Vidicode V-Tap VoIP User manual

V-Tap VoIP Manual EN © 2017 Vidicode
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V-Tap VoIP
Manual
V1.0

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Contents
1Introduction....................................................................4
2Getting started...............................................................5
2.1 Hardware installation.......................................................5
2.1.1 Connection at Home .............................................................. 6
2.1.2 Connection at the Office........................................................ 6
2.2 Software installation ........................................................7
3Web interface and Settings ...........................................8
3.1 IP address...........................................................................8
3.2 Web interface....................................................................9
3.3 Settings............................................................................11
3.3.1 General network settings .................................................... 11
3.3.2 Tunnel settings..................................................................... 12
3.3.3 FTP & Web settings .............................................................. 15
3.3.4 NTP settings.......................................................................... 16
3.3.5 Telnet setting ....................................................................... 17
3.3.6 SD Card settings ................................................................... 18
3.3.7 Button setting ...................................................................... 20
3.3.8 Port settings ......................................................................... 21
3.3.9 Special network settings ..................................................... 22
3.3.10 Special Flags & Versions....................................................... 23
4LED’s .............................................................................24
4.1 Red Error LED ..................................................................24
4.2 Green Link LED................................................................25
4.3 Blue Data LED..................................................................26
4.4 Amber SD-Power LED .....................................................26
5Button functions ..........................................................27
5.1 Start & Stop recording....................................................27

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5.2 Remove SD Card safely ..................................................27
5.3 Show IP address ..............................................................28
5.4 Factory settings...............................................................28
5.5 Firmware update ............................................................29
5.6 Default IP address...........................................................30
6Connection schemes ....................................................31
6.1 Tunnel function...............................................................31
6.2 Tunnel with Split Ports...................................................32
6.3 Mirror to Port 4 ...............................................................33
6.4 Mirror to Port 3 ...............................................................33
7Acknowledgements .....................................................34
7.1 Privacy..............................................................................34
7.2 Liability ............................................................................34

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1Introduction
The V-Tap VoIP is a hardware and software solution for the recording of
telephone calls that are transported over an IP network. The supplied
hardware unit sniffs the digital data coming from external IP telephones
and can copy the data back to the network or stores the data directly
onto an SD card. In both cases the data is wrapped into a special Tunnel-
format that can be received by the Call Recorder Apresa (running on
Linux) or by the Call Recorder VoIP software (running on a PC). The
external Apresa recorder or CR-VoIP software can both interpret the
Tunnel-format and make playable audio files from it, together with the
original date, time and call number information (meta data).
The build-in switch function allows 4 Ethernet connections (100 Mbps).
This makes it possible to connect 3 external IP phones and one
connection to the network. For a desktop solution, it is also possible to
connect a PC or other network peripherals.
An IP phone can also be a Softphone running on a PC. This is achieved
by simply wiring the PC’s network through the V-Tap VoIP switch.
In the case that no SD card is inserted, the sniffed data is sent life over
the network to the Apresa recorder or CR-VoIP software.
With an SD card inserted, the sniffed data is stored as files on the card.
Depending on whether a Tunnel has been defined or not, the files are
sent over the network or can be read later by the CR-VoIP software.
By using the SD card, the V-Tap VoIP can operate completely stand alone
and can store data for months or even years, depending on the capacity
of the card.
The internal settings of the V-Tap VoIP can be accessed through a web
interface by any browser.
The V-Tap VoIP is a member of a family of compatible products that can
be used to create all sorts of Call Recording solutions. There are V-Taps
for analog and ISDN telephony, there is an App for mobile recording
and all these products communicate with the Apresa Corporate
recording solution or Apresa cloud based recording.
NOTE: The V-Tap VoIP needs to be powered through USB, otherwise
the device cannot record from external IP phones.

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2Getting started
2.1 Hardware installation
The V-Tap VoIP is easy to setup. The following steps are involved:
•Connect the local network to the V-Tap VoIP.
•Connect the IP phones or PC’s to the V-Tap VoIP.
•Connect the USB to the V-Tap VoIP for power.
•Access the settings of the V-Tap VoIP through the web interface.
•Optionally insert an SD card.
Any LAN port can be used to connect the external network and the IP
phones. Different configurations are also possible, see Port settings.
For more schemes see the next page and chapter Connection schemes.
NOTE: Ports 1 and 2 only are suitable to connect Power over Ethernet.

