Vidicode V-tap voip User manual

V-Tap VoIP

1 &2 &3

Manual

v3.23

V-Tap VoIP Manual EN v3.23 Aug 2021 © 2017-2021 Vidicode 2 
 
 
 
Contents 
 
1Introduction....................................................................5 
2Getting started...............................................................6 
1 Hardware installation.......................................................6 
1.1 Connection at Home .............................................................. 7 
1.2 Connection at the Office........................................................ 7 
2 Software installation ........................................................8 
2.1 Call Recorder Apresa.............................................................. 8 
2.2 V-Archive software on a PC................................................... 9 
3 Checklist for Tunnel connection ....................................10 
3Web interface and Settings .........................................11 
1 Access & IP address .........................................................11 
2 Web interface..................................................................12 
3 Settings............................................................................14 
3.1 General Network settings.................................................... 14 
3.2 Tunnel settings..................................................................... 16 
3.3 Special Tunnel & Network settings..................................... 18 
3.4 Proxy settings (V-Tap VoIP-2/3 only) ................................. 21 
3.5 Login settings for Web access & FTP................................... 29 
3.6 NTP and Date+Time settings ............................................... 30 
3.7 Button Mode setting............................................................ 31 
3.8 Special Settings & Commands ............................................. 32 
3.9 Licenses & Versions .............................................................. 34 
4LED’s .............................................................................35 
1 Red Error LED ..................................................................35 

V-Tap VoIP Manual EN v3.23 Aug 2021 © 2017-2021 Vidicode 3 
 
2 Green Link LED ................................................................36 
3 Blue Data LED..................................................................37 
4 Amber SD-Power LED .....................................................37 
5Button functions ..........................................................38 
1 Start & Stop recording....................................................38 
2 Remove SD card safely ...................................................38 
3 Disable DHCP temporary................................................39 
4 Show IP address ..............................................................39 
5 Copy Settings from SD card ...........................................40 
6 Factory settings...............................................................40 
7 Format SD card................................................................40 
8 Default IP address...........................................................40 
9 Firmware update ............................................................41 
6SD card usage...............................................................42 
1 Special SD card settings .................................................43 
7Special Modes of Operation ........................................46 
1 Default Switch mode......................................................46 
2 Split Ports modes ............................................................47 
3 Mirror/SPAN Input mode ...............................................49 
4 Mirror Ports modes (no recording)................................50 
5 Single-Proxy mode..........................................................52 
6 Multi-Proxy mode ...........................................................52 
7 Proxy Public Access .........................................................53 
8 FRITZ!Box recording with the V-Tap VoIP-2/3..............54 
8Telnet connection.........................................................64 

9Technical Specifications ...............................................65

10 Revision History .......................................................66

11 Acknowledgements.................................................68

11.1 Privacy..............................................................................68

11.2 Liability ............................................................................68

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 filters the network traffic, wraps the sniffed data into a

special tunnel-format and stores it onto an SD card. The V-Tap VoIP can

operate therefore stand-alone. The captured data can then be sent back

over the network to an external server, which can be a Call Recorder

Apresa (running on Linux) or the V-Archive software (running on a

Windows PC). The Apresa recorder or V-Archive software can both

interpret the tunnel-format and make playable audio files from it,

together with the original date, time and call number information.

By default, the V-Tap VoIP functions as a normal switch that allows 4

Ethernet connections. This makes it possible to connect 3 VoIP phones

directly and use one port for connection to the network. It is also

possible to connect the output of another switch, when more than 3

phones must be recorded. A VoIP phone can also be a softphone

running on a PC; recording is then achieved by simply wiring the PC’s

network through the V-Tap VoIP. Port mirroring is done internally.

In the case that no SD card is inserted, the sniffed data is sent live over

the network to the Apresa recorder or V-Archive software (streaming).

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 V-Archive software.

By using the SD card (FAT32 formatted), the V-Tap VoIP can operate

completely stand-alone and can store data for weeks or even months,

depending on the capacity of the card.

The internal settings of the V-Tap can be accessed through a web

interface by any browser.

There are three models, the V-Tap VoIP-1/2/3. The VoIP-1 and VoIP-2

have 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, the VoIP-3 has 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) ports.

The VoIP-2 and VoIP-3 further have extra “Proxy modes”for recording.

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 VoIP, Analog, Audio and ISDN telephony and there is a V-App for

mobile recording. All of these products will communicate with the

Apresa Corporate or Apresa Cloud-based recording solutions.

NOTE: The V-Tap VoIP needs to be powered through USB with at least 300 mA.

2Getting started

2.1 Hardware installation

The V-Tap VoIP is easy to setup. The following steps are involved:

•Connect the local network to any port on the V-Tap VoIP.

