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Buyer's Guide
- How buying VoIP benefits businesses
- Criteria to consider when choosing a VoIP vendor
- Choosing the right VoIP product for you
- A glance at the top VoIP products
Cisco UC Manager Basic. This unit is an electronic delivery of one Basic User Connect License for Cisco Unified Communications Manager 11.x. This license applies for one user on one device. Cisco UC Manager is the core control application of Cisco's unified communications platform. Supports: analog.
Editor's note:This article is part of a buying guide on voice over IP (VoIP). The features in this series describe the evolution of VoIP, its use cases, and important criteria to consider when buying a VoIP service. The series also compares the top VoIP products in the marketplace. This article gives an overview of Cisco UCM.
Cisco's Unified Communications Manager (Cisco UCM) is an IP-based communications system that supports voice, conferencing, video, data, instant messaging and mobility services. With Cisco UCM, businesses can replace their legacy PBX telephone system with a modern, secure VoIP system that can scale beyond a legacy PBX and provide unified communications services to multiple locations.
Because of the modular design of Cisco UCM, it is suitable for virtually any size company. It uses a server-clustering design, which allows each cluster to reach 30,000 users. Organizations can deploy multiple clusters, significantly increasing this number to well over 100,000 users. Hardware requirements for a Cisco UCM (CUCM) deployment will depend on the organization's size and which add-ons are selected.
CUCM is available as a standalone product or part of the Cisco Collaboration Solutions -- Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6K) and 7000 (BE7K). The BE7K edition is a family of end-to-end collaboration services designed for fast-growing enterprises, while the BE6K is targeted toward enterprises ranging from 25 to 1,000 users, and provides the necessary applications to support business growth. Both BE7K and BE6K are offered on a virtualized platform running under the VMware hypervisor.
Cisco also offers the much smaller Cisco Call Manager Express (Cisco UCME) IP PBX service, which is targeted for small and medium businesses. Cisco UCME runs directly on Cisco's ISR routers and, depending on the router model, can support up to 450 users. More information on Cisco UCME can be found on Cisco's website. At the core of the system is the CUCM software that runs on either a dedicated hardware server or in a virtualized VMware environment. A standard Cisco UCM setup consists of the following minimum equipment:
- Hardware or virtual server running Cisco UCM
- A voice gateway (ISR Cisco Router), responsible for connecting Cisco UCM with the telecommunications provider (PSTN/ISDN, SIP)
- IP phones for the company's users
In addition to these, customers can select more servers or services to expand functionalities. These additional services are part of Cisco's Unified Collaboration portfolio.
Cisco offers auto-attendant services through Unity Express (a module inside a voice gateway), Unity Server, or the Cisco Customer Response Solutions server.
CUCM provides more than just the basic functionality of an IP phone. With the use of IP Communicator or the newer Cisco Jabber, which requires Cisco Presence Server, users can extend their IP phone to their desktop, allowing them more comprehensive mobility and connectivity.
Users can also access the Web interface of Cisco UCM and change specific settings on their IP phone, insert speed dials and adjust other settings. Generally, Cisco UCM has been built to provide the end user with a range of advanced functions, such as Web/video conferencing, instant messaging and other capabilities.
The Cisco BE6K is the most popular edition and combines the following packages into a single appliance (rack server) running under VMware ESXi:
- Cisco Communications Manager
- Unity Connection
- Unified Presence or Attendant Console
- Contact Center or VCS (Expressway)
- Provisioning Manager
Cisco's flagship product licensing model has changed several times in the past decade due to the increase of services being offered. Licenses are installed on the Cisco Prime License Manager, which monitors Cisco UCM's license requirements and reports back license compliance or noncompliance.
The current licensing model depends heavily on the type of VoIP and collaboration services companies require from Cisco UCM -- this is also reflected partially on the type of IP phone models used. For example, more advanced -- and expensive -- IP phone models have features such as video conferencing and touchscreen capabilities, and therefore require more advanced licenses.
Cisco's website outlines available license types and the functionality each license type covers.
Cisco UCM has a variable pricing structure, depending on the features and functionality chosen. While CUCM can be purchased directly from Cisco's official distribution channels, it is highly advisable that customers contact Cisco directly for the most accurate information. Alternatively, customers can locate a Cisco partner using the Cisco Partner Locator to help guide them through the purchase and installation process.
When installed, Cisco UCM remains fully operational in demo mode for 60 days. During that period, Cisco Prime License Manager must be installed, along with all necessary licenses.
Next Steps
Learn how to manage quality in VoIP.
Discover how VoIP can benefit small businesses.
Explore how VoIP and unified communications work together.
Learn how PBX and VoIP work together.
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Chris Partsenidis asks:
What benefits or drawbacks do you envision from deploying voice over IP technology?
