Is there a way to completely disable all the sound files in confbridge.conf

Asterisk Asterisk Support
1

We are using ConfBridges to connect multiple callers. In many scenarios we do not want or need the CBAnn channels allocated and connected to the ConfBridge.

Is there a way to do this?

I tried setting the sound values to blank, but then it seems like Asterisk plays the default sound files.

If not, it would be really nice future feature to be able to disable them for each ConfBridge. Basically, don’t allocate CBAnn for scenarios that they are not needed.

2

You could create an empty sound file, in a raw format, e.g. .sln.

3

There is also a “silence” option on the bridge user profile which silences sounds, I’d expect that should stop the sounds. As for the CBAnn channel - if it’s getting added regardless then I don’t think there is any way to stop that, and you’d need to file a feature request.

4

This is exactly how we handled it.

Our problem is we have customers to have become so large that we are seeing the created CBAnn not able to keep up.

5

Thanks Joshua. Guessing you are referring to the user quiet setting.

We do set this to yes (matching the confbrige.conf.sample) for all users. Unfortunately the CBAnn channel is still created and seems to read files for each user?

Where we run into problems is our large customers have so many ConfBridges with channels that we start seeing a ton of these in the system.

Exceptionally long voice queue length (97 voice / 98 total) queuing to CBAnn/___;1

From the scenario I have been told we are testing, none of the calls would actually use the CBAnn channel.

Purely guessing, the CBAnn channels may be reading our file (tiny file with just silence) even though every user has the sound quiet setting. Guessing it’s reading the file because of the
output we see with larger call volumes.

Exceptionally long voice queue length (97 voice / 98 total) queuing to CBAnn/___;1

If it’s still reading the files even though no one will ever hear it, it’s bad for overall Asterisk performance.

On the other hand, if it just allocates the CBAnn but never accesses the files unless needed that someone must not be giving me accurate information of the customer scenario. All logs I have scene indicate the users are set to quiet.

This seems to slow Asterisk down to the point our customers can’t handle the traffic they need.
I have suggested they split the capacity on multiple Asterisk boxes (not just for load, but also means less of a single point of failure). Unfortunately, that suggestion is being met with resistance.

6

What version of Asterisk?

7

As well, is this a ConfBridge with 2 people in it or is it actually a conference bridge with multiple?

I’d also add that CBAnn not being able to keep up is a symptom, it is not a cause. If things were changed such that CBAnn wasn’t present you may just be pushing your threshold higher on things.

8

They ran the test using 20.10.0. I asked them to upgrade to our newer software that uses 20.13.0. I will let you know when I hear back on this. Previously, your suggestion of upgrading to Asterisk 20.13.0 did fix an ARI Bridge issue we encountered. Fingers crossed this upgrade takes care of what we are seeing.

It is a ConfBridge with 2 channels.

  • PJSIP Caller + local channel (using AMI so local channel added allows us to play and hangup the local channel to stop the play…AMI doesn’t support start/stop play like ARI does).
  • PJSIP Caller + Agent caller. We ConfBridge together. In some cases we may have more callers join so it can become a multi-party but we still never want them to hear join/leave/etc messages. We can also has a Supervisor join in the ConfBridge to provide assistance.

Understand that it’s just moving the goal post and may not actually improve things. The fact we using AMI for this is an additional issue. Single socket/single bottleneck for 1000+ channels, ConfBridges, etc. Miraculously, we have been able to reach 1000+ live callers with 200-400, agents, 50+ Supervisors, and more when we avoid the ConfBridge to play messages to the person before it reaches the Agent.

Already working to move all the playing to ARI where we use a Bridge with ExternalMedia to stream the audio elsewhere. Reducing the demand on Asterisk for playing/recording files. Can’t thank the developers enough for the ExternalMedia support. Allows Asterisk to keep up with a rapidly changing world.

9

Fundamentally ConfBridge is not optimized for that usage pattern. It adds a lot of overhead.

10

Thanks Joshua.

Understand.

Any chance I missed something in the documentation? Can a Bridge be used via AMI?
(Back in the 2007-2009 timeframe when I started on this, Asterisk was a lot greener and there was a ton of misinformation or outdated information.)

(Understand ARI is the way to go for the future. Unfortunately, dealing with old and new simultaneously).

11

I don’t remember off the top of my head. Any Bridge actions would be documented and thus on the docs site automatically.

12

I see the AMI Bridge, but we need to support what may be 2 to start, but grow to 3, 4, etc. No prompts.

13

That’s ARI.

14

Thanks Joshua. I was just looking. I don’t recall if AMI Bridge existed when I started working with Asterisk. Looks like it will not suffice for us because we need more than 2 channels in many cases.

15

ARI is an alternative to writing C code against the internal C APIs. It is one of several options, including traditional dialplan, that cover different types of usage. It is not a replacement for dialplan, AGI, AMI, etc.

16

True.

There are tens of thousands-millions of use cases for Asterisk. Amazing how many different ways everyone uses it. Always best for each person/company to understand what benefits them and their needs.