•Connect the IP phone(s) to any other port on the V-Tap VoIP.

•Connect the USB to the V-Tap VoIP for power.

•Insert an SD card (optional but recommended).

•Access the settings in the web interface by using a browser.

Any port on the V-Tap can be used to connect the local network and the

IP phones, because in default configuration, the V-Tap VoIP functions as

a normal 4-port switch.

Different configurations are possible, see Special Modes of Operation.

NOTE: Only ports PHONE2 and PHONE3 are suitable to connect a Power over

Ethernet (PoE) loop. The V-Tap VoIP itself does not generate PoE.

2.1.1 Connection at Home

2.1.2 Connection at the Office

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

first stored on an SD card, external software is needed to interpret this

data from the card, especially when the data is encrypted.

The Tunnel data stream, coming directly from the V-Tap, can be send to

the Call Recorder Apresa or the V-Archive software.

NOTE:

The V-Tap needs at least one Apresa or PC channel license, before the

Apresa or V-Archive software can record your calls. Recording multiple

calls simultaneously needs more licenses.

2.2.1 Call Recorder Apresa

The Call Recorder Apresa is recorder software running on the Linux

Debian 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.

To setup the Apresa to act as a Tunnel server for a V-Tap, go to

System settings, Network tab and enable “V-Tap” as is shown below:

NOTE1: Apresa’s IP address is the “Tunnel Server Address” in the V-Tap.

NOTE2: Be sure the Encryption password is the same as in the V-Tap unit.

2.2.2 V-Archive software on a PC

The V-Archive software for the PC can, just as the Apresa, receive Tunnel

data from the V-Tap VoIP, convert this data into audio files and store

the files into its own database. The V-Archive software can also receive

multiple data streams from different V-Tap units simultaneously.

To setup the V-Archive software to accept connections from a V-Tap, go

to Options, Setup, Recording tab and enable as is shown below:

NOTE1: The PC’s IP address is the “Tunnel Server Address” in the V-Tap.

NOTE2: Be sure that the PC’s firewall is open for TCP port 2016, the

default “Tunnel Destination Port” in the V-Tap. During

installation, V-Archive tries to open port 2016 in Windows.

NOTE3: Be sure the Encryption password is the same as the

“Encryption Password” in the V-Tap.

NOTE4: The V-Archive software itself does not need licenses to receive

from the V-Tap. Licenses are inside the V-Tap.

The V-Archive software for the PC is further not described in this

manual; see for more details the V-Archive manual.

V-Tap VoIP Manual EN v3.23 Aug 2021 © 2017-2021 Vidicode 10 
 
2.3 Checklist for Tunnel connection 
 
A connection between V-Tap and Apresa or PC software is needed to get the recorded 
data into a user accessible database. This checklist can be used to setup the Tunnel: 
 
1) Install the Hardware and be sure that the VoIP data passes the V-Tap. 
 
2) Install Apresa or V-Archive PC software and enable V-Tap connections. 
 
3) Open the Settings page of the V-Tap in a browser by entering http://vtapXXXX.local , in which 
XXXX are the last 4 digits of the MAC address, found on the bottom of the unit. 
It may take up to a minute after first connect, before this local name is known to the PC.
 
4) The IP address of Apresa or PC with V-Archive must be entered as the “Tunnel Server Address”. 
 
5) Any firewall must be open for TCP port 2016, the default “Tunnel Destination Port”. 
During installation of V-Archive this port is automatically opened, if permitted by the PC.
 
6) The Tunnel connection is stable when the GREEN LED is steady, not blinking! 
When using V-Archive, the V-Tap must be shown with its MAC address in the status line.
 
7) For first tests, better turn off “Tunnel Encryption”. 
Otherwise, be sure that the Encryption password is the same in both V-Tap and Tunnel server.
 
8) The V-Tap stores only data that passes the “Tunnel TCP/SIP Port Filter”. 
In case of an unknown port or for test, this filter can be set to zero to store all TCP/IP traffic.
 
9) When data is stored during a call, the BLUE LED blinks fast. 
 
10) To see if the Apresa or PC receives something from the V-Tap, it is possible to make a network 
trace for test. In V-Archive, go to menu Actions and select ‘Network trace’, press Start, make a 
call, press Stop and then Save. From the zip, ‘tunneltrace.pcap’ can be analyzed with Wireshark. 
 
11) The SD card in the V-Tap should contain “.TUN” files when data is captured. 
The SD card can be read by the V-Archive PC software in menu File and ‘Import from V-Tap’. 
 
12) When the V-Tap is connected to a trunk, then it sees all calls that are passing. The V-Tap can 
only filter those calls on IP address, set with the “Tunnel IP Address Filter”.