HOMER

Free plan APILinuxMacSelf-hostedWeb

What HOMER is

HOMER is an open-source system for capturing and monitoring SIP, VoIP and RTC traffic. Homer 11 brings together HEP packet ingest, DuckLake storage, data nodes and a REST API coordinator. Its ingest module accepts HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP and HTTPS. The stored data uses Parquet files with a SQLite catalog, and Parquet data can reside on local disk, S3 or Azure Blob Storage. DuckLake supports queries against snapshots or timestamps.

The project also describes an OTLP receiver for traces, metrics and logs over OTLP/gRPC or OTLP/HTTP, using protobuf or JSON. The receiver is constructed only when the writer module is enabled. Optional VQRTCP SIP QoS collection and SIPREC signaling capture also require that module. Optional Arrow FlightSQL support provides a path to Grafana, while a REST API serves the user interface and external applications. An opt-in MCP module allows compatible clients to search HEP data using natural-language queries; its SQL validator permits only SELECT or WITH queries against the specified table. HOMER is licensed under GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later. It supports Linux and macOS on x64 and ARM64, with release downloads, Docker builds and Compose examples provided.

Who it suits

HOMER suits teams and operators who need to capture, store and inspect SIP, VoIP or RTC traffic, including HEP packet data. It also fits deployments that need OTLP ingestion, a REST API, command-line search or optional Grafana access.

What it does well

Captures HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP and HTTPS.
Stores data in DuckLake with Parquet and a SQLite catalog.
Supports local disk, S3 and Azure Blob Storage for Parquet data.
Offers command-line search and a REST API.
Available under GNU AGPL version 3 or later.

What to know first

The OTLP receiver requires the writer module to be enabled.
Optional VQRTCP and SIPREC features also require the writer module.
MCP search is disabled by default and restricted to SELECT or WITH queries.

Limits

The OTLP receiver is only constructed when the writer module is enabled, so a coordinator-only deployment does not start its listener. Optional VQRTCP collection and SIPREC capture also require the writer module; MCP is disabled by default and its SQL validator permits only SELECT or WITH queries against the specified table.

Getting started

Visit https://sipcapture.github.io/homer/.
Choose a release download, official Docker build or Compose example.
Deploy on Linux or macOS with x64 or ARM64 support.
Configure HEP ingest for the packet protocols you use.
Enable the writer module if you need the OTLP receiver, VQRTCP collection or SIPREC capture.
Configure protected API routes with authentication if they are enabled.

Verdict

Choose HOMER if you need an open-source platform for SIP, VoIP or RTC packet capture and monitoring, with storage, search and API components. Its modular options support additional telemetry and integrations. Check the deployment requirements if you need OTLP, VQRTCP or SIPREC, since those capabilities depend on the writer module.

Questions

Is HOMER free?

Yes. HOMER is free and open source under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later.

Which operating systems does HOMER support?

HOMER Core supports Linux and macOS on x64 and ARM64.

What installation options are available?

The project provides release downloads, official Docker builds and Compose examples.

Can HOMER send data to Grafana?

The Homer Node module offers optional Arrow FlightSQL support for Grafana.

Does HOMER support OpenTelemetry?

Its OTLP receiver accepts traces, metrics and logs over OTLP/gRPC and OTLP/HTTP in protobuf or JSON. The writer module must be enabled for the receiver to be constructed.

Does HOMER include AI integrations?

An optional MCP module lets compatible clients, including Cursor and Claude Desktop, search HEP data using natural language. It is disabled by default, and its SQL validator permits only SELECT or WITH queries against the specified call table.

Facts from HOMER's own pages

AI integrations: The optional MCP module lets compatible clients including Cursor and Claude Desktop search HEP data using natural language. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
AI tools: The opt-in MCP module lets MCP clients search HEP data using natural-language queries, and its SQL validator permits only SELECT or WITH queries against the specified table. · sipcapture.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
API: Homer includes a Coordinator REST API gateway for its user interface and external applications. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Authentication: The security guide says protected API routes require authentication and describes JWT sessions or Auth-Token access when enabled. · sipcapture.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Capture: The ingest module receives HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, and HTTPS. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Data pipeline: Homer 11 combines HEP capture and ingest, DuckLake storage, a query node, and a REST API coordinator. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Deployment: The project provides release downloads, official Docker builds, and Compose examples; its README lists x64 and ARM64 support on Linux and macOS. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Distribution: The project documents release downloads, official Docker builds, and Compose examples as installation options. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Founded: 2011 · sipcapture.github.io, 28 Sept 2026
Grafana: The Homer Node module offers optional Arrow FlightSQL support for Grafana. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Integrations: The project documents optional Arrow FlightSQL for Grafana and REST API access for the UI and external applications. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
License: The Homer repository states that the software is released under the AGPL-3.0 license. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Limits: The OTLP receiver is only constructed when the writer module is enabled, so a coordinator-only deployment does not start its listener. · sipcapture.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
MCP access limit: The MCP module is disabled by default and its SQL validator permits only SELECT or WITH queries against the specified call table. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
OpenTelemetry: Homer can ingest OpenTelemetry traces, metrics, and logs over OTLP/gRPC and OTLP/HTTP using protobuf or JSON. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Optional collectors: Optional VQRTCP SIP QoS collection and SIPREC signaling capture are disabled by default and require the writer module. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Product: Homer 11 is an all-in-one HEP capture and API server for ingest, DuckLake storage, data nodes, and a REST API coordinator. · sipcapture.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Protocols: The ingest module receives HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, or HTTPS. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: HOMER is an open-source SIP, VoIP, and RTC packet capture and monitoring system. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Querying: DuckLake supports time-travel queries using snapshots or timestamps. · sipcapture.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Search: The command-line search supports table, vertical, CSV, JSON, chart, call-flow, and SIP PCAP output formats. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security: Homer 11 documentation says protected API routes require authentication and describes generated JWT secrets when none is configured. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
SIP options: Optional VQRTCP collection and SIPREC signaling capture are disabled by default and require the writer module. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Storage: Homer stores data in Parquet files with a DuckLake catalog, and documents local disk, S3, and Azure Blob Storage as data locations. · sipcapture.github.io, 8 Oct 2026

Where HOMER stands on Freedom251

Network Protocol Analyzers#9 of 30