SQmediator®

Monitor and troubleshoot end-to-end performance
of VoIP, video and data services in real time
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A field of view that grows with the network.

From enterprise headquarters to branch offices, from the network core to customer premises and mobile users, SQmediator provides a global view of service performance for every voice call, video session and data session.

  • End-to-end network performance visibility from a single web console
  • Supports both passive monitoring and active testing
  • Collects quality reports directly from a range of IP phones, probes and other devices
  • Accurate user QoE scores (MOS) for video, audio and voice
  • Signaling analysis - call registration, setup, and failure codes from SIP sessions
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Meet virtually, on virtually any platform.

There's no dearth of options when it comes to videoconferencing and online collaboration tools, many of which use proprietary protocols and apply encryption to keep conversations private. SQmediator works with the most widely used virtual meeting solutions and analyzes encrypted media streams, opening a window into video and audio quality for every session without compromising security.

  • Supports Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, Webex and other platforms
  • Works with Cloud-based services and on-premises videoconferencing systems
  • Analyzes the performance of encrypted video and audio streams without decryption
  • Reports comprehensive QoE/QoS metrics and diagnostics for every session
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Proactive monitoring for active networks.

SQmediator's distributed active test framework provides end-to-end ability to quickly isolate and troubleshoot performance problems anywhere in the network.

  • Compact software test agents for Linux, Windows and Android
  • Place simulated VoIP or Videoconferencing test calls with a wide range of configurable codecs and payloads, including DTMF for voice tests
  • Call from agent to agent, agent to SIP endpoint, or agent to VoIP conference bridge
  • Get immediate feedback - QoE scores, SIP signaling data, granular performance metrics and diagnostics
  • Test and troubleshoot server performance - Web, Email, DNS, DHCP, SIP
  • Supports both unencrypted TCP/UDP and encrypted TLS connections (HTTPS, POP3/SMTP over TLS/STARTTLS, SIP/SIPS over TLS, etc.)
  • Peer-to-peer tests provide quick network path analysis and problem diagnosis
  • Run tests on the fly, or on a schedule (e.g. for automated SLA monitoring)
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Limitless potential for large-scale applications.

When it comes to network performance management, "one size fits all" isn't good enough. SQmediator easily scales to fit any application, from small business LANs to carrier class service provider networks.

  • Carrier-grade performance - manage up to millions of end users
  • Multitenant architecture - manage up to thousands of customers and sites with a single database
  • Automatically correlates data for customers, locations, and other specified resources
  • Scale up capacity by adding additional system components (Collectors & Reporters)
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Head off trouble before it strikes.

Don't wait for frustrated users to complain about bad call quality, choppy video, slow page loading, unresponsive email or other problems. SQmediator's real-time alerts put you one step ahead, providing an early warning system for detecting and resolving service problems before users are affected.

  • Immediate dashboard alerts
  • External email alerts and SNMP traps
  • Configurable per-metric thresholds for a wide range of service metrics
  • Separate thresholds for internal, external and SLA alerts

Keep sensitive data away from prying eyes.

SQmediator is highly robust and secure, engineered to resist security attacks and allow administrators to easily manage users and access to data.

  • Secure multi-user web interface
  • Designed to meet stringent US DoD security requirements
  • Hardened against a wide range of security attacks and exploits including SQL/XSS injection and brute force password attacks
  • Role-based security with separate Security Administrator role
  • Strong password rules - complexity, re-use, expiry and grace period
  • Group permissions restrict user access to both data and UI functions

New Features and Enhancements in SQmediator 3.7

TLS Support for Active Tests

Monitor security as well as performance with TLS-enabled active testing for web (HTTPS), email (SMTP/POP3 over TLS/STARTTLS), DNS (DoT) and SIP applications (SIP/SIPS over TLS). Optionally import and assign certificate bundles to test agents by resource group to easily manage which users/customers can access which certificates.

VoIP Conference Bridge Testing

Verify the functionality and audio quality of VoIP conference bridges using two test agents acting as organizer and participant. Both agents join a bridge using DTMF (as needed) and exchange speech samples while measuring signal/noise, echo, delay, speech clipping and other factors to calculate the level of voice distortion and overall intelligibility.

SIP OPTIONS Testing

Test agents can now query any SIP UA, proxy server or registrar by sending an OPTIONS request message to confirm availability and supported features. SIP OPTIONS tests can target an IP address, FQDN or full URI (username/phone#@domain) using TCP, UDP or TLS for transport.

VoIP DTMF/Distortion Testing

VoIP test calls can now include out-of-band DTMF sequences sent from one or both test agents (in-band DTMF supported for G.711 codecs only). An additional voice distortion measurement option is now available for agent-to-agent tests using G.711 or G.729 codecs.

Telemarketing Call Detection

Automatically identifies users/URIs that exceed a defined threshold for outbound calls per hour and details the worst offenders' call counts on an interactive timeline chart, making it easy to root out unwanted telemarketing activity in your network.

DTMF Content Validation

Detects and reports DTMF sequences in passively monitored VoIP and videoconferencing calls and validates their length and content based on user-defined rules. DTMF content violations can optionally trigger dashboard, email and SNMP alerts.

Custom PDF Report Generation

A new drag-and-drop template creator enables users to easily design the layout of single and multi-page PDF reports. Add and arrange text, images, and time-series charts reporting an extensive range of service, system and security metrics.

Improved Scalability and Performance

Enhancements to navigation and database architecture provide improved support for multi-tenant Cloud deployments, enabling tenants/customers to self-manage users and resources including large numbers of active test agents and passive probes.

