HOMER
HOMER is an open-source system for capturing and monitoring SIP, VoIP, and RTC traffic.
What HOMER is
HOMER is an open-source system for capturing and monitoring SIP, VoIP, and RTC traffic. Homer 11 combines HEP packet ingest, DuckLake storage, data nodes, and a REST API coordinator. The ingest module receives HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, and HTTPS. Storage uses Parquet files with a SQLite catalog, and Parquet data can be kept on local disk, S3, or Azure Blob Storage. DuckLake supports queries using snapshots or timestamps. When the writer module is enabled, an OTLP receiver accepts traces, metrics, and logs over OTLP/gRPC or OTLP/HTTP in protobuf or JSON. Optional VQRTCP SIP QoS collection and SIPREC signaling capture also require the writer module. The project documents optional Arrow FlightSQL support for Grafana and REST API access for its UI and external applications. An opt-in MCP module lets compatible clients search HEP data using natural language, with SQL validation limited to SELECT or WITH queries against the specified table. HOMER offers release downloads, official Docker builds, and Compose examples, and lists Linux and macOS support on x64 and ARM64. It is licensed under GNU AGPL version 3 or later.
Good
- Ingests HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, and HTTPS.
- Stores Parquet data on local disk, S3, or Azure Blob Storage.
- Offers release downloads, Docker builds, and Compose examples.
- Licensed under GNU AGPL version 3 or later.
Watch out
- OTLP listener requires the writer module.
- Optional VQRTCP and SIPREC features require the writer module.
- MCP module is disabled by default.
- Traffic decryption is not supported.
Who it suits
HOMER suits teams needing an open-source capture and monitoring system for SIP, VoIP, or RTC traffic, particularly those able to deploy and operate it on Linux or macOS. Its optional features depend on enabling the writer module.
Verdict
HOMER combines packet capture, storage, querying, and an API in an open-source telecom observability system. Check module requirements before relying on OTLP, SIP QoS, or SIPREC features.
The facts
Each one read from HOMER's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI integrations
- The optional MCP module lets compatible clients including Cursor and Claude Desktop search HEP data using natural language.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- API
- Homer includes a Coordinator REST API gateway for its user interface and external applications.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- The security guide says protected API routes require authentication and describes JWT sessions or Auth-Token access when enabled.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Capture
- The ingest module receives HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, and HTTPS.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Data pipeline
- Homer 11 combines HEP capture and ingest, DuckLake storage, a query node, and a REST API coordinator.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The project documents release downloads, official Docker builds, and Compose examples as installation options.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Grafana
- The Homer Node module offers optional Arrow FlightSQL support for Grafana.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project documents optional Arrow FlightSQL for Grafana and REST API access for the UI and external applications.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The Homer repository states that the software is released under the AGPL-3.0 license.checked 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.checked 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- OpenTelemetry
- Homer can ingest OpenTelemetry traces, metrics, and logs over OTLP/gRPC and OTLP/HTTP using protobuf or JSON.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Optional collectors
- Optional VQRTCP SIP QoS collection and SIPREC signaling capture are disabled by default and require the writer module.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- The ingest module receives HEP packets over UDP, TCP, TLS, HTTP, or HTTPS.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- HOMER is an open-source SIP, VoIP, and RTC packet capture and monitoring system.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Querying
- DuckLake supports time-travel queries using snapshots or timestamps.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Search
- The command-line search supports table, vertical, CSV, JSON, chart, call-flow, and SIP PCAP output formats.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- Homer 11 documentation says protected API routes require authentication and describes generated JWT secrets when none is configured.checked 8 Oct 2026
- SIP options
- Optional VQRTCP collection and SIPREC signaling capture are disabled by default and require the writer module.checked 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2011checked 28 Sep 2026
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