HOMER

HOMER is a VoIP and real-time communications capture and analysis framework for operators of SIP infrastructure. It best suits IT service providers, VoIP providers, and trunk suppliers with the capacity to run their own capture stack. Its strongest case is detailed traffic investigation without a software fee; buyers wanting a managed monitoring service should look elsewhere.

Overview

HOMER combines traffic capture with search and analysis, including advanced search, end-to-end analysis, and packet drill-down. That range helps operations teams move from a broad issue to call-flow and packet detail, rather than relying only on summary metrics. It is a more compelling fit for troubleshooting and monitoring teams than for organizations seeking a ready-to-use hosted service.

HOMER 11 is described as an all-in-one HEP capture and API server for the Homer 11.x data lake. Its documented components include ingest, DuckLake storage, a Node with FlightSQL, and a Coordinator with a REST API. Docker support and release packages provide deployment paths, while the AGPL-3.0 license matters to organizations considering how they use or modify the project.

Key features

The capture server includes call-flow and PCAP capabilities alongside statistics, analytics, a REST API, and widgets. Those tools make HOMER useful for teams that need to investigate captured communications and connect operational analysis with other systems.

Capture agents support HEP3 encapsulation, payload encryption and compression, and TLS. Core protocol coverage includes SIP, RTCP, RTCP-XR, WebRTC signaling, and log collection. MOS scoring, jitter tracking, and packet-loss tracking add quality indicators that can help pinpoint issues beyond signaling alone. VQRTCP collection and SIPREC support are optional and disabled by default.

HEP/EEP integrations cover Kamailio, OpenSIPS, Captagent, Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, RTPEngine, sipgrep, sngrep, and hepipe. Multi-user LDAP and Radius support give teams options for access control. The breadth is valuable in mixed VoIP environments, though the capture stack and deployment remain the operator's responsibility.

Pricing

HOMER Open Source costs nothing and is 100% open-source. The free plan suits operators able to deploy and maintain the framework themselves; there is no software charge, but commercial support is separate and quote-based. Support options include development support, 24/7 SLA production support, and advanced training. Teams that need that assistance must request a quote rather than rely on a published support price.

Platforms

HOMER supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and web environments. Docker and release packages offer deployment options, making it a fit for teams managing their own infrastructure rather than those prioritizing a fully managed product.

Who it's for

ITSPs, VoIP providers, and trunk suppliers are the clearest fit, particularly when their operations teams need packet-level visibility, quality tracking, and integrations with signaling or telephony systems. Teams without the capacity to deploy and operate a capture framework, or those looking for a managed monitoring service, should consider other approaches.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Advanced search, end-to-end analysis, and packet drill-down support investigations from broad symptoms to traffic detail.
• Protocol coverage and HEP/EEP integrations span common VoIP components, while MOS, jitter, and packet-loss tracking add call-quality measures.
• The open-source plan has no software charge, and Docker support provides a deployment option.
• Capture agents support payload encryption and TLS, and the server supports multi-user LDAP and Radius.

Cons

• It is a self-hosted framework, so it is a poor match for buyers who want a managed monitoring service.
• VQRTCP collection and SIPREC are optional and disabled by default, so users who need them must account for that setup.
• Commercial support is quote-based, and the AGPL-3.0 license may factor into organizations' plans to use or modify the project.

Alternatives

VoIP Monitoring Software is a useful place to compare more options in the category.

Choose Obkio if its 14-day free trial, Premium features, and limit of 10 agents suit an evaluation; it also has a free plan. Dotcom-Monitor may fit basic monitoring needs: its free plan covers up to 25 targets, checks as often as every five minutes, and uses two monitoring locations. For a Linux or self-hosted open-source option with commercial use subject to AGPL-3.0 conditions, consider sip-exporter.

MultiDSLA is another option. CallMeter is another option. Nectar Diagnostics is another option. ServicePilot VoIP Monitoring is another option. Bicom Systems SIP Monitoring (sipMON) is another option.

Verdict

HOMER is a strong choice for technically equipped VoIP operators who need detailed capture, search, and analysis across SIP and related traffic without a software fee. Its combination of packet drill-down, quality tracking, integrations, and API capabilities is the main reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need a managed service or cannot take on operating a self-hosted capture stack.