What’s New in Cisco Unified Communications Manager 9.0

New Features in CUCM 9.0 compiled by and additional notes by: John Meersma – Sunset Learning Institute Unified Communications Specialized Instructor

Downloadable PDF: What’s New in CUCM 9.0

Pause in Speed DialCUCM 9 New Features

Users can configure speed dials with FAC, CMC and post connect DTMF Comma accepted in speed dial as delimiter and pause

Feature allows two methods of configuration:

Method 1: Using comma as a pause and also as a delimiter
Method 2: Dialstring/FAC/CMC/Post connect digits with no commas

Method 1: Command Delimiter for Pause

Comma used to delineate dial string, FAC, CMC, and post connect digits
For post connect digits, commas insert a 2 second delay
Commas may be duplicated to create longer delays
Preferred method for non-CUPC devices

Method 2: No Comma

All digits to be used for dial string, FAC, CMC and post call digits entered as one string
Once a digit string has been matched, CUCM moves on to next digit string
Can be used on SCCP and SIP phones, but required for CUPC

Pause in Speed Dial Examples

914085551212,,,,123456
Will dial 914085551212, after connect, wait 8 seconds to dial 123456

90114455612323#,2244
FAC for International Calls. Will dial 90114455612323# with FAC of 2244

914085551212,6534,5656,,,9933
Will dial 91408551212, with a FAC of 6534 and CMC of 5656, wait 6 seconds, the dial the DTMF digits 9933

914085551212653456569933
Will dial 914085551212 with a FAC of 6534 and CMC of 5656, then immediately after connect, dial 9933

New Service Parameter allows configuration of interdigit delay

If the speed dial FAC or CMC is wrong

Method 1: Call disconnects and an error is displayed
Method 2: phone displays an error and allows user to manually enter information

Pause in Speed Dial Caveats

Dial string is truncated in the calls history list (only dialed number)
Feature may not work with CUPC client and variable length/overlapping dialplans (no comma delineation)
This feature is not supported SRST

Codec Preference

Pre CUCM 9.0

Administrator could only eliminate codecs (based on Maximum Audio Bit Rate)
Could not prioritize G.711alaw over G.711ulaw, or G.729 codecs

With CUCM 9.0

System default codec preference same as earlier versions
Allow administrator to deterministically specify codec order
Allow codec selection based on received offer
Custom Codec list applied globally or on a GW/Trunk Level
Can be applied to: SIP, MGCP, SCCP, H323 and EMCC

Codecs preference still choose by Regions

For SIP Devices/Trunk, can specify “Accept Codec Preference in received Offer”

Can change codec selection for EMCC logged in devices

Codec Preference Caveats

A common Codec Preference List must be the same on all clusters when using the following features:

Extension Mobility Cross Cluster
H323 Inter Cluster Trunks

Biggest challenge will be unexpected codec

Check “Accept Audio Codec Preferences in Received Offer” settings
Check at Device level and system level

When using non-pass through MTP, codec negotiated hop-by-hop

Native Call Queuing

Enables Hunt Pilot to queue callers

Allow for redirection of calls based on different queue criteria
Allow agents to participate in multiple queues
Auto logout and call re-queue if agent does not answer
Longest waiting call in all queues will be delivered first
No ‘post call’ time or agent greeting options
On phone ‘Queue Status’ display

Cisco Extend and Connect

What is the existing limitation?

Using CTI (webex connect or CUCILync), user can monitor a calls, but not control the call
No enterprise features for non-CUCM registered devices
Cannot hold/resume, transfer, conference or park
Remote devices ring and can be answered, but not mid-call features

What is Cisco Extend and Connect?

A new device type, CTI Remote Device that represents all remote destinations for a user
Anchors enterprise calls on the CTI Remote Device
Allows a CTI application (like Jabber) 3rd party control of the remote connection to enable enterprise call features

Examples of a deployment scenario

Contact Center agent working from home

Low bandwidth at house, VOIP not an option (hard phone or soft client) and cell phone is not an option
Extend connect sends call to home phone and CAD agent allows enterprise features needed for contact center agents

Use Cisco Unified Communications with legacy PBX

Customer has PBX under contract and not ready to move phones
Customer wants UC for IM, Chat and messaging, but phones on PBX
Extend Connect enables Jabber deployment for UC, but enterprise control of PBX phone (as remote device for Jabber)

New End User Webpages

CUCM 9.0 now has two types of end-user’s webpages

One type of page is for core Users with one phone and one line
The other page will be for users with multiple phones with one or more lines on each device

New User Page UI targeted towards core users

Cisco Mobility Updates

Simultaneous Ring in previous versions of CUCM

CUCM 7.0 introduced the parameter “Reroute Remote Destination Calls to Enterprise Number”
Calls direct to cell would ignore time of day settings and call the cell
Calls would be anchor on the enterprise phone….but the line would not ring

