Managing Realms

A realm is a logical way of identifying a domain, a network, a collection of networks, or a set of addresses. Realms are used when an SBC communicates with multiple network elements over a shared intermediate connection. Realms allow for flows to pass through a connection point between two networks.

From an external perspective, a realm is a collection of systems that generates realtime interactive communication sessions comprised of signaling messages and media flows, or a group of multiple networks containing these systems.

From an internal perspective, a realm is associated with SBC configurations to define interfaces and resources in a logical way. Realms are used to support policies that control the collection of systems or networks that generate media sessions.

In the ISR Dashboard, an Administrator can now add, edit, and delete realms using the Manage Realms option on the Admin Menu. After adding a realm, you can then associate an account to that realm. An account can have multiple associated realms and a realm can have multiple associated accounts.

Note:

The configured realm must already exist in the SBC before adding it to the ISR.

How Realm-based Recording Works

The ISR performs recording affiliation and route-matching based on the configured route pattern and the associated realm. The ISR only inspects incoming SIPREC INVITEs for the inclusion of a realm label within the SIPREC extension data. If a realm label exists, it is used to search any configured routes associated with an account(s) in the matching realm. The RSS looks for a To/From match (similar to the way lookups are performed) in the realm's configured accounts and routes.

The following flow diagram illustrates how the ISR performs realm-based recording.

When adding a realm, the ISR checks for a wildcard "%" character in the Realm Label. If the wildcard exists, an error message displays. If a wildcard does not exist, the realm is added.

Deleting a realm removes all associations to accounts in the ISR database. The ISR compares the routes of the deleted realm with the routes not in a realm. If there are routes of the same type and pattern in both locations, an error displays and the delete function fails.

In Realm edit view, the associated account(s) in the realm display. In the Accounts edit view, the realm(s) associated with the account display only after adding an associated realm(s) to the ISR.

The following rules apply when associating an account(s) to a realm:

• You can associate multiple accounts to a single realm. Routes created on these accounts must have unique route patterns across the related accounts.
• Wildcard routes:
  • are treated like normal 'pattern' routes. They are unique across realms and accounts.
  • can have any priority.
  • if set with a higher priority than a 'distinct' route, the Dashboard displays a warning that the user is about to set a wildcard route higher than the list of lower priority routes, and prompts the user to confirm whether or not to continue.
• You cannot configure wildcard realms.
• Associating a realm with an account(s) is optional. Routes created across accounts with no realms must be unique. This allows the ISR to support legacy (non-SIPREC) installations, as well as maintain compatibility with other SIPREC compliant Session Recording Clients (SRCs).

Use the Realms option on the Admin page to manage Realms.

Realms Page

The following table describes the information displayed on the Realms page.

Column	Description
Label	Label name assigned to the Realm.
Description	Description of the Realm.

Adding a Realm

You can add a realm to the ISR database using the Create button on the Realm page. You can then associate an account to that realm.

To add a realm:

1. After logging into the ISR Dashboard, click Admin.
2. Click Realms. The Realms page displays.
3. Click Create. The following dialog box displays.
   
4. Label—Enter the name of the realm to add to the ISR database.
5. Description—(optional) Enter a description for the realm you are adding.
6. Click Create. The Edit Realm page displays.

Associating an Account to a Realm

You can associate an account to any realm that exists in the ISR database.

To associate an account to a realm:

1. On the Realms page, select a realm and click Edit. The Edit Realm page displays.
   
2. Click Account Configuration to expand the realms page.
3. Select an Account to add—Select an account from the drop-down box and click Add. A prompt displays asking if you are sure you want to add this account.
4. To add the account to the realm, click Continue or to cancel the add function, click the X in the upper-right corner of the prompt box.

   If you add an account, the account information displays in the "Realm Accounts" page. All routes associated with the account also display in the Realm Routes page. 
For more information about editing routes, see "Configuring/Editing Details of a Route".

Editing a Realm

You can edit the realm label and description if required.

To edit a realm:

1. On the Realm list page, select a realm and click Details. The Edit Realm page displays.
   
2. Label—Edit the name of the realm.
3. Description—Edit the description of the realm.
4. Click Update. The following message displays when an updated is successful.

   Applied update successfully.

Deleting a Realm

You can delete a realm if required.

To delete a realm:

1. On the Realm list page, select a realm and click Delete.


   A prompt appears asking if you are sure you want to delete this Realm.

2. Click Continue to delete the selected realm or click the X in the upper right corner of the box to cancel the delete function.

   If you clicked Continue, the Realm deletes from the ISR database and from the Realm list page.