VoIP Provider Protocols (6.0)

VoIP Providers

This tool lets you manage your Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Providers. VOIP providers can be either commercial VoIP phone services or other VoIP hardware such as a peered Switchvox. There are two common protocols used for placing phone calls over the internet: SIP or IAX. If you are unsure which protocol to use, ask your service provider.

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From the VoIP Providers page, you can select either the Create SIP or Create IAX Provider buttons and list and modify already created VoIP providers. You can also download the current RSA Key and set the RTP Port Range.

Create SIP Providers

Click the Create SIP Provider button to displays the create page with the Provider Information tab opened. The other tabs are for advanced settings that you mostly likely do not need to change from the defaults. After you have created a provider, you are prompted to go to the Connection Status page. This page displays your VOIP providers and their status. If Switchvox successfully contacts your provider, it is displayed as Registered. Now if you call the number your provider gave you, your call should ring the Callback Extension. Or if the status is Unreachable, you have the option of running diagnostic tests on the provider information.

Provider Information tab

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The following are the Provider Information fields:

• SIP Provider Name. Create a name to refer to this provider. This is only used for referring to this Provider in other areas of the Admin Suite.

• Your Account ID. The account ID provided to you by your SIP provider. This may also be called Login, or Authentication ID.

• Your Password. Your password for the account.

• Hostname/IP Address. The hostname or IP address for the SIP server, provided to you by your SIP provider. This may also be called Registrar Server.

• Callback Extension. The extension to ring when a voice call comes in over this provider or channel. Callback extensions can be any extension type (your receptionist’s phone, an IVR, etc.).

• Default Fax Extension. The extension to ring when a call comes in over this provider or channel, and is identified as a fax. (Switchvox only identifies T.38 faxes over SIP providers. A fax coming in over an IAX provider or a channel, or a fax using a different standard may not be identified as a fax.) You must install a fax license and the fax software to make faxing available. (For details, see the “Digium Addon Products” article.)

• DTMF Mode. DTMF tones are the sounds emitted when you press buttons on your phone. Options in the dropdown include: Info, Inband, Auto, and RFC2833.

  • SIP extensions, refer to your phone's user manual for the DTMF mode that your phone uses.

  • SIP providers, ask your provider which DTMF mode it supports.

  • If you are unsure of which DTMF mode to select, use RFC2833 (the most common method).

Peer Settings Tab

The Peer Settings determine the relationship with this provider.

• Host Type. Provider is a host you must actively register to inform it of your location and settings. Peer is another SIP PBX, including another

• Switchvox. Host is the Same PBX. If this VOIP Provider is a peered Switchvox, set this to Yes. This lets you use advanced functionality with the peered Switchvox.

• Treat system’s users like local users. If you want Switchvox to exchange presence and line-use information with this peered Switchvox, set this option to Yes.

• Jabber Hostname. You can specify a hostname for the peered Switchvox’s Jabber server. To find this hostname, look in the peered server's Network Settings page. This is important if you are peering Switchvoxes and want to use functions such as Presence or the Chat Panel.

• Apply Incoming Call Rules to Provider. This option lets you alter the routing of incoming calls.

  • Yes uses the default setting, which uses the rules on the Incoming Calls section as well as the Callback Extension to decide which extension to ring when you receive a call over this provider.

  • No allows callers from this peer to directly dial any extension in Switchvox. Incoming calls will not follow the rules in the Incoming Calls section, and they will not ring the Callback Extension.

• Outgoing Call Rules. If you have selected No for the Apply Incoming Call Rules to Provider option, you can use this option to define how the remote peer can place outgoing calls through this Switchvox.

  • To allow calls, put an Outgoing Call Rule into the collection as Allow.

  • To deny calls, put an Outgoing Call Rule into the collection as Deny.

  • To ignore an Outgoing Call Rule for this provider, do not put the Rule into the collection.

Caller ID Settings Tab

The Caller ID settings determine how your Caller ID is set on outgoing calls.

• Supports Changing Caller ID. Changing your caller ID information may cause all outbound calls to fail, so be careful when using this setting. Be sure that your provider accepts a modified Caller ID, then enable this option and customize the Caller ID displayed on outbound calls.

• Caller-ID method. Leave this set to From Header unless your provider explicitly tells you to use a different setting. The vast majority of providers require caller ID to be supplied in the From header.

• Caller ID Name / Caller ID Number. Enter a name and phone number to display as your Caller ID when making outbound calls with this provider.