Installing Cisco applications automatically

[parzee_forums]

We have developed an automation tool in which we are able to automate and simplify Cisco Unified Application installations.

We currently support Cisco BE series (6000 and 7000) running ESXi. The following applications are supported today:

• Cisco CallManager (Single and Cluster)
• Cisco Unity  (Single and Cluster)
• Cisco Presence  (Single and with CUCM)
• VCS
• Telepresence Server
• Conductor
• CSPC

We connect to Cisco server remotely and perform the installation programmatically. User configures the Cisco server and the application parameters directly from the web browser (No plugins or downloads needed in your client nor scripts into your server)

You can monitor this process and get a report at the end of it, this report includes a summary and a video with installation progress screenshots. Once installation is completed you receive an SMS notification.

Information:

http://www.parzee.com/services/

http://www.parzee.com/applications/

http://beta.parzee.com/

We are looking for feedback among the Cisco community:

Will this tool be useful?

What do people use today to automate Cisco UC Apps installations?

Info: contact@parzee.com

Thanks

[Chris Deren · Accepted solution]

Some of the applications are supported by Cisco PCD to be installed pretty easily, so what would be the differentiator between this tool and free PCD outside of some additional app support for video components?

[parzee_forums]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for replying, large organizations often have such huge infrastructure requirements that PCD as on-premise solution is recommended or makes more sense. Some smaller organizations may not have the luxury to install an on-premise tools or server and then deploy needed applications. A good example is a large organization can deploy an exchange server while  smaller ones use Office 365. Compare on-premise EMC/Netapp Storage and Google drive.

What is comes down to is who is the solution fit or applicable for?

For Enterprise deployments one can use PCD.
1. Deploy PCD
2. A SFTP server and NFS server are also mostly readily available.
3. Also one needs to download the OVA templates
4. Buy the licenses needed so PCD can recognize these hosts
5. Upload the OVA for the PCD to deploy once the host is selected
6. Deploy the OVA
7. Select the proper ISO files for install.
Upgrades and other operations are much simpler.

While Parzee cannot match most of these; for a small partner or re-seller who is deploying 1 or pair of BE6K/BE7K;
-Simple browser based tool
-No additional hardware needed
-No networking elements to deploy
-No software to install

1. Just use a browser with Parzee dashboard
2. Reach the host and deploy.

Then move on to the next customer or deployment and install any Cisco  UC or Cisco Video servers. Also install Cisco Platform collector.

Parzee is a muti-tenant solution, tasks such as delete, restart are not offered yet so as to keep the management domain and control  separate on the host that is controlled most times by the customer. If  such features are really needed, they can be added very fast.

Re-seller can save on travel/personnel cost and get application deployments started in minutes. They benefit most as it now reduces  the bring-up costs significantly and make them more competitive. They can eliminate the need to stage at partner site and then ship the configured solution and test again at the customer site. Reduce shipping costs, Lab and additional staging resources and personnel.  Now Just ship the hardware to the destination, if reachable, just  deploy to customer spec.

Best is to experience an install and check.

Thanks Chris