>To</code>). Check <code>destination_number_mode</code> setting. See [[Call_Detail_Record_-_CDR|CDR Documentation]].


If your license is blocked due to high spike (accident / hack whatever) you need to delete those CDR from database via the GUI (filter those calls and in toolbar use delete buttons) and then try to unblock the license or run "php /var/www/html/php/run.php saveCallStatistics". If you do not want to delete them and you will have higher channels than your license for three consecutive days your license will be blocked after 14 days - you need to upgrade to higher channels license which you can do on voipmonitor.org portal.
;Why is there a delay before CDRs appear?
:Database can't keep up. See [[Database_troubleshooting#SQL_Queue_and_CDR_Delays|SQL Queue Troubleshooting]].


= DTMF =
== Protocols & Ports ==


You can enable DTMF RFC2833 or DTMF SIP INFO in voipmonitor.conf by enabling:
;Which protocols are supported?
:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Supported !! Not Supported
|-
| SIP, Skinny/SCCP, MGCP, SS7/ISUP, Diameter, RTCP || '''H.323''', '''MEGACO/H.248'''
|}


dtmf2db = yes
;Why don't I see SIP on ports other than 5060?
:Configure additional ports in <code>voipmonitor.conf</code>:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">sipport = 5060,5080,8088,8089</syntaxhighlight>
:See [[Sniffer_configuration#sipport|sipport configuration]].


You can also enable DTMF inband detection (only for G.711) by enabling (it will take some CPU)
;How do I enable IPv6?
:Set <code>ipv6=yes</code> in config. Existing databases require migration. See [[How_to_enable_ipv6_processing|IPv6 Guide]].


inbanddtmf = yes
;How do I capture REGISTER messages?
:Set <code>sip-register=yes</code>. See [[Register|REGISTER Monitoring]].


;How do I capture DTMF?
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">dtmf2db = yes          # RFC2833 and SIP INFO
inbanddtmf = yes        # G.711 only, CPU intensive</syntaxhighlight>


= Audio files =
== RTP & Quality Metrics ==
== Bulk download of pcaps or audio (wav/ogg)==
Read this: [[download of pcap files / audio files using GUI's api]]


== Batch download of an audio from CDRs for more then 1000 CDRs==
;Why are quality metrics (MOS, jitter) missing for one call leg?
Read this: [[Batch download of audio for 1000+ CDRs]]
:Usually NAT mismatch – SDP announces different IP than actual RTP source.


== Get the audio file from SIP&RTP pcap extracted from spooldir==
:'''Solution:''' Configure <code>natalias</code> mapping:
Read this: [[create audio from packet dumps located in a spooldir]]
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini"># Map public IP to private IP
natalias = 1.2.3.4 10.0.0.100</syntaxhighlight>


= GeoIP location services =
:See [[Sniffer_configuration#NAT|NAT Configuration]] for details.
Read this: [[order of GeoIP processing]]


;Why is RTP not correctly associated after moving SIP/RTP to different NICs?
:Enable memory blocks for multi-interface scenarios:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">auto_enable_use_blocks = yes</syntaxhighlight>


= Self signed certificate =
;Why do recordings mix audio from different calls?
Read this: [[Enable SSL/TLS + self signed certificate for http server]]
:Enable SDP verification on both sides:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp = yes</syntaxhighlight>


= Lost admin's GUI pasword =
== Licensing ==
Read this: [[User_Management]]


= Corrupted GUI installation, how to reinstall the GUI=
;How are license channels calculated?
Read this: [[Re-install_the_GUI]]
:Based on '''maximum concurrent calls''' (averaged hourly, checked daily). View in '''Tools → System Status → Concurrent calls'''.
:* Calls are deduplicated if last 6 digits of caller/called match within ±10 seconds
:* 487 Request Terminated responses are NOT counted


= Bad sniffer version, how to reinstall the sniffer to latest version =
;What happens if I exceed my limit?
Read this: [[Latest_sniffer]]
:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Duration !! Effect
|-
| 1-2 days || Warning only, self-clearing
|-
| 3+ consecutive days || GUI blocked
|}


