Sipp - SIP Performance Testing Tool - cmd Cheatsheets

Sipp: A Powerful SIP Performance Testing Tool

Sipp is a versatile command-line utility designed for performance testing of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). It allows developers and network engineers to simulate SIP User Agents (UAC and UAS) and conduct comprehensive load testing on SIP-based systems. With Sipp, you can customize message flows, sequences, and various parameters to accurately mimic real-world network conditions and stress-test your VoIP infrastructure.

Key Sipp Command Examples for SIP Performance Testing

Below are common Sipp commands to help you get started with SIP performance testing. These examples cover basic call simulation, server setup, custom scenario execution, and advanced configurations.

Basic SIPp Usage

# sipp
# A performance testing tool for SIP protocol, with message and sequence customization.

# Basic SIPp call simulation as a User Agent Client (UAC)
sipp -sn uac <destination_ip>

# Start SIPp as a User Agent Server (UAS)
sipp -sn uas -i <local_ip> -p <local_port>

Advanced SIPp Configurations

# Using a custom XML scenario file for complex call flows
sipp -sf <scenario_file.xml> <destination_ip>

# Running SIPp with a specific call rate (calls per second)
sipp -r <calls_per_second> <destination_ip>

# Limiting the maximum number of simultaneous calls
sipp -l <max_simultaneous_calls> <destination_ip>

# Using authentication with username and password for SIP registration
sipp -au <username> -ap <password> <destination_ip>

# Sending calls with a specific From header to identify test calls
sipp -i <local_ip> -p <local_port> -sf <scenario_file.xml> -s <from_user> <destination_ip>

# Specifying the transport protocol (UDP, TCP, TLS) for SIP messages
sipp -t <protocol> <destination_ip>

# Enable detailed logging of SIP messages for debugging
sipp -trace_msg <destination_ip>

# Generate a pcap file of all SIPp traffic for network analysis
sipp -trace_file <destination_ip>

# Using a CSV file for external data to drive test scenarios
sipp -inf <csv_file> <destination_ip>

# Use a specific media file for RTP streaming during call simulation
sipp -mp <media_port> -m <max_calls> -sf <scenario_file.xml> <destination_ip>

Understanding SIP Performance Testing

Effective SIP performance testing is crucial for ensuring the reliability and scalability of Voice over IP (VoIP) systems. Tools like Sipp enable you to simulate high volumes of concurrent calls, test call setup and teardown times, verify media stream quality, and identify potential bottlenecks in your SIP infrastructure. By leveraging custom scenarios and detailed logging, you can gain deep insights into your system's behavior under stress.

Further Resources for SIP Testing

SIP.org - Official resource for SIP information.
RFC 3261 - SIP: Session Initiation Protocol - The core standard for SIP.
Sipp GitHub Repository - Official source code and community discussions.