New features in CUCM 9.0:

Added “Ring All Shared Lines” service parameter
Uses Boolean Setting
True – all lines (including other remote destinations) ring
False – only the dialed number (remote destination) rings
Default and existing behavior is False

Single Number Reach Voicemail

The Problem:

When a call is extended to a SNR destination, CUCM cannot determine if the call was answered by the user or VM
Based on “Answer Too Soon”
Time based mechanism is unreliable and requires tweaking for each service provider

New Solution

CUCM 9.0 introduces a new parameter called “Single Number Reach Voicemail Policy”
Can be either Timer Controlled or User Controlled
Timer Controlled uses existing “Answer Too Soon” timer
User Controlled requires the user to send a signal (DTMF) to accept the call

Hunt Pilot Connected Number Display

Hunt pilot DN display in previous versions

Calls to a hunt pilot display the DN of the hunt pilot as the connected party ID
Applies to both MGCP and SIP trunks

Hunt pilot DN display in CUCM 9.0

This feature allows the connection to be updated with the answering party’s DN as the Called Party ID
Applied on the Hunt Pilot Configuration page
SIP: PAI and Remote PartyID are updated
MGCP/H323: Connected Number sent to update the Called Party ID

RTCP Support

RTCP

RTCP provides out-of-band statistics and control info for RTP
RTP sent on even port and RTCP is send over next higher odd port
RTCP is supported between phones directly

RTCP not supported by:

Trusted Relay Point (TRP)
RSVP Agent
DTMF Translator
Passthru MTP

CUCM 9.0 RTCP New features:

CUCM 9.0 supports RTCP through MTP in pass thru mode
In non-pass thru mode, RTCP will still be blocked
Only valid for SIP to SIP calls

BRI G.Clear

CUCM v7.0 (1) first introduced G.Clear support for MGCP PRI
G.Clear required for tandem ISDN bearer circuits in VOIP network

New features:

CUCM 9.0 expands support for G.Clear to BRI interfaces
Supported on MGCP BRI interface
Supports G.Clear over SIP trunk with Early Offer and G.Clear

Security and OS Updates

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0 v7.0.2
Host rename/reIP simplified (3 less steps to complete)

Optimized CLI commands:

Utils dbreplication stop/dropadmindb/reset
Utils dbreplication forcedatasyncsub
Utils dbreplication status replicate
Utils dbreplication runtimestate

Upgrade paths

L2 upgrade from 8.6(1) and later to 9.0(1)
Refresh Upgrade for 8.x (prior to 8.5), 7.1(5) and 6.1(5)

Security Feature Update

CTL Client Update

Single installer for all Windows versions
Supports Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit), Windows XP and Windows Vista

Updates to AXIS 2.0 (support .NET clients)

Assured Services for SIP Line side devices

MLPP support for 99xx/89xx SIP phones and 3rd party SIP Phone
TLS connections for 3rd party SIP phones

LDAP Enhancements

Custom User Fields

Existing LDAP agreements sync 13 default attributes
LDAP agreements will allow 5 Custom User fields
Custom User Fields are common across all sync agreements
Custom User Fields updated on 1 agreement are synched across all agreements
Attribute will be validated at save time
Error message thrown when saving and the attribute does not exist

LDAP and Manual User Support

Prior to CUCM 9.0

Enabling LDAP sync would prohibit adding local users
End user to be used by CUCM must be defined on AD and synched
Extra users could trigger extra CAL’s on the MS AD

With CUCM 9.0

Administrator can have both LDAP sync users and locally defined users
Ability to modify local users and roles assigned to LDAP users
Deleting LDAP synch will mark users synced for deletion (garbage collection)
Administrator can convert an LDAP user to a local user
User status field is used to differentiate between the Local user and LDAP Synchronized users

To convert LDAP synchronized user to the local user account:

Check the box Convert User Account and Save changes
After a user is converted to local CUCM user all the fields become editable

CUCM IM and Presence

Beginning with release 9.0, CUCM and CUP will start integration to be one product

Includes common release and upgrade process
Centralize administration
Simplify licensing, now included as part of CUCM user licensing
Deprecating IP Phone Messenger (IPPM) and CUPC 7.0

Through CUCM IM and Presence administration screens, configure UC Services for clients

UC Services that can be defined:

Voice Mail
Visual Voice Mail
Conferencing
Directory
IM
Presence
CTI

UC Services are used to build a UC Service Profile

UC Service Profiles assigned to users:

Licensing for the feature handled at the user level
Home cluster specified in the user page

When migrating to CUCM 9.0, existing service profiles and configuration in CUP will be migrated

CUCM IM and Presence uses Templates and Layouts to speed up user creation
BAT/AXL have been updated for CUCM/CUCM IM and Presence

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