CUCM 10.x Replacement

[Jim Matuska]

We are currently running an older 10.x version of CUCM, Unity Connection, and CER.  We went to renew our support contract and were told that CUCM was discontinued and we could not renew support on CUCM and were given a vague response that we would have to switch to a new product such as FLEX.  As I understood it FLEX is a licensing method and not an actual product.  

Is CUCM actually discontinued and being replaced by another product?  I assumed we could just migrate our current licenses to a new version such as 12.x or 14.x of CUCM, Unity, and CER but I can't find much information on CCO about what the latest supported and/or recommended version or replacement product actually is.  

We would rather stay on premise and not go cloud based if we can.  What do you think?  

[Roger Kallberg · Accepted solution]

Don’t know what you’ve been told, but CM or the other products in the CSR family is not discontinued. I would think that it is a case of misunderstanding, your version of the CSR product line is EOL and the licensing model has been altered to be subscription based. This is what is known as Flex. The current versions of CM and the other systems is 12.5 and 14, where the first would be the stabile and verified release track.

[Jim Matuska]

That is very helpful and makes more sense.  Since we have a license for 10.x and all the users but our 10.x Support has now lapsed, is it possible to move our current licenses over to a new version such as 12.x or 14.x and just reinstate software support for that version or will Cisco make us buy all new licenses?  

[Roger Kallberg]

Don’t know, that’s a question to ask your account team.

[TONY SMITH · Accepted solution]

The solution is going to be to order Flex-3 with the correct licence types and counts for your installation.  Select on premise and version 12.5.  You will then get new 12.5 licences in your Smart Account sitting ready.

When you upgrade from 10.x to 12.5, instead of your Publisher pointing to a PLM server for its licensing, you put in parameters for your Smart Account and the Publisher connects and helps itself to licences as needed.  There's a bit more to it, but that is the essence.

You can order Flex 3 with 11.x licences, so long as the term doesn't go beyond EOL for 11.x, for example you wouldn't be able to order a three year term.  However if you're upgrading anyway then 12.5 would be recommended.

What's your current user and licence count?  For over 250 users the "Enterprise Agreement" model may work out better than "Named User".

[Jim Matuska]

We're around 600 users right now.  

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

Enterprise agreement will be the best option for you.

For BOQ contact a local Cisco partner who is good in collaboration.

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

When some one says Versions 10.X is an EOL versions, it doesn't mean the the CUCm is discontinued.  The latest UC versions are 12.5 and 14. Since your versions has reached EOL you cannot renew the SWSS contract. Cisco disconnected Perpetual Licensing  and SWSS model. Now everything is subscription based which we call it Flex licensing. Flex licensing is cheaper than the perpetual license  with SWSS contract in long run. Flx Licensing gives you more option and a better deal.

To move to latest version you need version 12 or 14 license.  since the version has reached EOL, You cant renew the contract. you need to order flex licenses and upgrade to the latest versions.

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