Configuring your firewall for remote users is essential for enabling VoIP communications through the Vodia PBX. This setup requires allowing specific TCP and UDP ports, including 5060 and 5061 for SIP signaling, UDP ports 49152 to 64512 for RTP and TCP ports 80 and 443 for web access. Additionally, setting the appropriate IP routing entries ensures both internal and remote phones can communicate effectively, utilizing a netmask that accommodates local network traffic while allowing access from external sources. This dual configuration allows for seamless call management across different network environments.
A firewall controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on an applied rule set and establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure LAN and/or WAN network(s) and the internet (neither secure nor trusted).
Vodia Networks recommends a LAN architecture where the voice traffic bypasses the firewall:
If a firewall feature is configured, it must allow the following ports to pass (if you want to connect remote users to the PBX then you will need to configure the Vodia SBC settings):
Allow TCP/UDP ports 5060, 5061 (for SIP)
Allow UDP ports 49152–64512(for RTP)1
Allow UDP port 123 (for NTP)
Allow TCP port 80 (for HTTP)
Allow TCP port 443 (for HTTPS)
Vodia PBX SBC
In order to make the PBX show the public IP address, you need an entry that matches "every other IP address". In other words, the netmask must be 0.0.0.0 (for example, "0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0/123.124.125.126"). The problem is it will block all calls on the private network, so there is also a necessary rule for the private network.
Example: Let's say the PBX is running on 192.168.1.2 address, the netmask is 255.255.0.0 and the internal SIP phones have 192.168.x.x addresses. So the first part of the entry will be "192.168.0.0/255.255.0.0/192.168.1.2". This part will take care of the internal phones. Now, if the phone and PBX have to talk to remote phones and servers, then you have added another part to the "IP Routing List". Consider the public IP address is 123.124.125.126 (this the IP address provided/assigned by the internet service provider). You can check the public IP using http://whatismyip.com/), then you will have "0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0/123.124.125.126" as the other part of the entry.
Putting it all together, an entry of "192.168.0.0/255.255.0.0/192.168.1.2 0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0/123.124.125.126" will make the PBX serve both internal and remote phones.
In this example, the PBX would not look at the routing presented by the operating system.
Join Vodia Networks on April 8 for a live, in-depth webinar on how real-time media streaming is powering the future of voice communication. Discover how Vodia PBX version 69.5.6 enables seamless AI integration, live call transcription using the Whisper API, and secure voice data handling. Hosted by Sales Engineer Eric Altman and VoIP Engineer Hamlet Collado, this session will walk you through real-world use cases, including OpenAI and Google Speech-to-Text integrations, MS Teams support, and new security features. You’ll also get a first look at Vodia’s AI roadmap and have the opportunity to ask your questions during a live Q&A.
Whisper, OpenAI’s Automatic Speech Recognition system, delivers multilingual, noise-tolerant, and technical-language-ready transcription through a streamlined encoder-decoder architecture. With Vodia PBX’s integration, organizations can choose between using OpenAI’s service or hosting Whisper AI locally for complete data sovereignty and control. This on-premise option ensures that sensitive call data stays within your infrastructure while still benefiting from powerful transcription capabilities. To explore deployment options, see our Whisper AI on-premise setup documentation, review a self-hosted integration example, or follow our cloud-based call transcription guide.
Vodia Sales Engineer Eric Altman attended Enterprise Connect 2025 on March 18 and 19, where he connected with partners and gained insight into the future of enterprise communications. AI was the clear focus of the event, with discussions centered on agentic systems, chatbots, and generative technologies. “It was certainly the main element in the atmosphere,” Eric noted. He also shared his excitement about Vodia PBX version 69.5.6, which includes real-time AI integration with OpenAI and call transcription using the Whisper API. The event confirmed that AI is rapidly becoming a core component of modern communication platforms—and Vodia is well-positioned to lead the way.
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