Integrating CUCM 8.6 with Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging

[shikamarunara]

Hello,

     Currently I am faced with the possibility of needing to integrated CUCM 8.6 with MS Exchange Unified Messaging for voicemail.  I am not keen on this idea and I would much rather use Cisco Unity Connection and keep the messaging store and MWI services on the Cisco Linux platform.

     However, I may not have a choice unless there are compelling technical arguments against it.  Does anyone here have any experience with this kind of integration?  Is it easy to do?  How reliable is it?

[islam.kamal]

Dear

I hope this finds you well. It depends on a sip trink between our CM and unified messaging. Please find in the attached the full  configuration

Thank you

please rate if this will help

[shikamarunara]

Yes, I have read this document but it's for the wrong version of CUCM (I'm on 8.6 and have also recently learned, the hard way, that SIP trunks to ancillary systems have any some problems with DMTF).

I would like some input with respect to people's experience with the integration and if it can even be recommended.

[David Hailey]

I have an integration between CUCM 8.6 in my lab with Exchange 2010 Unified Messaging following the standards noted in the document included above.  I also have worked with customers running the same as well as Exchange 2007 in production environments for messaging.  The main thing is that you have to use G.711 as the CODEC or use transcoding.

Hailey

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[Terry Cheema · Accepted solution]

Hi - I had replied to the similar thread few days back, pasting from there instead of retyping, it may be useful to you:

https://supportforums.cisco.com/message/3855669#3855669

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"The document provided is for CUCM 7. Microsoft officialy supports direct  trunk to CUCM 5.1, 6.X, 7.0 and 8.0 (and yes these are exact versions  as on technet).

I had done this sometime ago with CUCM 8.5 and  exchange 2010 UM and had used third party (NET - Microsoft  recommendation) IP gateways for mediation. Microsoft didnot officialy  certify CUCM 8.5 for direct SIP Trunk. The reason is, I beleive  difference in SIP stack for both Microsoft and Cisco. Although it will  work directly as well (which I had labbed at that time) their may be  some interoperatability issues.

Since you are looking for CUCM 8.6, I would recommend doing a complete research before going ahead with a direct SIP trunk.

Implementation  wise it is simple. On a high level, you will need to build UM servers  if required (which you may not have already if not using unified  messaging).You will need a SIP Trunk between CUCM and Microsoft UM  servers, directly or through compatible device as per design decision.  You will point voicemail hunt pilot to the SIP Trunk. Configure dial  plan and mailbox policies on UM to point to mailbox servers where actual  voicemail will be stored. On exchange side you enable UM for user  mailboxes and on CUCM you create a Voice mail profile and assign to  users extension. It worked pretty much well other than, when client's  exchange servers were underperforming - Voicemail service would also  experience slow response.

You can go to Microsoft technet and search for "Telephone system integration with UM" you will find more information on this."

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Technicaly it works ok but the decison to chose one over other is your enviornment specific. In some cases (in my case as well), where you can leverage existing infrastructure instead of significant investment into buying new or in some cases renewing old and obsolete systems is one of the primary drivers for these integrations. Where possible its good idea to stick with one vendor for sake of simplicity and avoiding interoperability issues.

Operationaly since you are hosting voicemail on Exchange UM, troubleshooting may require either both skills (Cisco or Microsoft) or involve two different teams working on it.

Please let us know if this resolves your queries.

Terry

[Ayodeji Okanlawon]

Terry (+5) As usual excellent post!

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"opportunity is a haughty goddess who waste no time with those who are unprepared"

[Terry Cheema]

Thanks mate for endorsing - appreciate your feedback!