XSwitch: A comprehensive analysis of a versatile converged communications platform-Bek Industrial Communications

What is XSwitch?

XSwitch is a multi-functional platform that supports various communication services such as telephone, video conferencing, call centers, 5G video gateways, VoIP, SIP, WebRTC, AI, ChatGPT, etc. It can be used to build IP-PBX, video conferencing servers, fax servers, multi-protocol gateways, call center servers, etc. XSwitch provides REST and WebSocket secondary development interfaces and is built based on open-source technologies, such as FreeSWITCH, PostgreSQL, Kamailio, Nginx, etc.
XSwitch

Features of XSwitch

XSwitch is a powerful tool with the following features:

1. Functional Features

Features	Descriptions
Request Forwarding	It can forward the backend address of a request to the specified target address without modifying the front-end code. For example, during the development process, requests in the online environment can be forwarded to the local environment, which is convenient for interface development and debugging.
Seamless Switching	The plugin is easy to operate, and when the backend address is switched, there will be no changes on the front-end page, providing a good user experience.
Global Activation Switch	Users can easily turn on or off the functions of XSwitch through simple operations, enabling them to flexibly control the working state of XSwitch according to actual needs, improving usability and security.
Utilizing Native API	It makes full use of the native API of the Chrome browser to provide stable and efficient performance without introducing additional risks. Compared with extensions that rely on third-party libraries or other non-native technologies, its security and performance are significantly improved.
Easy to Configure and Use	The interface is simple and intuitive, allowing users to easily make various settings. Both developers and ordinary users can quickly get started and enjoy the convenience it brings.

2. Other Features (for Different Versions or Types of XSwitch)

Features	Descriptions
Cross-platform	It supports mainstream operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a wide range of applicability.
Highly Extensible	The rich plugin system allows the toolset to continuously expand. It supports a custom plugin system, and users can write plugins with specific functions according to their needs, such as switching Node.js versions and managing Docker containers.
Efficient Collaboration	It is integrated with Git to ensure that team members work in the correct environment. It supports JSON configuration files, facilitating users to customize personalized settings and enabling automatic detection and switching to the specified branches of each project.
Flexible Configuration	Users can adjust the default behavior according to their needs through JSON configuration files to meet the personalized needs of different users.
Support for Multiple Functions	As a carrier-class integrated audio and video communication platform and softswitch system, it can be used as an IP - PBX, video conferencing server, fax server, multi-protocol gateway, call center server, etc. It provides REST and WebSocket secondary development interfaces, supports all-round interconnection and interoperability, and can be connected with systems and protocols such as PSTN, SIP, H323, E1/T1, WebRTC, RTSP, RTMP, GB28181, etc. It also supports docking with Agora (Agora.io), Tencent Meeting, WeChat Mini Programs, etc. It is a converged communication platform that supports voice, video, instant messaging, fax, etc. The platform provides open interfaces and APIs, which can be connected with various AI platforms and CRM business systems.
Running Environment Diversity	It runs in the GNU/Linux environment, supports general-purpose 64-bit servers, supports virtual machine and Docker containerization, K8S cloud-native deployment, as well as ARM systems such as Raspberry Pi. It also supports cloud environments such as Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Huawei Cloud, QingCloud, Amazon Web Services, etc., supports private deployment, supports domestic Linux platforms such as UOS and Kylin, supports domestic CPUs such as ARM, MIPS, and Kylin, and supports Kunpeng and TaiShan series servers.
Enhanced Conference-related Functions	Many patches have been made to video conferencing to fix some bugs. It supports xTalk, supports 100 people on the same screen (10x10 layout), improves performance, and a single machine can support 200 parties with 720p video in the same conference.
Support for Multiple New Features	It uses Redis as a message queue to send JSON messages; Lua natively supports JSON and supports synchronous and asynchronous HTTP requests; Verto supports XUI login and uses Redis for shared sessions; the OpenH264 module is enhanced; it supports H265 encoding and decoding; it supports playing mp4 files directly without decoding, with performance improved by N times; it supports recording without decoding, with performance improved by N times; the mod_callcenter function is enhanced; it supports 4G VoLTE and 5G NR video calls; it supports audio and video renegotiation, audio and video upscaling and downscaling; it supports JWT authentication; the mod_png function is enhanced; it can play RTSP streams; it supports SIP dual-stream (BFCP); K8S support is optimized; AMR encoding is optimized; MRCP is enhanced; it supports passing video click coordinates; besides png, it supports image formats such as jpg, bmp, hdr, etc.; it supports dual-channel SSML; it supports playing transparent png images; the Jitter Buffer is enhanced; it supports WebRTC local mDNS negotiation; and some channel variables are added to control call behaviors.

