Mismatched audio stream parameters

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 81 views

Troubleshooting SIP Session Negotiation Issues with TLS

Improvement Description

When encountering the error 'res_pjsip_session.c: 311: Couldn't negotiate stream 0:audio-0:audio:sendrecv (nothing)' in FreePBX or Asterisk, it can be challenging to identify the root cause of the issue, especially when dealing with secure connections using Transport Layer Security (TLS). In this article, we will delve into the details of SIP session negotiation and provide a step-by-step guide on how to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Understanding SIP Session Negotiation

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is a signaling protocol used for establishing, modifying, and terminating real-time communication sessions, such as voice and video calls. When a SIP session is initiated, the client (e.g., a phone or softphone) sends a request to the server (e.g., an Asterisk or FreePBX server) to establish a connection. The server then responds with its own request, and the negotiation process begins.

The Role of TLS in SIP Session Negotiation

TLS is a cryptographic protocol used to secure communication between two endpoints. In the context of SIP session negotiation, TLS is used to encrypt the signaling traffic between the client and server. When TLS is enabled, the client and server must agree on the encryption parameters, such as the cipher suite and key exchange algorithm.

Analyzing the Error Message

The error message 'res_pjsip_session.c: 311: Couldn't negotiate stream 0:audio-0:audio:sendrecv (nothing)' indicates that the client and server were unable to agree on the audio stream parameters. To troubleshoot this issue, we need to analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for.

Enabling Debug Logging

To enable debug logging in Asterisk or FreePBX, you can add the following lines to the sip.conf file:

debug => yes

This will enable debug logging for the SIP channel driver.

Analyzing the Logs

Once debug logging is enabled, you can analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for. The logs will contain information about the SIP request and response, including the offer and answer from the client and server.

Example Log Output

Here is an example of log output that shows the offer and answer from the client and server:

== Using SIP RTP TOS audio on call
== Using SIP RTP TOS video on call
SIP/2.0 180 Ringing
Via: SIP/2.0/UDP 192.168.1.100:5060;branch=z9hG4bK123456
From: <sip:100@192.168.1.100>;tag=123456
To: <sip:200@192.168.1.100>
Call-ID: 1234567890
CSeq: 1 INVITE
Contact: <sip:100@192.168.1.100>
Content-Type: application/sdp
Content-Length: 200

v=0
o=- 1234567890 1234567890 IN IP4 192.168.1.100
s=- 1234567890
c=IN IP4 192.168.1.100
t=0 0
m=audio 49170 RTP/AVP 0
a=rtpmap:0 PCMU/8000
a=ptime:20
m=video 0 RTP/AVP 34
a=rtpmap:34 H263-1998/90000
a=ptime:10

SIP/2.0 200 OK
Via: SIP/2.0/UDP 192.168.1.100:5060;branch=z9hG4bK123456
From: <sip:100@192.168.1.100>;tag=123456
To: <sip:200@192.168.1.100>
Call-ID: 1234567890
CSeq: 1 INVITE
Contact: <sip:200@192.168.1.100>
Content-Type: application/sdp
Content-Length: 200

v=0
o=- 1234567890 1234567890 IN IP4 192.168.1.100
s=- 1234567890
c=IN IP4 192.168.1.100
t=0 0
m=audio 49170 RTP/AVP 0
a=rtpmap:0 PCMU/8000
a=ptime:20
m=video 0 RTP/AVP 34
a=rtpmap:34 H263-1998/90000
a=ptime:10

In this example, the client (192.168.1.100) is offering to send and receive audio and video streams, while the server (192.168.1.100) is responding with its own offer to send and receive audio and video streams.

Identifying the Issue

By analyzing the logs, we can identify the issue with the SIP session negotiation. In this case, the client and server are not agreeing on the audio stream parameters. The client is offering to send and receive audio streams using the PCMU codec, while the server is responding with its own offer to send and receive audio streams using the G.729 codec.