= What does Audit log cover =
;How do I unblock a locked GUI?
It covers these actions of users in the GUI:
:In '''Settings > License''', click '''get/update license key''' – this grants a temporary increase automatically.
*download wav
*download pcap
*play wav
*show fax
*batch download
*filter CDR in form
*login
*logout


= Precision for CDRs datetime =
;I get "Invalid or corrupted hwid" error. What do I do?
by default voipmonitor stores CDRs in seconds precision.
:'''Common causes:'''
If you need to have in CDR view calldate in milliseconds precission folow next how to [[how to enable milliseconds precision]]
:# '''Incomplete key:''' Copy the '''entire''' multi-line license key, not just the first line
:# '''Wrong field:''' Use "License token" for short tokens, "License key" for full multi-line keys
:# '''AWS:''' Run <code>chmod 644 /dev/root</code>
:# '''Docker:''' Ensure container ID doesn't change on restart
:# '''Trial on different machine:''' Contact support for a pre-generated key


= PCI compliance =
;I get "license file key.php is for another hwid" after hardware change?
Voipmonitor is PCI compliance ready.
:In '''Settings > License''', click '''get/update license key''' then '''recheck''' to fetch new key for current HWID.


To control what to store to disk / database check [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Capture_rules capture rules]]
;I get "Bad Key Content" error?
:You're using the wrong field. Short tokens go in "License token" field, then click "get/update license key".


== Turn off audio recording and DTMF via RFC2833 globally ==
;How do I transfer a license to a new server?
To prevent recording audio and DTMFviaRTP see [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Sniffer_configuration#savertp savertp=header]]
:# Get token from old GUI ('''Settings > License''') or customer portal
:# On new GUI: paste token, click '''get/update license key'''
:# '''IMPORTANT:''' Disable cron on old server to prevent conflicts


To prevent recording RTP at all [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Sniffer_configuration#savertp savertp=no]]
;Can I use one license on multiple servers (test/dev)?
:Yes. Contact support to reconfigure your token for multiple HWIDs.


To prevent recording just DTMF packets (SIP info/rfc2833) into DB and into spooldir (pcaps)
;What are the available license tiers?
dtmf2db = no
:10, 35, 50, 100, 150, 200, 350, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000
dtmf2pcap = no


== Turn off audio recording selectively ==
== Audio & PCAP Files ==
With savertp=yes in /etc/voipmonitor.conf you can disable audio recording only for some IPs / tel.numbers / SIP domains or any SIP header values [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Capture_rules SAVE RTP=OFF|HEADER]]


== Turn on audio recording selectively  ==
;Why does call recording stop after exactly 4 hours?
With savertp=no|header in /etc/voipmonitor.conf you can enable audio recording  only for some IPs / tel.numbers / SIP domains or any SIP header values  [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Capture_rules SAVERTP=ON]] using capture rules.
:Default <code>absolute_timeout = 14400</code> (4 hours). Increase or disable:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">absolute_timeout = 43200  # 12 hours
# absolute_timeout = 0    # Unlimited (watch memory usage)</syntaxhighlight>


== Turn off DTMF storing to db selectively==
;Why are WAV files missing for non-G.711 codecs (Opus, G.729)?
With dtmf2db=yes in /etc/voipmonitor.conf you will force sniffer to store DTMF it detects (RF2833/SIP INFO) into db. If you want to not store the DTMF detected in call into CDR for some IPs / tel.numbers / SIP domains or any SIP header values, create capture rule and set there record DTMF=OFF or record DTMF=only pcap - in case you want DTMF packets to be stored into pcap but not to db.
:Requires <code>vmcodecs</code> binary from GUI package. Install GUI, then restart sensor.


==Turn off DTMF storing to pcap selectively==
;Why is audio playback garbled?
With savertp=yes and savesip=yes in /etc/voipmonitor.conf you will force sniffer to store DTMF(RF2833/SIP INFO) it detects into pcap. If you want to not store DTMF detected into pcap for some IPs / tel.numbers / SIP domains but you still need to collect SIP and RTP for these calls, create capture rule and set there record DTMF=OFF or record DTMF=only db.
:DTLS-SRTP encryption. Configure SSL Key Logger for decryption. See [[Tls|TLS/SRTP Decryption]].


