VCS Control Custom Zone Routed Mode- is media routed

[joshuapack]

I am trying to determine, when creating a new zone, what all becomes VCS Control routed when the VCS Configurartion > Zone > Create Zone > Advanced > Call signaling routed mode is set to "Always"

The application is for an enterprise client that is attempting to connect over an internal MPLS network with firewalls between international offices.  We are trying to determine if this setting will route all call signalling and medie for calls in this zone through the VCS Control to simplify the required firewall configurations across the WAN. 

Thank you,

[Alok Jaiswal]

Joshua,

setting call routed mode to "always" doesn't mean that any calls through that zone will have media routed as well.

the media routed via VCS in certain scenario. check the below link for media routed via VCS scenarios.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/telepresence/infrastructure/articles/vcs_traversal_call_license_usage_kb_168.shtml

However you can make some tweaks so that media to always route via VCS when the call goes through the particular zone. On the zone under sip configuration there is a option for "media encryption" which is set to "auto". you can set this to "best effort" what it will do is that VCS invokes the B2BUA for the calls and always take the media.

this way your task to write the firewall rules will become easier.

regards

Alok

[Alok Jaiswal]

i forgot to mention that this setting only works for SIP calls and for H.323 calls its not applicable.

[joshuapack]

Thank you Alok,

     This is exactly what I needed. 

[Martin Koch]

The b2bua might have other consequences as it changes the behavior of the call.

There is also a CLI only option called "Neighbor SIP MediaRouting Mode"

Zones Zone [1..1000] Neighbor SIP MediaRouting Mode:  
How the Expressway handles media for calls to and from this neighbor, and where it will forward the media destined for this neighbor. Default: Auto. . 
Signaled: media is always taken for calls to and from this neighbor. It will be forwarded as signaled in the SDP received from this neighbor . 
Latching: media is always taken for calls to and from this neighbor. It will be forwarded to the IP address and port from which media from this neighbor is received. 
Auto: media is only taken if the call is a traversal call. If this neighbor is behind a NAT the Expressway will forward the media to the IP address and port from which media from this zone is received (latching). Otherwise it will forward the media to the IP address and port signaled in the SDP (signaled). 
Example: xConfiguration Zones Zone 3 Neighbor SIP MediaRouting Mode: Auto 

Joshua, please remember to rate helpful responses and identify helpful or correct answers.