Made IT Easy: Step-by-Step Installation And Maintenance of OpenSIPS

Setting up a powerful SIP server doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re launching a VoIP startup, building a scalable telecom solution, or experimenting with SIP infrastructure, OpenSIPS is one of the most robust tools available. Known for its high performance and modular design, OpenSIPS is trusted by carriers, enterprises, and cloud communication platforms worldwide.

Despite its flexibility, installing and maintaining OpenSIPS can be overwhelming without the right guidance. This step-by-step guide simplifies the entire process—from installation and configuration to maintenance and optimization.

System Requirements

Recommended System:

• OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (or later)
• CPU: 2-4 cores
• RAM: 2-4 GB minimum
• Storage: 10 GB or more

Initial Setup:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y build-essential bison flex libmysqlclient-dev libssl-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libpcre3-dev libxml2-dev libsqlite3-dev libevent-dev

Installing OpenSIPS

Step 1: Add OpenSIPS Repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:opensips/3.4 -y
sudo apt update

Step 2: Install OpenSIPS

sudo apt install opensips opensips-mysql-module opensips-cli -y

Step 3: Install and Configure MySQL

sudo apt install mysql-server -y
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Creating OpenSIPS Database

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE opensips;
CREATE USER 'opensips'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON opensips.* TO 'opensips'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Initialize Database Schema

opensips-cli -x database create

Configuring OpenSIPS

Open the main configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/opensips/opensips.cfg

Common modules to enable:

• usrloc
• registrar
• auth
• dialog
• nathelper
• rtpproxy

Set log level to debug for testing:

log_level=3

Start and Enable OpenSIPS

sudo systemctl start opensips
sudo systemctl enable opensips
sudo systemctl status opensips

Testing OpenSIPS

Use OpenSIPS CLI to check status:

opensips-cli -x mi uptime
opensips-cli -x mi version

You can also register a SIP client like Linphone or Zoiper to test registrations.

Ongoing Maintenance

Log Monitoring

journalctl -u opensips -f

Restart Service

sudo systemctl restart opensips

Check Registrations

opensips-cli -x mi ul_dump

Database Backup

mysqldump -u opensips -p opensips > /backup/opensips_backup.sql

Security Best Practices

• Enable firewall and restrict SIP ports
• Use fail2ban to prevent SIP scanning
• Encrypt signaling and media (TLS + SRTP)
• Restrict database access

Useful Commands

# Check SIP registrations
opensips-cli -x mi ul_show_contact

# Show active dialogs
opensips-cli -x mi dlg_list

# Show statistics
opensips-cli -x mi get_statistics all

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is OpenSIPS?

OpenSIPS is an open-source SIP server used to route and manage voice, video, IM, presence, and any other SIP-based services. It’s widely adopted for its performance, scalability, and flexible architecture.

2. Why should I use OpenSIPS instead of other SIP servers?

OpenSIPS offers high performance, modular design, and support for thousands of calls per second. It is suitable for use cases such as load balancing, SIP trunking, IMS platforms, and VoIP wholesale services.

3. Is OpenSIPS free to use?

Yes, OpenSIPS is licensed under the GPL (General Public License), which means it is free and open-source. You can use, modify, and distribute it under the terms of the GPL.

4. What operating systems are supported by OpenSIPS?

OpenSIPS works on most Linux distributions. The most commonly used and well-supported ones are Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian. Our guide focuses on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS for its stability and popularity.

5. Can I use a database with OpenSIPS?

Yes. OpenSIPS supports integration with various databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. Databases are essential for user authentication, dialog tracking, and storing call details.

6. How do I monitor OpenSIPS performance?

You can use tools like OpenSIPS Control Panel (GUI), Prometheus/Grafana integration, or command-line tools like `opensipsctl` and `opensips-cli` to monitor server metrics, user registrations, and call states.

7. How can I enable TLS or secure VoIP communication in OpenSIPS?

To enable TLS in OpenSIPS, you need to install OpenSSL libraries, configure TLS listeners in your `opensips.cfg`, and manage your certificates. This adds encrypted communication capabilities to your VoIP setup.

8. What are some important modules in OpenSIPS?

Key OpenSIPS modules include:

• usrloc – user location management
• registrar – SIP registration handling
• dialog – dialog tracking
• nathelper – NAT traversal support
• auth – user authentication

9. How do I troubleshoot OpenSIPS issues?

Use the following methods to troubleshoot problems:

• Check logs in `/var/log/opensips.log`
• Use `opensipsctl` or `opensips-cli` for status checks
• Test SIP communication using `sngrep` or `tcpdump`
• Verify your configuration file with `opensips -C` before restarting

10. Can OpenSIPS handle NAT traversal?

Yes. OpenSIPS has the nathelper module, which helps with NAT traversal for SIP messages. It works in tandem with media relays like RTPProxy or MediaProxy to support VoIP clients behind NAT.

11. What is the difference between OpenSIPS and Asterisk?

OpenSIPS is a SIP proxy, while Asterisk is a SIP-based PBX. OpenSIPS routes SIP messages efficiently without handling media, whereas Asterisk handles signaling and media, making it better suited for features like IVR, conferencing, and voicemail.

12. Can OpenSIPS be used as a load balancer?

Absolutely. OpenSIPS is often used as a SIP load balancer to distribute calls across multiple SIP servers or gateways. This ensures high availability and fault tolerance.

13. How do I update OpenSIPS to the latest version?

To update OpenSIPS:

• Check the latest version on the official site
• Backup your configuration files and database
• Rebuild or re-install OpenSIPS from source with updated packages

14. Is there a GUI available for OpenSIPS?

Yes. OpenSIPS Control Panel is a web-based GUI that allows you to manage users, monitor status, control modules, and analyze call records easily.

15. Where can I find community support or help?

You can visit the official OpenSIPS website, participate in their mailing list and forums, or join their IRC/Matrix channels for active community discussions.