Resolving the Issue

To resolve the issue, we need to ensure that the client and server are agreeing on the audio stream parameters. We can do this by modifying the sip.conf file to specify the audio codec to be used.

Example sip.conf File

Here is an example of a sip.conf file that specifies the audio codec to be used:

[general]
debug => yes

[100]
type=friend
username=100
secret=100
context=from-internal
host=dynamic
dtmfmode=rfc2833
disallow=all
allow=ulaw

In this example, the sip.conf file specifies that the audio codec to be used is ulaw.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the issue of SIP session negotiation with TLS and provided a step-by-step guide on how to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. By analyzing the logs and identifying the issue, we can ensure that the client and server are agreeing on the audio stream parameters and resolve the issue.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks for troubleshooting SIP session negotiation issues with TLS:

Enable debug logging: Enable debug logging on the client and server to analyze the SIP request and response.
Analyze the logs: Analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for.
Identify the issue: Identify the issue with the SIP session negotiation by analyzing the logs.
Modify the sip.conf file: Modify the sip.conf file to specify the audio codec to be used.
Test the connection: Test the connection to ensure that it is working correctly.

By following these tips and tricks, you can troubleshoot and resolve SIP session negotiation issues with TLS and ensure that your SIP connections are working correctly.
SIP Session Negotiation Issues with TLS: Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about SIP session negotiation issues with TLS.

Q: What is the cause of the 'res_pjsip_session.c: 311: Couldn't negotiate stream 0:audio-0:audio:sendrecv (nothing)' error?

A: The 'res_pjsip_session.c: 311: Couldn't negotiate stream 0:audio-0:audio:sendrecv (nothing)' error is caused by a mismatch between the audio stream parameters offered by the client and server.

Q: How do I troubleshoot SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: To troubleshoot SIP session negotiation issues with TLS, you need to enable debug logging on the client and server, analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for, and identify the issue with the SIP session negotiation.

Q: What are the common causes of SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: The common causes of SIP session negotiation issues with TLS include:

Mismatched audio stream parameters: The client and server are not agreeing on the audio stream parameters.
Incorrect SIP configuration: The SIP configuration is not correctly set up.
TLS issues: There are issues with the TLS connection.

Q: How do I resolve SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: To resolve SIP session negotiation issues with TLS, you need to:

Enable debug logging: Enable debug logging on the client and server to analyze the SIP request and response.
Analyze the logs: Analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for.
Identify the issue: Identify the issue with the SIP session negotiation.
Modify the sip.conf file: Modify the sip.conf file to specify the audio codec to be used.
Test the connection: Test the connection to ensure that it is working correctly.

Q: What are the best practices for troubleshooting SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: The best practices for troubleshooting SIP session negotiation issues with TLS include:

Enable debug logging: Enable debug logging on the client and server to analyze the SIP request and response.
Analyze the logs: Analyze the logs to determine what both sides of the conversation are asking for.
Identify the issue: Identify the issue with the SIP session negotiation.
Modify the sip.conf file: Modify the sip.conf file to specify the audio codec to be used.
Test the connection: Test the connection to ensure that it is working correctly.

Q: How do I prevent SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: To prevent SIP session negotiation issues with TLS, you need to:

Ensure correct SIP configuration: Ensure that the SIP configuration is correctly set up.
Use the correct audio codec: Use the correct audio codec to ensure that the client and server are agreeing on the audio stream parameters.
Test the connection: Test the connection to ensure that it is working correctly.

Q: What are the consequences of not resolving SIP session negotiation issues with TLS?

A: The consequences of not resolving SIP session negotiation issues with TLS include:

Failed calls: Calls will fail due to the inability to negotiate the audio stream parameters.
Poor call quality: Calls will have poor quality due to the incorrect audio codec being used.
Security risks: The TLS connection will be compromised, leading to security risks.

By following these best practices and troubleshooting tips, you can resolve SIP session negotiation issues with TLS and ensure that your SIP connections are working correctly.