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2.1.1 Connection at Home
2.1.2 Connection at the Office

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2.2 Software installation
External software is needed to extract the recorded calls from the
Tunnel data that is produced by the V-Tap VoIP. Also, when the data is
stored on an SD card, then external software is needed to interpret this
data later on.
The Tunnel data stream, coming directly from the V-Tap, can be send to
the Call Recorder Apresa or the Call Recorder VoIP software.
The Call Recorder Apresa is recorder software running on the Linux
operating system. The Apresa can receive Tunnel data from the V-Tap,
convert this data into audio files and store the files into its own
database.
The Apresa can receive multiple data streams from many V-Tap units
simultaneously. In that case the recordings of different locations are
centrally stored in one database.
The Apresa software has lots of different other recorder possibilities and
is not further described in this manual.
The Call Recorder VoIP software for the PC can also receive Tunnel data
from the V-Tap VoIP, convert this data into audio files and store the files
into its own database. The VoIP software can also receive multiple data
streams from different V-Tap units simultaneously.
The Call Recorder VoIP software for the PC has its own manual and is
therefore not described in this manual.
NOTE:
You need to enter at least one recorder-channel license key before the
Apresa or CR-VoIP software can record your calls. Recording multiple
calls simultaneously need more license keys to be added.

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3Web interface and Settings
The first step to access the web interface of the V-Tap VoIP, is to connect
a network cable to any of the 4 ports on the unit. The other side of the
cable can be connected to a LAN or directly to a PC. There is no need to
use a cross-cable.
Then any web browser can be used to access the web interface of the V-
Tap VoIP.
3.1 IP address
By default, the V-Tap unit has DHCP enabled AND listens to the IP
address 192.168.55.66.
This IP address can be entered directly in the address bar of your
browser, only when the local network does not have a DHCP server and
when your PC has an IP address that lies in the same IP range as the IP
address of the V-Tap VoIP. The IP address of your PC must therefore lie
in the range 192.168.55.0 till 192.168.55.255.
The IP mask should be 255.255.255.0.
Default IP address: 192.168.55.66 (or from DHCP server)
Default User name: admin
Default Password: admin
In case the IP address cannot be reached by an external PC, it is also
possible to define a fixed IP address with an SD card.
Defining a fixed IP address with an SD card:
. Create a text file on your PC, named “IP.TXT”.
. The first line in this file must hold the IP address.
. The second line is optional and can hold the IP mask.
. Copy “IP.TXT”to the root directory of an SD card.
. Insert the SD card into the V-Tap unit.
. The IP address has now changed and can be accessed.
. The file “IP.TXT” is deleted from the card by the system.

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3.2 Web interface
Entering the IP address in your browser is showing the following screen:
Now enter “admin” for the User name and “admin” for the Password,
then press the Log in button and the Settings menu appears:
(The settings on the next page are not the default settings, but just an example.)

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By pressing the Submit button, the settings are sent to the V-Tap unit.
Any ongoing recording is stopped, the file on SD card is closed, and after
a few seconds the new settings are activated.

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3.3 Settings
The settings are divided into groups that are described in the following
paragraphs.
3.3.1 General network settings
Device Name
This field can be filled in with any name you like and is used for
remote recognition of the V-Tap unit. The name is shown in the
settings web interface and after connecting with ftp or telnet. The
name is not used in the Tunnel protocol. The maximum length is 30
characters. Example are “Richard Phone” or “SalesTrunk”.
DHCP Server
Default, the DHCP feature is not enabled and the V-Tap unit has a
fixed IP address. When a DHCP server is available on the network and
is used, the IP and Gateway addresses are automatically assigned.
Without DHCP you must manually enter an IP address.
Device IP Address
As part of the network, the V-Tap VoIP needs an IP address. In case a
DHCP server is used, the DHCP server will assign the V-Tap VoIP an IP
address. In case a DHCP server is not used, a static IP address must be
filled in. The default static address is “192.168.55.66”.
Subnet Mask
The IP mask is used for so called ‘subnetting’, a way to logically
divide one network into more networks. The logical AND of the IP
address with the IP mask must be the same for the device and the
computer connecting to it.
More explanation can be found on the internet and is out of the
scope of this manual.
Gateway Address
The Gateway address is used by the V-Tap VoIP unit when access
outside the local network (LAN) is required. This sort of access can be