==Turn off DTMF storing to pcap and DB selectively==
;Why can't I download PCAP files?
If you want to not store the DTMF detected in call's pcap for some IPs / tel.numbers / SIP domains or any SIP header values, create capture rule and set there record DTMF=OFF. (DTMF via SIP info and DTMF RFC2833) will not be stored to packets records, and to db.
:Files deleted by retention limits. Check:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">grep maxpoolsize /etc/voipmonitor.conf
grep maxpooldays /etc/voipmonitor.conf</syntaxhighlight>
:Increase limits and restart. See [[Data_Cleaning|Data Cleaning]].


;Why does downloaded PCAP have fewer packets than GUI shows?
:'''Pcap deduplication before download''' is enabled. Disable in '''Settings > System Configuration > Advanced'''.


==Disable spying on live calls==
;How do I bulk download audio/PCAP files?
You can disable possibility of GUI to do live spying on calls that uses g711 codec, in the sniffers config set option liveaudio=no
:Use GUI API. See [[download_of_pcap_files_audio_files_using_GUI's_api|Bulk Download Guide]].


==How to enable milliseconds precision==
;Can VoIPmonitor detect voicemail calls?
:'''No automatic detection''' by analyzing RTP audio. Workarounds:
:* Filter by voicemail pilot number
:* Track SIP 302 redirects (<code>save_sip_history = all</code>)
:* Capture custom SIP headers your PBX adds


[[How_to_enable_milliseconds_precision]]
;How do I convert WAV to OGG?
:<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">cd /var/spool/voipmonitor
find ./ -name '*.wav' -exec bash -c 'ffmpeg -i "$0" -vn -acodec libvorbis "${0%.wav}.ogg"' {} \;
find ./ -name '*.wav' -exec rm -f {} \;
chown -R www-data:www-data ./</syntaxhighlight>


= Register packets =
;How do I enable live call listening?
By default is collecting of register packets disabled. You can enable it with option '''sip-register=yes''' in /etc/voipmonitor.conf and service restart.
:Edit <code>configuration.php</code>:
More reading in [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Register in register doc]]
:<syntaxhighlight lang="php">define('DISABLE_LIVEPLAY', false);</syntaxhighlight>
:See [[GUI_Configuration_PHP|GUI Configuration]] for details.
;Why is transfer throughput to external storage (S3, CloudBerry) limited?
:VoIPmonitor does not impose speed limits on external storage transfers. If you see artificial throughput caps (e.g., 40 Mbps):<br>
# '''Verify bandwidth''' from your host to the internet is sufficient<br>
# '''Check third-party tool configuration''' (e.g., CloudBerry, s3fs, rclone) - the bottleneck is typically in these tools, not VoIPmonitor<br>
# For '''controlled bandwidth limiting''', use <code>rsync</code> via cron job with <code>--bwlimit</code> or the <code>tar_move</code> option - both allow bandwidth management
== Administration ==


== Where are Register records stored? ==
;How do I reset admin password?
=== Active register ===
:See [[User_Management|User Management]].
Unlike tables for states and failed registrations, there is no table in database for active registrations - you need to ask api of the voipmonitor sniffer service for list of registers


Here is [[https://www.voipmonitor.org/doc/Register_active example script]] that lists all active registrations if sipcallerip is matching the only argument
;How do I fix GUI after PHP/OS upgrade?
:Re-run installation. See [[Re-install_the_GUI|Re-install GUI]].


=== Failed register ===
;How do I enable debug mode?
there is in '''voipmonitor''' database the table '''register_failed''' where are all failed register stored (in case there is multipletimes same failures in short interval the column '''counter''' representing how many failed register requests there was in interval 120s instead of creating record for each.
:Add <code>?debug=31415</code> to URL. See [[GUI_troubleshooting#GUI_Debug_Mode|GUI Debug Mode]].


