A Session Border Controller is a device used in select VoIP networks to exert control over the signaling and usually also the media streams involved in setting up, conducting, and tearing down calls. The SBC enforces security, quality of service and admission control mechanism over the VoIP sessions.
The Session Border Controller is often installed in a point of demarcation between one part of a network and another. Most Session Border controllers will be installed between peering service provider networks, between the enterprise network and the service provider network, or between the service provider network and residential users.
A Session Border Controller is like a Firewall for VOIP.
They are often configured as a SIP Back-To-Back User Agent (See SIP RFC).
In addition to firewall functions they also may provide services like NAT traversal.
See: NAT and VOIP for more information and watch the video on The Anatomy of Session Border Controllers and To Couple or Decouple Routing Intelligence from SBC.
Martyn Davies of Dialogic discusses Session Border Controllers as the often misunderstood "black magic" application for VoIP networks.
Although carriers often use Session Border Controllers for signal translation and security, most do not include the hardware-based signal processing needed for media transcoding. For all-IP environments, new elements are required that can mediate signaling, transcode among different media formats, and handle basic security issues. The concept of Multimedia Border Element (MMBE) meets these needs.
The Session Border Controller is often installed in a point of demarcation between one part of a network and another. Most Session Border controllers will be installed between peering service provider networks, between the enterprise network and the service provider network, or between the service provider network and residential users.
A Session Border Controller is like a Firewall for VOIP.
They are often configured as a SIP Back-To-Back User Agent (See SIP RFC).
In addition to firewall functions they also may provide services like NAT traversal.
See: NAT and VOIP for more information and watch the video on The Anatomy of Session Border Controllers and To Couple or Decouple Routing Intelligence from SBC.
Martyn Davies of Dialogic discusses Session Border Controllers as the often misunderstood "black magic" application for VoIP networks.
Although carriers often use Session Border Controllers for signal translation and security, most do not include the hardware-based signal processing needed for media transcoding. For all-IP environments, new elements are required that can mediate signaling, transcode among different media formats, and handle basic security issues. The concept of Multimedia Border Element (MMBE) meets these needs.
Products
- OpenSIPS-60,000 CPS on commodity hardware! A multi-functional, multi-purpose signaling SIP server - it can act as SIP Router/Switch, SIP Registrar, Application Server, Redirect Server, Load Balancer / Dispatcher, Back-to-Back User Agent, Presence Server, IM Server, Session Border Controller, SIP Front-End, NAT traversal Server, IP Gateway (SMS, XMPP) and platform for many other applications.
- CloudAstrix SPE for Service Provider Edition
- Sangoma SBCs for Enterprise and Carrier
- SmartNode VoIP Enterprise Session Border Routers from PATTON Electronics
- SVI-SBC Session Border Controller | Carrier Grade Protection & Management Between IP Network Borders
- Dialogic BorderNet 3000 Session Border Controller