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needed by the Tunnel protocol for streaming to a remote computer
and/or by the NTP feature for obtaining the current date and time.
In case DHCP is active, the gateway address is automatically
obtained.
DNS Server Address
The Domain Name Service (DNS) is needed in case a name is entered
instead of an IP address for the Tunnel server and/or the NTP server.
3.3.2 Tunnel settings
Tunnel Server Address
Here you fill in the IP address or host name of the Tunnel server that
is going to receive the streamed data coming from the V-Tap VoIP.
The receiving server can be an Apresa recorder or a PC running the
Call Recorder VoIP software.
Leaving this field empty will disable the Tunnel function all together,
in which case the V-Tap unit must store its data onto an SD card.
Tunnel Destination Port
The Tunnel protocol is based on the TCP protocol and that involves a
Destination Port and a Source Port. Both are numbers from 0 till
65535 that are included in each packet and are very important for
the receiving end of the Tunnel data. The receiving Tunnel server
must be setup to look for the same port number as is installed in this
Tunnel Destination Port.
Not all TCP port numbers are available for tunnelling, because some
are officially used by other protocols. For example, port 80 is used for
HTTP in all browsers to communicate over the World Wide Web. A
list of known port numbers can be found on the internet.
The default port number 2016 is not an official port and can be used
safely for this Tunnel protocol. The only drawback that comes by
using an unknown port is, that a firewall will block this port. For that
reason, it is important that any firewall that is passed by the Tunnel
stream must be setup right.
Firewalls must have a rule to let through TCP port 2016.

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Tunnel Source Port
The Source Port also has an important role in the Tunnel protocol.
The default number 0 selects randomly a port number between
49152 and 65535. This range of port numbers is recommended by
IANA to be used for dynamic ports.
Once a connection has been established between the V-Tap VoIP and
the receiving Tunnel server, the chosen port number is kept active
for the duration of the communication session. When connection is
lost for some reason, a new source port is chosen for the next
connection. This ensures fast reconnection, because the TCP protocol
does not allow the same source port to be used again within a short
time. After an OS specific timeout of normally a few minutes, the
port numbers become available again for reuse.
It is therefore not recommended to select a fixed number for the
Tunnel Source Port in cases where live streaming is done without
using an SD card.
Tunnel Connect Timeout
This timeout is used when the V-Tap VoIP tries to connect to the
Tunnel server. The default 22 seconds is enough to send 4 requests. If
no reply comes from the remote side within the timeout, the V-Tap
VoIP starts trying again after a few seconds with a new source port
number (see above).
Storage onto SD card just continues and is not interrupted by any
connection or disconnection of the Tunnel.
Tunnel Idle Timeout
This timeout is used to disconnect the active tunnel connection, only
when no packets are received (sniffed) anymore from the local
connected network. Default, the idle-timeout is disabled and the
tunnel stays connected forever.
The timeout is added for (yet) unknown situations where it is not
allowed to have an open TCP connection for a long time.
Tunnel Data Encryption
The data inside the Tunnel protocol is sent encrypted over the
network. The used method is AES with a 256-bit Cryptographic Key.
For privacy reasons it is advised to leave the encryption enabled.

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Tunnel Encryption Password
This parameter is also used for the encryption of the Tunnel data.
The receiving side of the Tunnel data, the Apresa or CR VoIP
software, must use the same password.
An empty password still does the encryption, but is less secure.
Tunnel Min Packet Size
Tunnel Packets are network packets sniffed by the V-Tap VoIP. These
are the wanted VoIP packets coming from your phone and local
network. After they passed the internal filters and match the
minimum size, they are sent with the Tunnel protocol to the server
or stored onto SD card.
The default minimum size of 60 bytes is also the minimum standard
Ethernet packet size. This means that packets of all sizes are taken by
default. There may be situations where it is handy to increase the
size, to minimize the overhead of stored packets. For example, when
the size is set to 61 all ACK-packets from the TCP protocol are
discarded.
Tunnel TCP Port Filter
The TCP packets that are recorded (sniffed) from the local network
must pass this filter, else they are discarded. The default port 5060
allows only SIP packets to be taken as Tunnel data.
Setting the TCP Port Filter to 0 (zero) allows all TCP packets. In that
case, all internet traffic is also stored, including downloads and
streaming media. The receiving Tunnel server can still pick out the
VoIP calls then. However, on busy local networks this is not advised
to do, because the V-Tap VoIP cannot handle very big data streams.
When using an SD card, the V-Tap VoIP can store at least 1 Mbytes of
data per second. That is enough for 25 uncompressed VoIP calls.
Tunnel UDP Port Filter
UDP packets, coming from the local network, can be filtered in the
same way as TCP packets. The SIP protocol uses most of the time UDP
with a random port number to transport the voice data, the so called
RTP stream.
Because the SIP protocol is not interpreted by the V-Tap unit and
therefor the UDP port number is unknown in most cases, all UDP
packets must be taken and stored.