=== Register State ===
;How do I fix "Unknown column" errors after database upgrade?
there is in '''voipmonitor''' database the table '''register_state''' where are all expired/unregistered records stored.
:Access: <code>https://your-gui/admin.php?check_tables=1</code>
:{{Note|1=Do NOT use "Check MySQL Schema" button in Tools - that's for millisecond precision only.}}


= Geek's/Developer's corner =
;Can I run multiple sensor instances on one host?
Read this: [[Internal_support_hints]]
:Yes. See [[Multiple_sniffer_instancies|Multiple Instances Guide]].
;Users from the same organization cannot view each other's support tickets. How can we share access?
:Support tickets are associated with individual email addresses. To enable team-wide ticket visibility, '''merge all user accounts under a single main email address'''. Contact VoIPmonitor support to consolidate multiple accounts into one organization account.
== Compliance ==


=== PCI Compliance ===


;How do I disable audio recording?
:<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">savertp = header    # Headers only, no audio
savertp = no        # No RTP at all
dtmf2db = no        # No DTMF to database
dtmf2pcap = no      # No DTMF to PCAP</syntaxhighlight>


;How do I selectively record calls?
:Use [[Capture_rules|Capture Rules]] to enable/disable recording based on IP, number, or SIP headers.


;How do I disable live listening?
:* '''Settings > System Configuration > Advanced:''' Enable "Hide live play" and "Hide WAV play"
:* Edit <code>configuration.php</code>: <code>define('DISABLE_LIVEPLAY', true);</code>
:* Edit <code>config/system_configuration.php</code>: <code>define('DISABLE_LIVE_SNIFFER', true);</code>
{{Note|1='''Understanding audio in VoIPmonitor:''' By default, the GUI extracts audio '''on-demand''' from stored RTP packets in PCAP files (when <code>savertp = yes</code>). The <code>saveaudio</code> option creates '''pre-generated''' audio files and is NOT required for audio playback. Setting <code>savertp = header</code> disables audio playback because RTP payload is not stored. See [[Sniffer_configuration#Understanding_Audio_Playback_vs_Pre-Generated_Files|Audio Playback vs Pre-Generated Files]] for details.}}
=== CALEA Compliance ===


;How do I export data to CALEA systems?
:Use GUI API methods <code>getPCAP</code> and <code>getVoiceRecording</code>. See [[CALEA_compliance|CALEA Integration Guide]].


== See Also ==


* [[Sniffer_troubleshooting|Sniffer Troubleshooting]] - packet capture, missing CDRs
* [[GUI_troubleshooting|GUI Troubleshooting]] - HTTP 500, database issues
* [[Sniffer_configuration|Sniffer Configuration Reference]]
* [[License|Licensing Details]]
* [[Data_Cleaning|Data Cleaning and Retention]]




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== AI Summary for RAG ==


'''Summary:''' VoIPmonitor FAQ organized by topic. General: scaling (link to Scaling page), multiple GUI instances (requires same DB, NFS storage, single cron job to prevent duplicate alerts), client-server architecture for multi-sensor. Platform: x86 required for GUI (ARM64 not supported), AWS/Docker/cloud DB supported. CDR: regex filters with R() prefix, exclusion with ! prefix, underscore for multi-word search. Protocols: SIP, Skinny/SCCP, MGCP, SS7, Diameter supported; H.323 and MEGACO NOT supported. RTP: natalias for NAT mismatch causing missing quality metrics, auto_enable_use_blocks for multi-interface, rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp for mixed audio. Licensing: concurrent calls averaged hourly, 3+ consecutive days over limit locks GUI, get/update button for temporary increase, common HWID errors (incomplete key, wrong field, AWS chmod, Docker cgroup). Audio: absolute_timeout default 4 hours (14400s), vmcodecs needed for non-G.711, DTLS-SRTP causes garbled audio. Admin: admin.php?check_tables=1 for schema errors after DB upgrade. Compliance: savertp=header/no for PCI, capture rules for selective recording, DISABLE_LIVEPLAY for hiding playback.


'''Keywords:''' faq, license, hwid, concurrent calls, absolute_timeout, natalias, auto_enable_use_blocks, rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp, vmcodecs, savertp, capture rules, multiple gui, cron duplicate alerts, admin.php check_tables, schema error, H.323 not supported, MEGACO not supported, ARM64 not supported, sipport, ipv6, dtmf, PCI compliance, CALEA


 
'''Key Questions:'''
 
* How do I fix "Invalid or corrupted hwid" license error?
 
* Why does call recording stop after 4 hours?
 
* Why are quality metrics missing for one call leg?
 
* How do I run multiple GUI instances without duplicate alerts?
 