- A New Security Strategy that Protects the Organization When Work Is Happening ...–Citrix
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- Delivering the Promise of Hyperconvergence with Intel Optane Technology–Intel
- Ways to Train:
- Live Classroom
- Live Virtual Class
- HD Class
- Ways to Buy:
- Retail
- CV Centriq Vouchers
- AP AP Eligible
- SA SATV Eligible
- CLC Cisco Learning Credit
Start Date | End Date | Duration | Days | Start Time | End Time | Time Zone | Location | Ways to Train | Ways to Buy | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
06.24.19 | 06.28.19 | 5 Days | M-F | 9:00AM | 5:00PM | Central | Virtual Only | Live Virtual Classroom | CashCVCentriq VouchersCLCCisco Learning Credit | $3995.00 | Enroll Now |
08.26.19 | 08.30.19 | 5 Days | M-F | 9:00AM | 5:00PM | Central | Virtual Only | Live Virtual Classroom | CashCVCentriq VouchersCLCCisco Learning Credit |
$3995.00
10.0 CV / 40.0 CLC
|
Enroll Now |
10.21.19 | 10.25.19 | 5 Days | M-F | 9:00AM | 5:00PM | Central | Virtual Only | Live Virtual Classroom | CashCVCentriq VouchersCLCCisco Learning Credit | $3995.00 | Enroll Now |
*Note: This Cisco Authorized course is exclusive to the HD-ILT Network.
Advanced Administration for Unified Communications Manager and Features 9.x (AAUCMF) is a five-day instructor led course that is intended for experienced unified communications administrators who need in-depth knowledge of Cisco Unified Communications Manager advanced features, services, and troubleshooting. This course is intended to be a follow-on course to ACUCM+AUC, and combines elements from off-the-shelf courses CVOICE, ICOMM, CIPT 2 and TVOICE as well as additional material developed exclusively by Sunset Learning Institute.
The class utilizes Cisco Unified Communications Manager 9.x, and will employ the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Both SCCP and SIP phones are implemented, as well as both H.323 and SIP gateways.
After a short review of Unified Communication architecture and basic administration, the course begins with a discussion of new and changed features in CUCM 8.5/8.6 and 9.0. We move right into implementation of a multi-site dial plan architecture including signaling, call routing for multiple sites with overlapping directory numbers, digit manipulation, automated alternate routing, PSTN backup- and TEHO implementation. Next, we spend time working on call admission control, hardware media resource implementation, and inter-cluster communications. Students will spend time implementing extension mobility, unified mobility (including single-number reach) and device mobility. The CUCM portion of the class concludes with a module on tools, tips and tricks for the Bulk Administration Tool and a lesson on reading CUCM trace files for troubleshooting.
This course was exclusively developed to provide additional training for those who already have a basic understanding of CUCM and Unity Connection administration and are looking further training. This is not a certification or implementation course.
Audience
The primary audience for this course is as follows:
- Experienced Unified Communications Engineers
- Anyone who has attended ACUCM+AUC and needs more training on advanced features and troubleshooting
Prerequisites
The knowledge and skills that a learner should have before attending this course are as follows:
- To fully benefit from this course, students should have the following prerequisite skills and knowledge:
- CCNA Voice or equivalent knowledge
- ACUCM+AUC and additional field experience
Course Completion
![Licensing Types For The Unified Communications Manager 11.5 Licensing Types For The Unified Communications Manager 11.5](/uploads/1/2/4/7/124725192/295061443.jpg)
The knowledge and skills that a learner should have before attending this course are as follows:
- Describe CUCM signaling to phones, gateways, and media resources (H.323, SIP, SCCP)
- Configure inbound and outbound call routing in a multisite environment with overlapping DNs
- Configure intersite dialing with PSTN backup using Local Route Groups
- Use class of control to control inbound call flow and permit blocking of inbound calls
- Implement Survivable Remote Site Telephony for both SCCP and SIP devices
- Implement intersite and intercluster Call Admission Control and intersite Automated Alternate Routing
- Implement DSP hardware media resources
- Implement Tail-End Hopoff (TEHO)
- Configure Extension Mobility, Unified Mobility (Single Number Reach and Mobile Voice Access), and Device Mobility
- Use CUCM Tools such as the Real Time Monitoring Tool to Monitor and perform basic Troubleshooting
View Course Outline
Module 1: Unified Communications Review
- Module 2: Dial Plan Architecture
- Module 3: Intersite and Intercluster Calling Architecture and Features
- Module 4: Mobility
- Module 5: Tools & Troubleshooting
Module 2 Labs
- Lab 2-1: Implementing Site-Specific Device Pools
- Lab 2-2: Building SCCP and SIP Phones using a Universal Device Template (New in 9.0)
- Lab 2-3: Implementing Basic Multisite Connections
- Lab 2-6: Configuring Inbound Calling in a Multisite Environment
- Lab 2-7: Implementing SCCP and SIP SRST
Module 3 Labs:
- Lab 3-1: Implementing CAC and AAR
- Lab 3-2: Implementing Media Resources
- Lab 3-3: Configuring Hunting with Native Call Queuing (New in CUCM 9.0)
- Lab 3-4: Configure Intercluster Dialing over a SIP Intercluster Trunk
- Lab 3-5: Configure Intercluster Enhanced Locations-Based Call Admission Control
- Lab 3-6: Implementing Tail-End Hopoff (TEHO)
Module 4 Labs:
- Configure LDAP Integration
- Implementing Extension Mobility
- Implementing Extension Mobility Cross-Cluster
- Implementing Unified Mobility
- Implementing Device Mobility
Module 5 Labs:
- BAT Tips and Tricks
- Planning for Firmware Upgrades
- Reading RTMT Trace Files
- Reading GW debugs (H.323 and SIP) and relating to RTMT Trace Files
Optional Additional Labs:
- Implementing Extension Mobility Cross Cluster (EMCC)
- Reporting using the Call Detail Record Analysis and Reporting Tool (CAR)