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With standard SIP on the local network, this filter must be set to 0
(zero) to allow the V-Tap unit to take all UDP packets.
Tunnel Broadcast + ARP Filter
This filter sees that not too much packets are taken from the local
connected network. Many LAN’s at the office have a lot of overhead
with packets that are not relevant for recording VoIP calls. Therefore,
all Broadcast and ARP packets are standard discarded, reducing the
Tunnel data.
3.3.3 FTP & Web settings
The V-Tap VoIP has a build in FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server that
allows you to access the internal filing system. At this moment, this is
only used for updating the firmware remotely (see chapter Update
Firmware). FTP can be disabled by setting the FTP Port to 0 (zero).
FTP & Web User name
User name to log in with FTP and the Web service.
FTP & Web Password
Password to log in with FTP and the Web service.
FTP Port
By default, the FTP Port is on 21 for normal FTP access.
The PC tool ‘vcUpdater’ uses FTP to update the firmware of the V-
Tap unit. This tool can be found on the Vidicode website in the menu
Service and Support > Firmware. By setting the FTP Port to 0 (zero),
FTP is disabled completely.

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3.3.4 NTP settings
NTP (Network Time Protocol) can be used to synchronize the internal
clock. The V-Tap VoIP also has an internal battery to keep the clock
running when power fails, but this is not as accurate as the clock on an
NTP server. NTP gets the exact date and time from the server and then
sets the internal clock.
The clock is added to each packet in the Tunnel protocol and is
important to get the date and time right for all recorded calls. Specially,
when Tunnel data is first stored on an SD card and later (maybe weeks
or moths) interpreted by the Call Recorder VoIP software on the PC.
The V-Tap VoIP synchronizes the clock 6 times per day (each 4 hours).
NTP Server Address
The IP address or the host name of the NTP server. Leave this field
empty when no NTP is used.
NTP Port
The used port number for NTP in the TCP protocol. This is always 123.
GMT Minutes Correction
The time correction in minutes to the GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
zone. The number can start with the minus sign when needed. For
example, enter “-300” for Eastern Time (that is -5 hours for east-
coast US & Canada).

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3.3.5 Telnet setting
TelNet Connection
The V-Tap VoIP can be accessed with the Telnet network protocol.
Telnet is an older protocol to access devices remotely with a simple
terminal and then perform maintenance or change settings. Telnet
also uses the TCP protocol with the fixed port number 23.
Running a Telnet client program on the PC makes it possible to
connect to the V-Tap VoIP. After connecting, the Device Name is
shown and some debug information is constantly sent to Telnet;
Opening and closing of the Tunnel connection and, when an SD card
is used, the opening and closing of files.
Further there are only two commands that can be entered with
Telnet:
The command ATMENU will first ask you to enter the web access
password and then brings you in a remote maintenance menu. Once
inside the menu, the tunnel function and SD card storage are
stopped.
The menu gives the user the possibility to change the settings, reset
the SD file counters, reset to factory settings and change the clock.
Normally, there is no need to use any of these functions over Telnet.
The command ATDEBUG is a toggle to enable and disable the output
of more debug information. This is further not described in this
manual.

