CUCM v8.0 migration

[AhmedEmad]

Hello,

We are migrating to call manager 8.0, I have these current  concerns:

1-attendant console for 3 operators serving 450 IP phones, if it isn't supported, what's the alternative?.

2- Old IP phone compatibility (7960 not G version, 7912, 7935)-> I could find a doc that mention these types

3- any issues with 3825 routers, I know they are supported as long as they have 15.1 version,  is that a must? can't they work with 12.4?

[dakeller]

Here is the answer to your questions:

1-attendant console for 3 operators serving 450 IP phones, if it isn't supported, what's the alternative?.

[DK] To prepare for the retirement of Cisco's Attendant Console application in CUCM 8.0, we started supporting the Cisco Unified Attendant Console. The new Attendant Console comes in a Department, Business and Enterprise version with each one supporting more operators and phones.  You can also look into ArcConsole's Attendant Console applicaiton.

2- Old IP phone compatibility (7960 not G version, 7912, 7935)-> I could find a doc that mention these types

[DK] These phones are still supported in CUCM 8.0, but they have had no development or features added in over 5 years.  So many of the new user features will not be available on these models.

3- any issues with 3825 routers, I know they are supported as long as they have 15.1 version,  is that a must? can't they work with 12.4?

[DK] This question is one of the most frequent.  The IOS version recommended in the solution reference guide is a more recent IOS version.  This does not mean older versions will not work.  CUCM does not enforce ISO versions on a GW.  But if you encounter a problem in an older version, you will probably need to upgrade to get it fixed.  Once a Cisco gateway is supported, the configuration method does not change.  So if you have at least the minimum GW and CUCM releases that support each other, there is very little coupling of an IOS to a CUCM version.  In short, you can use any IOS version on a GW that is supported by a CUCM.

Thanks,

Dan Keller

Technical Marketing Engineer

[s.westberg]

Dan

Can you please elaborate on the Cisco Unified Attendant Console in v8? You mentioned that the new Attendant Console comes in a Department, Business and Enterprise version with each one supporting more operators and phones.  And then you mention  ArcConsole's Attendant Console application.   It is my understanding that Cisco did away completely with  Attendant Console, and that the Arc Console product was the only thing available (and from what I saw did not work well for an organization with more than 25 attendant console users).  This forced me into CUWL licenses with a Presence server, not that I have an issue with CUWL or Presence, but it would be nice to know more about Cisco Unified Attendant Console .

Thanks

Sarah

[dakeller]

Sarah,

Cisco did retire the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Attendant Console.  This was the free version of AC that has been shipping with CUCM since CUCM 3.0.  This product was replaced by by the trio of Cisco Unified Department Attendant Console, Cisco Unified Business Attendant Console and Cisco Unified Enterprise Attendant Console.  Each of these attendant console's is targeted for a different size attendant console requirement.  All 3 have the same development roots, so the difference is in the number of operators and IP phones it will support.  For the complete description and capabilities of the different AC offerings, please review http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/ps7282/index.html.

ArcConsole also has an Attendant Console application that is certified to work with CUCM.  But with ArcConsole AC, they will provide support and the licensing for their version of AC.  But outside this, the the ArcConsole and the CUxAC products are very similar.

Thanks,

Dan Keller

Technical Marketing Engineer