A recording method, wherein the method is applied to a voice call system, the voice call system comprises an IP private branch exchange IP PBX, a mirror switch, and at least one recording server, the IP PBX is connected to the mirror switch, and the method comprises: when the IP PBX receives a recording instruction sent by any terminal of multiple terminals that are in a same call, sending, by the IP PBX, a first recording indication to a working recording server of the at least one recording servers, which is connected to a mirrored port of the mirror switch, wherein the first recording indication comprises a terminal identifier of the any terminal of the multiple terminals, and the first recording indication is used to instruct the working recording server to acquire, from the mirror switch according to the terminal identifier by using the mirrored port, a media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call, and store, corresponding to the terminal identifier, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call; acquiring, by the IP PBX, an IP address and a number of a port for transmitting the media stream that are of the working recording server; and sending, by the IP PBX, to the working recording server by using the IP address and the port number, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals that are in the same call have the call, and sending the terminal identifier and a second recording indication to the working recording server, to instruct the working recording server to stop acquiring, from the mirror switch, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals that are in the same call have the call, and start to store, corresponding to the terminal identifier, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call and that is received from the IP PBX. when the IP PBX receives a recording instruction sent by any terminal of multiple terminals that are in a same call, sending, by the IP PBX, a first recording indication to a working recording server of the at least one recording servers, which is connected to a mirrored port of the mirror switch, wherein the first recording indication comprises a terminal identifier of the any terminal of the multiple terminals, and the first recording indication is used to instruct the working recording server to acquire, from the mirror switch according to the terminal identifier by using the mirrored port, a media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call, and store, corresponding to the terminal identifier, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call; acquiring, by the IP PBX, an IP address and a number of a port for transmitting the media stream that are of the working recording server; and sending, by the IP PBX, to the working recording server by using the IP address and the port number, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals that are in the same call have the call, and sending the terminal identifier and a second recording indication to the working recording server, to instruct the working recording server to stop acquiring, from the mirror switch, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals that are in the same call have the call, and start to store, corresponding to the terminal identifier, the media stream that is generated when the multiple terminals have the call and that is received from the IP PBX.