* What protocols does VoIPmonitor support (H.323? MEGACO?)?
 
* How do I fix "Unknown column" database errors after upgrade?
 
* Can VoIPmonitor automatically detect voicemail calls?
 
* How do I transfer my license to a new server?
 
* Why is audio playback garbled or distorted?
 
* How do I disable audio recording for PCI compliance?
 
* Does VoIPmonitor GUI run on ARM64?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
.

Latest revision as of 11:21, 13 January 2026


Quick answers to frequently asked questions. For detailed troubleshooting, see Sniffer Troubleshooting and GUI Troubleshooting.

Quick Navigation

General Configuration Licensing Audio & Files

General & Architecture

How does VoIPmonitor scale for high traffic?
For hardware recommendations and optimization of CPU, Disk I/O, and Database bottlenecks, see Scaling and Performance Tuning.
How do I manage disk space and database retention?
See Data Cleaning and Retention for PCAP cleanup (cleanspool) and CDR retention settings.
Can I run multiple GUI instances for redundancy?
Yes. Requirements:
  • All GUIs connect to the same database
  • PCAP storage accessible via NFS/SSHFS
  • Same key.php license file on each GUI

⚠️ Warning: CRITICAL: Enable the cron job on only ONE GUI instance. Multiple active cron jobs cause duplicate alerts and reports. 

# Disable on secondary GUIs:
# * * * * * root php /var/www/html/php/run.php cron
Can one GUI display data from multiple sensors?
Yes. Use the Client-Server architecture (v20+):
  • Local Processing (packetbuffer_sender=no): Sensors analyze locally, send CDRs only
  • Packet Mirroring (packetbuffer_sender=yes): Sensors forward raw packets to central server
See Distributed Architecture for full configuration.

Platform Support

What architectures are supported?
Component Supported Notes
Sensor x86 (32/64-bit), ARMv7/v8 Compile from source for ARM64
GUI x86 only Not supported on ARM64/aarch64
Can I run VoIPmonitor on AWS?
Yes. For license detection: chmod 644 /dev/root
  • Stop/Start instance: HWID usually preserved
  • Terminate/Launch new: HWID changes, requires new license key
Is Docker supported?
Yes, but ensure /proc/self/cgroup content doesn't change between restarts (affects HWID stability).
Are cloud databases (RDS, Azure) supported?
Yes. Requires MySQL-compatible database with SUPER privilege. If unavailable, set:
log_bin_trust_function_creators = ON
Why is mysql_native_password deprecated?
PHP 7.4.4+ supports caching_sha2_password natively. Upgrade PHP and reinstall IonCube Loader. See GUI Installation.

CDR View

What does the red icon mean?
Indicates which party sent the BYE message (ended the call).
How do I filter with regular expressions?
Prefix with R(). Example: R(^500[0-9]{4}$)
How do I exclude values from filters?
Use ! prefix:
  • !123456 – exclude specific number
  • !00420% – exclude prefix
  • 222%, !223% – include 222*, exclude 223*
How do I search multi-word strings in custom headers?
Use underscore for spaces: %normal_call_clearing%
Why are caller/called numbers swapped?
VoIPmonitor extracts from SIP headers (From/To). Check destination_number_mode setting. See CDR Documentation.
Why is there a delay before CDRs appear?
Database can't keep up. See SQL Queue Troubleshooting.

Protocols & Ports

Which protocols are supported?
Supported Not Supported
SIP, Skinny/SCCP, MGCP, SS7/ISUP, Diameter, RTCP H.323, MEGACO/H.248
Why don't I see SIP on ports other than 5060?
Configure additional ports in voipmonitor.conf:
sipport = 5060,5080,8088,8089
See sipport configuration.
How do I enable IPv6?
Set ipv6=yes in config. Existing databases require migration. See IPv6 Guide.
How do I capture REGISTER messages?
Set sip-register=yes. See REGISTER Monitoring.
How do I capture DTMF?
dtmf2db = yes           # RFC2833 and SIP INFO
inbanddtmf = yes        # G.711 only, CPU intensive