Application Scenarios of XSwitch

XSwitch can be applied in various scenarios, for example:

Development and Debugging: Developers can use XSwitch to forward resources in the online environment to the local environment for debugging, improving development efficiency.
Remote Office: Personnel working in different network environments can use XSwitch to quickly forward resources and maintain work continuity.
Cross-domain Requests: XSwitch supports cross-domain requests and can forward requests from one domain name to another, solving cross-domain restriction problems.
Network Security Testing: XSwitch can be used to evaluate the behavior of applications when the network changes, enhancing network security.

Advantages of XSwitch

XSwitch is mainly used to implement request redirection. The following are the advantages of XSwitch:

Based on Chrome Extension: It can be used immediately after installation without the need for additional configuration of other environments.
Based on Monaco Editor: Users can use the shortcut operation methods provided by the editor and support writing JSON comments.
Instant Saving and Instant Effectiveness: The configuration takes effect immediately after modification, without the need to restart the browser or plugins.
Automatically Prompting Loaded Resource Files on the Page: As a reminder, currently only http(s) addresses are captured, and addresses of other protocols are ignored.
Support for Request Address Forwarding: It can redirect specified network requests to other addresses, solving problems such as URL mapping and cross-domain access in the test environment.
Global Plugin Enable Switch: Users can easily turn on or off the functions of XSwitch through simple operations, improving usability and security.
Ability to Disable Browser Cache: It is convenient to obtain the latest data during the development and debugging process.
Support for CORS and withCredentials: It solves the problem of cross-domain resource sharing and supports requests with credentials.
Cross-domain and Cache Disable Keys: Users can right-click on the XSwitch plugin icon on the browser toolbar and select "Settings" to disable cross-domain and cache.
Grouping Rules: It supports setting different forwarding rule groups for convenient management and switching.
Support for Regular Expressions: Regular expressions can be used when setting forwarding rules, providing a more flexible matching method.
Highly Customizable: It supports customized configuration to meet the needs of different users.
Open Source: XSwitch is an open-source project, and users can participate in the improvement and development of the project.
Support for Multi-tenant Functionality: The system has limited support for multi-tenant functionality. Each user has a "domain" field, and different domains can be filled in for different users.
Support for AXB Privacy Number Protection Mechanism: Users can directly make outbound calls using the pre-bound X number to protect user privacy.
Support for Cluster Deployment: Customized support for cluster deployment can be achieved to implement more powerful functions.
Built Based on Open-source Technologies: Such as FreeSWITCH, PostgreSQL, Nginx, etc., providing stable performance and scalability.
Provision of REST and WebSocket Secondary Development Interfaces: Facilitating developers to conduct secondary development and implement more functions.
Support for Telephone, Fax, Video Conferencing, Call Centers, etc.: It supports mainstream communication protocols such as SIP, H323, WebRTC, RTMP, etc., providing a one-stop voice, video, and conference solution.
Support for Stand-alone Deployment and Cloud-native Cluster Deployment: It supports unlimited expansion and dynamic scaling, applicable to application scenarios of different scales.

What Communication Services Does XSwitch Support?

