Ask The Expert: Video Communications Server and CUCM Integration

[ciscomoderator]

Video Communications Server and CUCM Integration
with Mahesh Anjan

Welcome to the Cisco Support Community Ask the Expert conversation. This is an opportunity to learn how to configure and troubleshoot interoperability between Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) and Cisco Unified Communication Manager (CUCM) systems and how to debug various endpoint and protocol combinations. Mahesh is a senior software engineer in the Voice Technology Group at Cisco. He is a expert in deployment of video communication services, enterprise video solutions, and other Telepresence products as well as unified communications. He has vast experience in VCS and CUCM interoperability deployments. Mahesh has worked at Cisco since 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from Bangalore University, a master’s degree in computer engineering from Wichita State University, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Remember to use the rating system to let Mahesh know if you have received an adequate response. 

Mahesh might not be able to answer each question due to the volume expected during this event. Remember that you can continue the conversation on the Collaboration, Voice and Video, Unified Communications Applications discussion forum shortly after the event.   This event lasts through January 13, 2012. Visit this forum often to view responses to your questions and the questions of other community members.

[eealdhoon]

Dears:

Really we have Nortel router having configuration

and now we will replaced it by another router :cisco router 2800 and use NM-2C E1 PRI

So we need from you  to tell us what the configuration in cisco router to do same work as before in nortel router

please find the attached file which is showing the configuration we need in cisco Please

thanks alot

[eealdhoon]

Dears:

Really we have Nortel router having configuration

and now we will replaced it by another router :cisco router 2800 and use NM-2C E1 PRI

So we need from you  to tell us what the configuration in cisco router to do same work as before in nortel router

please find the attached file which is showing the configuration we need in cisco Please

thanks alot

eealdhoon@yahoo.com

[manjan]

Mahmoud,

Pls refer to the config guide :

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2/interface/configuration/guide/icflogin.html#wp1029098

For PPP multilink configuration:

https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-6087

thanks,

Mahesh

[joe-vieira]

Hi Mahesh

How can we integrate the VCS witth CUPC client? How do we control the video bandwidth utilization between sites if we don't have multicast enabled on our network?

thanks

[manjan]

Hi Joe,

At present, VCS does not integrate with CUPC client. It is supported only in UCM and CUPS environment.

thanks,

Mahesh

[Marwan ALshawi]

Hi Mahesh,

This is a great topic to discuss and ask some questions here as it is one of most rapidly growing technology

My main question is about interop with the new versions of CUCM and vcs

1- as I know now CTS endpoint can call any ex or c series endpoint directly if both are registered to the same CUCM 8.6 and later ? If this is correct what about end point registered to vcs how this can be dialed directly by a CTS ?

2- in the case of endpoints registered to CUCM CTS and other how can multipoint conference call to be held dose it need mcu, CTMS or mix how this logic work here For example if it's booked via tms

3- same question as point 2 but for endpoints registered to CUCM and vcs ?

4- last but nit least I heard now CTS. Can dose interop with other third party VC without the need to other intermediate devices such as mcu or mxe ? If this correct what is the Ovid or technology behind it

Thanks for your time and wish to get some answers about my questions above

Marwan

[manjan]

Hi Marwan,

1.

First you need to create SIP trunk from UCM to VCS and create corresponding call Manager Zone and neighbor fom VCS to UCM Create a appropriate route pattern on UCM and point to the SIP trunk to VCS  ( for Eg: if the VCS phone number is 51555 , you can create route pattern 5xxxx that points to VCS and from CTS dial 51555, that gets routed to VCS endpoints

2.

To intiate Multipoint conference on CTS via TMS , you need to add endpoint to TMS and then add MCU as conference

bridge in TMS and Initiate the conference. in this case TMS will outdial the endpoints which provides the MCU

conference number to the endpoints to join. In order for CUCM CTS to join the conference bridge, UCM should have route pattern set to conference number for the call to be routed to MCU.

if you have CTMS bridge , you can create appropriate route pattern from UCM to CTMS bridge to join the conference at a particular number :   CTS ---UCM ---SIP Trunk ----CTMS

3. if the endpoint is registered to VCS, refer to multiway conferencing document found on cisco.com. in this scenario

MCU needs to integrated with SIP trunk with VCS initially and conference factory should be configured to route the call

to MCU when VCS endpoint invokes Join to conference UCM or VCS endpoint , VCS sends the  request to MCU and the adhoc conference is scheduled on the fly .

4. you just have to upgrade CTS to 1.7.4 software or later  available on cisco.com which supports interop with Cisco

Video endpoints and other third party endpoints

[Marwan ALshawi]

Thanks Mahesh for this great details

and i can see that cisco going toward end to end video without the need to have any device to do the interop in between

however the CTS will downgrade the video quality based on the source if its SD or HD

unless a video xcoder used such as MXE ?

and where the TIP comes in the picutre in the above cases ?

thanks again

Marwan

[manjan]

Hi Marwan,

you are right , For TIP to MUX conversion you need MXE or TP 7010 server in between CTS and third party endpoint for interop Since CTS supports only MUX currently , Future release of CTS will have TIP Support.

in the cases where you need TIP support it is recommended to put some form of video xcoder in the CTS path.

here are some scenario's , when CTS plans to join meeting hosted by CTMS and when CTS joins the meeting hosted bt TP server 7010

1. CTS ---- MXE ----- CTMS

2. CTS --(MUX)--- TP 7010---(TIP)----- Telepresence (TIP only capabale)

thanks,

Mahesh

[Marwan ALshawi]

Thanks Mahesh

that's mean interop or direct calls between CTS and C/Ex endpoints with version TC5 and later where it support SIP and TIP can be done without xcoder now ( either registered to VCS or CUCM ) ?

based on the release notes of the CTMS 1.8 it dose support TIP and interop

is this an option to have CTS to interop in a mulitpoint call with other C/ex/Movi endpoints using CTMS ? or MCU xcoder is a must ? and what will be be the quality is it based on the lowest participant since there is no xcoder in case of CTMS 1.8 ?

Thanks

[manjan]

yes, with TC5 and CTS 1.7.4 ( or later) you dont need any xcoder in between

for point to point calls there is no TIP, it is using  BFCP

CTMS is not positioned as xcoder bridge but non-tip and tip capable endpoints can join the bridge and each endpoint terminates on the bridge. video quality is negotiated to lowest denomination, 

CTS 1.8 is slated to support TIP which will be released online shortly so you don't need xcoder at that point 

any CTS to CTMS call will be always MUX

[Marwan ALshawi]

Thanks a lot,  the interop picture clearer now

[Nick Halbert-Lillyman]

You have stated:

"CTMS is not positioned as xcoder bridge but non-tip and tip capable endpoints can join the bridge and each endpoint terminates on the bridge. video quality is negotiated to lowest denomination"

I was under the impression that only TIP capable endpoints such as CTS, C-series and EX series were supported, as opposed to non-TIP endpoints such as E20s?

[manjan]

CTS 1.8 ( tip capable) C -series / ex series ( TC5 software) TIP capable are able to join CTMS directly without MXE

, non-tip capable endpoints have to traverse via MXE to connect to CTMS bridge .. CTMS 1.9 which is scheduled to release in march will lift this restriction and  will support non-tip such as e20