CDR Import API

A JSON-based API that enables external systems or scripts to send various forms of Call Detail Record (CDR) data to SQmediator for integration with SQprobe® passive probe reports that are missing URIs, Call IDs and other information due to the use of encrypted SIP signaling in the monitored network.

SQmediator Screenshots

Examples from the Reporter web user interface

The SQmediator Product Suite

Service Provider Edition Small Service Provider Edition Enterprise Edition Business Edition Small Business Edition
Passive Monitoring Option*
Active Testing Option*
Advanced Interactive Dashboards
Integrated Performance Analytics
Multi-server Installation
Single-server Installation
User-definable Thresholds & Alerts
User-definable Aggregation Groups
User-definable Services**
SNMP Support
Web Services API Optional Optional Optional
Oracle and PostgreSQL Support

* Each SQmediator edition includes the option of passive monitoring or active testing. Support for passive + active is available at an additional cost.
** User-defined Services must be enabled using a license key.

Compatibility

SQmediator is a versatile solution that works with various IP phones and VoIP gateways from leading equipment manufacturers. You can easily integrate SQmediator with your existing devices to monitor voice and video quality in your network in real time.

To learn more about how SQmediator can enhance your communication experience, download a Solution Guide (.pdf) for the product of your choice by clicking on one of the logos at right.

To inquire about whether SQmediator is compatible with other products, please contact us.

Avaya logo
Cisco
Grandstream logo
Mitel logo
Poly logo
Snom logo
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Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question that isn't listed here? Click here to submit it to us.

What is SQmediator?
SQmediator is a multi-user performance management system that supports passive quality monitoring and active testing for a variety of IP network services and applications including Voice over IP, IP videoconferencing, web, email, DHCP and DNS. In passive mode, it collects, analyzes and displays performance metrics sent by IP phones, probes and other media endpoints. In active mode, it uses distributed software or hardware test agents to generate simulated VoIP and video conferencing calls and to test network services and applications.
What are the hardware and OS requirements for SQmediator?
SQmediator runs on off-the-shelf Linux server hardware and VMs. You don't need to purchase or install any proprietary hardware to run SQmediator. You can access SQmediator's user interface from any web browser that supports HTML5 and JavaScript.
What are the main components of SQmediator?
SQmediator consists of three main software applications: Reporter, Collector and Controller. The Reporter provides the web user interface that lets you view, analyze and manage your network performance data. The Collector gathers reports from passive sources such as IP phones, probes, and other media endpoints. The Controller manages active test agents that generate synthetic voice and video calls and perform other tests in your network.
How does the Reporter work?
The Reporter is the central hub of the SQmediator system. It provides a secure web user interface that supports multiple users and roles. It allows you to customize your network performance metrics, set service thresholds, group data by customer and location, and receive real-time alerts via the dashboard, email and SNMP traps. It also offers a web services API for integrating with other systems.
How does the Collector work?
The SQmediator Collector gathers quality metrics sent by passive probes and call endpoints, such as IP phones and gateways, that send RFC 6035 reports. If it receives multiple reports for the same call - for example, when each endpoint sends an RFC 6035 report, or the call is also monitored by a probe - the Collector automatically correlates the reports into a unified call record.
How does the Controller work?
The Controller is a management application used to authenticate and configure active test agents, run tests, and collect and store test results in the SQmediator system database. It runs invisibly as a background component, while the Reporter provides the user interface for configuring and running tests.
What devices are compatible with SQmediator?
SQmediator collects quality reports from a variety of IP phones and gateways from leading business equipment manufacturers (see Compatibility for examples). If your phones don't support RFC 6035 reports, you can still monitor the quality of your VoIP calls using SQprobe, a passive monitoring tool that works with any phone.

If you have questions about whether SQmediator works with a specific device, please contact us.
What databases are compatible with SQmediator?
SQmediator requires access to an Oracle or PostgreSQL database to store quality records and other system data. You'll need to download and set up the database yourself, but we provide setup scripts and configuration instructions to get the database ready for use with SQmediator.
How do I customize SQmediator for my needs?
SQmediator is a flexible software solution that lets you choose the features you need. You can use SQmediator for passive monitoring, active testing or both - for any combination of Voice over IP, videoconferencing, network services and applications, and network data analysis. You only pay for the modules you use, so you can tailor SQmediator to your budget and requirements.
If I want to add more features later, do I have to install new software?
In most cases, no. Many SQmediator features can be activated on your system by applying a new license key.
How does SQmediator work with other applications and systems?
SQmediator can communicate with third-party network management systems using SNMP trap notifications. This way, you can get alerts when the service level of your network or application drops below a certain threshold.

SQmediator also has a web services interface based on SOAP/XML that allows client applications to configure, retrieve data and control active tests. The web services API is a standard feature for multi-server versions of SQmediator (Service Provider Edition and Enterprise Edition) and an optional feature for single-server versions (Small Service Provider Edition, Business Edition and Small Business Edition).
Can SQmediator handle the growth of my network?
Yes, SQmediator's multi-server versions are scalable and adaptable to your network needs. With the Service Provider Edition or Enterprise Edition, you can add more Reporters to support more users, and deploy more Collectors as needed to monitor increased traffic as your call volume grows. For active testing, you can deploy more Controllers to handle larger numbers of test agents.
Zoom is a registered trademark or trademark of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. Microsoft Teams is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Google Meet is a registered trademark or trademark of Google, LLC. GoToMeeting is a registered trademark or trademark of LogMeIn, Inc. Webex is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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