RTP & Quality Metrics

Why are quality metrics (MOS, jitter) missing for one call leg?
Usually NAT mismatch – SDP announces different IP than actual RTP source.
Solution: Configure natalias mapping:
# Map public IP to private IP
natalias = 1.2.3.4 10.0.0.100
See NAT Configuration for details.
Why is RTP not correctly associated after moving SIP/RTP to different NICs?
Enable memory blocks for multi-interface scenarios:
auto_enable_use_blocks = yes
Why do recordings mix audio from different calls?
Enable SDP verification on both sides:
rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp = yes

Licensing

How are license channels calculated?
Based on maximum concurrent calls (averaged hourly, checked daily). View in Tools → System Status → Concurrent calls.
  • Calls are deduplicated if last 6 digits of caller/called match within ±10 seconds
  • 487 Request Terminated responses are NOT counted
What happens if I exceed my limit?
Duration Effect
1-2 days Warning only, self-clearing
3+ consecutive days GUI blocked
How do I unblock a locked GUI?
In Settings > License, click get/update license key – this grants a temporary increase automatically.
I get "Invalid or corrupted hwid" error. What do I do?
Common causes:
  1. Incomplete key: Copy the entire multi-line license key, not just the first line
  2. Wrong field: Use "License token" for short tokens, "License key" for full multi-line keys
  3. AWS: Run chmod 644 /dev/root
  4. Docker: Ensure container ID doesn't change on restart
  5. Trial on different machine: Contact support for a pre-generated key
I get "license file key.php is for another hwid" after hardware change?
In Settings > License, click get/update license key then recheck to fetch new key for current HWID.
I get "Bad Key Content" error?
You're using the wrong field. Short tokens go in "License token" field, then click "get/update license key".
How do I transfer a license to a new server?
  1. Get token from old GUI (Settings > License) or customer portal
  2. On new GUI: paste token, click get/update license key
  3. IMPORTANT: Disable cron on old server to prevent conflicts
Can I use one license on multiple servers (test/dev)?
Yes. Contact support to reconfigure your token for multiple HWIDs.
What are the available license tiers?
10, 35, 50, 100, 150, 200, 350, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000

Audio & PCAP Files

Why does call recording stop after exactly 4 hours?
Default absolute_timeout = 14400 (4 hours). Increase or disable:
absolute_timeout = 43200   # 12 hours
# absolute_timeout = 0     # Unlimited (watch memory usage)
Why are WAV files missing for non-G.711 codecs (Opus, G.729)?
Requires vmcodecs binary from GUI package. Install GUI, then restart sensor.
Why is audio playback garbled?
DTLS-SRTP encryption. Configure SSL Key Logger for decryption. See TLS/SRTP Decryption.
Why can't I download PCAP files?
Files deleted by retention limits. Check:
grep maxpoolsize /etc/voipmonitor.conf
grep maxpooldays /etc/voipmonitor.conf
Increase limits and restart. See Data Cleaning.
Why does downloaded PCAP have fewer packets than GUI shows?
Pcap deduplication before download is enabled. Disable in Settings > System Configuration > Advanced.
How do I bulk download audio/PCAP files?
Use GUI API. See Bulk Download Guide.
Can VoIPmonitor detect voicemail calls?
No automatic detection by analyzing RTP audio. Workarounds:
  • Filter by voicemail pilot number
  • Track SIP 302 redirects (save_sip_history = all)
  • Capture custom SIP headers your PBX adds
How do I convert WAV to OGG?
cd /var/spool/voipmonitor
find ./ -name '*.wav' -exec bash -c 'ffmpeg -i "$0" -vn -acodec libvorbis "${0%.wav}.ogg"' {} \;
find ./ -name '*.wav' -exec rm -f {} \;
chown -R www-data:www-data ./
How do I enable live call listening?
Edit configuration.php:
define('DISABLE_LIVEPLAY', false);
See GUI Configuration for details.
Why is transfer throughput to external storage (S3, CloudBerry) limited?
VoIPmonitor does not impose speed limits on external storage transfers. If you see artificial throughput caps (e.g., 40 Mbps):
  1. Verify bandwidth from your host to the internet is sufficient
  2. Check third-party tool configuration (e.g., CloudBerry, s3fs, rclone) - the bottleneck is typically in these tools, not VoIPmonitor
  3. For controlled bandwidth limiting, use rsync via cron job with --bwlimit or the tar_move option - both allow bandwidth management

Administration

How do I reset admin password?
See User Management.
How do I fix GUI after PHP/OS upgrade?
Re-run installation. See Re-install GUI.
How do I enable debug mode?
Add ?debug=31415 to URL. See GUI Debug Mode.
How do I fix "Unknown column" errors after database upgrade?
Access: https://your-gui/admin.php?check_tables=1

ℹ️ Note: Do NOT use "Check MySQL Schema" button in Tools - that's for millisecond precision only.