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3.3.6 SD Card settings
The SD card is used to store the recorded VoIP data from the local
network. The system writes the data to files in the Tunnel format. This
format is the same as sent to a Tunnel server, so default encrypted. The
files on SD card are opened and closed automatically, depending on
some parameters below. The SD card can be seen as a big cyclic memory
buffer for the system.
In case of using a Tunnel server, the files are sent to the server as soon as
they are closed. So, data is not sent live to the sever then, but after a no-
data timeout or after a file has reached its maximum size.
In the case that no Tunnel server is used, the files are just stored on the
card until the user gets the card out. SD cards with recorded Tunnel files
on them can be read and interpreted by the Call Recorder VoIP software
on the PC.
Files are not deleted from the card by the system. Files are written until
the card is full (error situation) or until the maximum number of files has
been reached, in which case the oldest files are overwritten.
Without an SD card, the system has only little buffering capabilities. Any
disturbance in the Tunnel connection would then lead to the loss of
data.
Another function for the SD card is to define a fixed IP address for the V-
Tap unit; see IP address. Yet another function is to update the firmware.
Safely removal of the SD Card and Power Off.
. Press the button for 2 seconds (Amber & Blue LED OFF).
. Release the button (Amber LED flashing).
. Take out the SD card or the USB cable (power off).
SD Auto Close Packet Count
SD Auto Close Timeout in secs
These two parameters are used by the system to close files on SD
card automatically. As soon as you insert an SD card, a file is opened
for writing and recorded data is put into it. Packets are counted each
second again and when the installed threshold is reached, the
timeout becomes active. When the Packet Count is under the
threshold for time of the installed timeout, the current open file is
closed. A new file is opened immediately after that.

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A normal VoIP call produces about 100 packets per second for the
duration of the call. When the call ends, only a few or no packets are
received.
In this way, the Auto Close function can be seen as an off/on-hook
detector. The files on SD card will then contain complete calls. Of
course, this is only true when one VoIP phone is connected. With
more phones connected and more calls active at the same time, the
files can also contain multiple calls.
SD Max Files on Card
The maximum number of files on the card has 2 purposes.
First of all, it makes the directory on the card more manageable by
the system and any PC. Too many files in one directory make a slow
system. The default number of 5000 is reasonable.
Secondly, a system can be built to use the card as an endless buffer,
without the problem that the card is getting full. However, this must
be calculated carefully and depends on the size of the card, the
maximum file size (see below), the auto close function (see above)
and the amount of recorded data (number of connected phones).
After the maximum number of files has been reached, the file write-
counter is reset and older files are overwritten automatically.
SD Max File Size in MB
When a file on SD card reaches the maximum file size, the file is
closed for further writing and then send to the Tunnel server, if that
function is enabled. The name counter is incremented at the same
time and a new file is opened.
An uncompressed VoIP call produces roughly 24 Kbytes per second.
This means a little less than 90 Mbytes per hour. The default of 250
Mbytes is therefore enough for about 3 hours of recording. A call
that takes longer will continue in the next file, without loss of data.
SD Delete File after Sending
Normally, the files are kept on SD card and are not deleted by the
system, except when the maximum number of files is reached in
which case the oldest files are overwritten automatically.
It is an option to delete files after the content was sent to a Tunnel
server. A certain risk is taken then, because data cannot be recovered
anymore after deletion.

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SD Files in PCAP Format
Enabling this option sets the V-Tap unit in a completely different
mode. The format of the stored packets in the files on the SD card
changes to the PCAP format. The files on the card are given the
extension .CAP and are directly readable by PC tools like Wireshark.
The Tunnel function itself is disabled, but packets still must pass the
Tunnel filters before they are stored.
This mode can be used for network debugging or network tracing.
SD Interface Speed in MHz
This value must be changed only when there are problems with an
SD card. The default is good for most of the cards on the market.
Valid speeds to enter: 1 till 12 , 15 , 17 , 20 , 24 , 30 , 40 and 60.
3.3.7 Button setting
The button can be used to manually start and stop the recording of
sniffed data.
Other special functions of the button are described in chapter Button
functions .
Start and Stop with Button
This parameter changes the recorder function of the V-Tap VoIP.
When the button is enabled, the system does not automatically store
or forward the sniffed data anymore.
Start and stop is a toggle function of the button. The LEDs will show
if any data is recorded or not. The Red LED ON means “stopped” (no
recording) and the Red LED OFF means “started” (active).
The moment on which the button is pressed to start recording is very
important. For VoIP calls, this cannot be in the middle of a
conversation, else the recorded data misses the start of the call in the
SIP protocol.
Therefore, the start/stop function is only usable for outgoing calls
that are known to be recorded in front.
The button must be pressed before any call becomes active!