XSwitch is a software platform that supports multiple communication services. It supports the following main communication services:

Offline ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition): XSwitch provides an offline ASR service based on the open-source Vosk engine, which can recognize languages such as Chinese and English and is suitable for scenarios that require speech recognition functions.
Offline TTS (Text to Speech): XSwitch has an embedded espeak-ng module that supports Chinese TTS and can convert text into speech output, which is suitable for development and testing.
TGML (Tone Generation Markup Language) Ringtone Generation: XSwitch supports using the TGML language to generate various ringtones, including telephone ringback tones, busy tones, etc., which can be directly set on the XSwitch interface or used in the Dialplan.
Call Management: XSwitch provides call management functions, including modular call flow design, which can implement complex call logic and supports the export and import of code in formats such as Lua, XML, and SVG.
DID (Direct Inward Dialing): XSwitch supports the DID function, allowing users to directly dial the extension numbers in PBX or VoIP systems without going through the switchboard or automated attendant systems.
Gateway Management: XSwitch supports the SIP/H323 protocols and can configure SIP gateways to enable SIP to make external calls. It also supports private deployment and open-source cooperation.
WebRTC Communication: XSwitch supports modern WebRTC communication, enabling real-time audio and video calls between browsers without the need to install additional plugins.

The above services enable XSwitch to meet the communication needs of different enterprises, providing stable and reliable solutions for both internal and external communications.

What specific roles does XSwitch play in network security testing?

The roles of XSwitch in network security testing are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Network Isolation and Access Control

XSwitch can be used to isolate different parts of the network to prevent unauthorized access and data leakage. By configuring Access Control Lists (ACLs), it is possible to precisely control which traffic can pass through the switch, thereby strengthening network security.

Defending Against Network Attacks: XSwitch can help detect and block various network attacks, such as DDoS attacks, virus propagation, etc. By monitoring network traffic, XSwitch can identify abnormal behaviors and take timely measures to block attacks, reducing damage to network resources.
Data Encryption and Protection: XSwitch supports data encryption technologies and can encrypt data transmission to ensure the security of data during transmission. This is particularly important for protecting sensitive information, preventing data from being intercepted and tampered with during transmission.
Network Performance Monitoring: XSwitch can monitor network performance indicators, such as latency, packet loss rate, etc., enabling timely detection and resolution of network performance issues. This helps maintain the stable operation of the network and improves the quality of network services.
Fault Diagnosis and Recovery: When network failures occur, XSwitch can help quickly locate the problem, shortening the fault recovery time. By analyzing network traffic and device status, XSwitch can provide detailed fault reports to guide engineers in effective fault troubleshooting.

In summary, XSwitch plays an important role in network security testing, not only enhancing the network's security protection capabilities but also improving the network's performance and reliability.

Advantages of XSwitch Compared with Traditional VoIP Systems

XSwitch is a cloud-computing-based next-generation Internet IP communication system that provides a series of advanced communication solutions, including softswitching, intelligent robots, call centers, enterprise communications, video conferences, etc. Compared with traditional VoIP systems, XSwitch has the following significant advantages:

Cloud Computing Platform: XSwitch supports private deployment and can run in the cloud, which means that enterprises can enjoy a flexible resource allocation and pay-as-you-go service model, reducing the initial investment cost and maintenance difficulty.
Rich Business Capabilities: XSwitch provides rich business capabilities and development interfaces. Enterprises can directly use these functions or conduct customized development according to their own needs to achieve more flexible communication solutions.
Support for Multiple Communication Protocols: XSwitch supports the SIP/H323 protocols as well as modern WebRTC communication, enabling it to be compatible with more devices and applications and improving the system's universality and expandability.
Intelligent Functions: XSwitch integrates intelligent functions such as intelligent robots and can provide services such as automatic outbound calls, speech recognition, and speech synthesis, improving work efficiency and service quality.
Open APIs: XSwitch provides open APIs, allowing enterprises to interface with other business systems to achieve communication, CRM, ERP, and OA automation, which helps enterprises integrate resources and improve overall operational efficiency.
Private Deployment and Open-source Cooperation: XSwitch supports private deployment, enabling enterprises to fully control the communication system on their own, breaking the black box of commercial communication systems and saving costs. Meanwhile, through open-source cooperation, enterprises can participate in the improvement and optimization of the system and obtain better technical support and service.

In summary, XSwitch has obvious advantages over traditional VoIP systems in aspects such as cloud computing, business capabilities, protocol support, intelligent functions, API openness, and private deployment, and can provide enterprises with more efficient, flexible, and intelligent communication solutions.