Can I run multiple sensor instances on one host?
Yes. See Multiple Instances Guide.
Users from the same organization cannot view each other's support tickets. How can we share access?
Support tickets are associated with individual email addresses. To enable team-wide ticket visibility, merge all user accounts under a single main email address. Contact VoIPmonitor support to consolidate multiple accounts into one organization account.

Compliance

PCI Compliance

How do I disable audio recording?
savertp = header    # Headers only, no audio
savertp = no        # No RTP at all
dtmf2db = no        # No DTMF to database
dtmf2pcap = no      # No DTMF to PCAP
How do I selectively record calls?
Use Capture Rules to enable/disable recording based on IP, number, or SIP headers.
How do I disable live listening?
  • Settings > System Configuration > Advanced: Enable "Hide live play" and "Hide WAV play"
  • Edit configuration.php: define('DISABLE_LIVEPLAY', true);
  • Edit config/system_configuration.php: define('DISABLE_LIVE_SNIFFER', true);

ℹ️ Note: Understanding audio in VoIPmonitor: By default, the GUI extracts audio on-demand from stored RTP packets in PCAP files (when savertp = yes). The saveaudio option creates pre-generated audio files and is NOT required for audio playback. Setting savertp = header disables audio playback because RTP payload is not stored. See Audio Playback vs Pre-Generated Files for details.

CALEA Compliance

How do I export data to CALEA systems?
Use GUI API methods getPCAP and getVoiceRecording. See CALEA Integration Guide.

See Also





AI Summary for RAG

Summary: VoIPmonitor FAQ organized by topic. General: scaling (link to Scaling page), multiple GUI instances (requires same DB, NFS storage, single cron job to prevent duplicate alerts), client-server architecture for multi-sensor. Platform: x86 required for GUI (ARM64 not supported), AWS/Docker/cloud DB supported. CDR: regex filters with R() prefix, exclusion with ! prefix, underscore for multi-word search. Protocols: SIP, Skinny/SCCP, MGCP, SS7, Diameter supported; H.323 and MEGACO NOT supported. RTP: natalias for NAT mismatch causing missing quality metrics, auto_enable_use_blocks for multi-interface, rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp for mixed audio. Licensing: concurrent calls averaged hourly, 3+ consecutive days over limit locks GUI, get/update button for temporary increase, common HWID errors (incomplete key, wrong field, AWS chmod, Docker cgroup). Audio: absolute_timeout default 4 hours (14400s), vmcodecs needed for non-G.711, DTLS-SRTP causes garbled audio. Admin: admin.php?check_tables=1 for schema errors after DB upgrade. Compliance: savertp=header/no for PCI, capture rules for selective recording, DISABLE_LIVEPLAY for hiding playback.

Keywords: faq, license, hwid, concurrent calls, absolute_timeout, natalias, auto_enable_use_blocks, rtp_check_both_sides_by_sdp, vmcodecs, savertp, capture rules, multiple gui, cron duplicate alerts, admin.php check_tables, schema error, H.323 not supported, MEGACO not supported, ARM64 not supported, sipport, ipv6, dtmf, PCI compliance, CALEA

Key Questions:

  • How do I fix "Invalid or corrupted hwid" license error?
  • Why does call recording stop after 4 hours?
  • Why are quality metrics missing for one call leg?
  • How do I run multiple GUI instances without duplicate alerts?
  • What protocols does VoIPmonitor support (H.323? MEGACO?)?
  • How do I fix "Unknown column" database errors after upgrade?
  • Can VoIPmonitor automatically detect voicemail calls?
  • How do I transfer my license to a new server?
  • Why is audio playback garbled or distorted?
  • How do I disable audio recording for PCI compliance?
  • Does VoIPmonitor GUI run on ARM64?
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