OpenSIPS Install Guide: Configuration, Customization & Why It Beats Kamailio

How to Install OpenSIPS on Debian/Ubuntu

On Debian:

Follow the steps below to install OpenSIPS along with the MySQL module on a Debian 12 system:

bash

# Update system & install dependencies
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y gnupg2 wget curl

# Add OpenSIPS repo key using gpg
wget -qO - https://apt.opensips.org/opensips-org.gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/opensips-org.gpg > /dev/null

# Add OpenSIPS APT repository
echo "deb https://apt.opensips.org/bookworm 3.4-releases" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opensips.list

# Update and install OpenSIPS with MySQL module
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y opensips opensips-mysql-module

On Ubuntu:

bash

# Update and install dependencies
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y wget gnupg2

# Add OpenSIPS repo
wget -O- https://apt.opensips.org/opensips-org.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://apt.opensips.org/jammy 3.4-releases" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opensips.list

# Install OpenSIPS with HTTP support
sudo apt update
sudo apt install opensips opensips-http-modules

Running OpenSIPS in Docker

Prefer containers? Here's how to run OpenSIPS in Docker:

bash

docker run -d --name opensips -p 5060:5060/udp opensips/opensips:3.4

Basic OpenSIPS Configuration

The heart of OpenSIPS lies in the /etc/opensips/opensips.cfg file. Here’s a minimal config to handle SIP registrations and routing:

listen=udp:0.0.0.0:5060  # Listen on default SIP port

loadmodule "usrloc.so"
loadmodule "registrar.so"

route[REGISTER] {
    if (!save("location")) {
        sl_reply_error();
        exit;
    }
}

route {
    if (!lookup("location")) {
        sl_send_reply("404", "User Not Found");
        exit;
    }
    t_relay();
}

Customizing OpenSIPS: Going Beyond Basics

Extend OpenSIPS using powerful modules:

• MySQL/PostgreSQL – User authentication, registrations
• MRTPProxy – Essential for WebRTC media handling
• HTTP/JSON – For REST API integration

Example: Enabling WebRTC Support

loadmodule "rtpproxy.so"
loadmodule "websocket.so"

modparam("rtpproxy", "rtpproxy_sock", "udp:localhost:22222")
modparam("websocket", "ws_port", 5066)

Integrating OpenSIPS with Asterisk & FreeSWITCH

OpenSIPS + Asterisk

OpenSIPS can act as a SIP proxy, improving Asterisk’s scalability and security.

route {
    if (uri=~"sip:.*@asterisk") {
        rewritehost("asterisk-ip");
        t_relay();
    }
}

OpenSIPS + FreeSWITCH

If you're handling WebRTC, media mixing, or conferencing, FreeSWITCH is the perfect media server to pair with OpenSIPS.

route {
    if (uri=~"sip:.*@freeswitch") {
        rewritehost("freeswitch-ip");
        t_relay();
    }
}