Informacast - Multicast configuration

[Luciano Vigano']

Hi all,

anyone has try the Informacast paging software?

Any suggestions about multicast configurations?

All switches are 3750X + 6509 (in VSS).

Thanks in advance,

Luciano

[Steven DiStefano]

On the LAN its not an issue, but over the WAN, unless you have GRE tunnels from the SP, you way want to use their Paging GW product:

http://info.singlewire.com/singlewire-paging-gateway-plug-in-for-informacast/

[Chris Deren]

Any LAN multicast configuration will do, i.e. spare-dense mode, etc. I believe the IC install document covers this well.

For WAN as Steven described well (+5 points) if the WAN connection is MPLS most MPLS providers do not support multicast which leaves you with options to either deploy GRE tunnels or get the paging GW, if your provider supports multicast or this is point-to-point WAN, etc you will be OK there.

HTH,

Chris

[will.alvord]

Singlewire has a troubleshooting app which you can put on your Informacast server to generate multicast traffic.  It's easier than creating a whole bunch of scheduled broadcasts.  Also, their tech support spoke about a multicast to unicast converter for WAN traversals, but I don't recall if it was a hardware solution or software but would have to reside on each end of each WAN link.  Might be worth asking about.  It could be that is the Paging GW that Steven mentioned.

[Steven DiStefano · Accepted solution]

The parts are:

Paging GW HW Applicance: IPTA-PG-APL, which is $799 (list) and needs to be at every remote site requiring paging.  You must also order a shipping SKU:  IPTA-SH, which is $20 per unit.

Then you need quantity one IPTA-PI-PG which is $995, which integrates all the PGs with Informacast, which you buy licenses for separately (IPTA-ICxxx).

Speak to your Singlewire and Cisco reps about the Singlewire offer coming in 9.1 if its a new opportunity.  You can get a kick start with some free IC licesnes right out of the box.

Cisco is announcing this week that InformaCast will be shipping with every new copy of CUCM 9.1. Basic Paging functionality for up to 50 phones is included with every system at no charge. Even better, a full copy of InformaCast Advanced Notification functionality can be easily unlocked and turned on with a subscription-based license key.

Check out the distinction between Basic and Advanced here: www.singlewire.com/go-informacast

We have also put together a short informational video to further explain the details of this announcement >> Watch the InformaCast Announcement Video.

[will.alvord]

Sorry for the hijack, but with the 50 phone licensing - can the 50 phones be selected, or is it just the first 50 phones in the device list returned by CUCM?

[Steven DiStefano]

You can select the ones you wish to use and license only them.

[Rob Huffman]

Hi Steve,

Happy 2013 buddy

I had just read this great info in the CUCM 9.1 release notes. Is this accurate re:

the groups/members (multiple 50 user groups?)?

Paging

Now included with Unified Communications Manager is the Singlewire  InformaCast product that provides paging capabilities for users to make  point-to-point, or group pages, to and from Cisco IP Phones. The  software and documentation for the InformaCast product is on a separate  DVD included with the purchase of Unified Communications Manager. It is  also available online as a software download on cisco.com.

The InformaCast product is divided into two categories, basic and  advanced functionality. The basic paging features allow paging between  Cisco IP Phones to groups and zones that the administrator configures.  An unlimited number of groups is possible but with a maximum of 50 users  total in each group in basic paging. Basic paging is provided as a new  Unified Communications Manager feature at no cost. If there is a  requirement for more than 50 users in a single group or for higher level  capabilities, the advanced features of InformaCast are required and are  highly recommended.

The advanced features of InformaCast include:

• Paging and Emergency Notification to All Users
• Paging to Overhead Analog and IP Speakers
• Bell Scheduling
• Prioritizing Emergency Notifications with Call Barge Option
• Pre-Recorded and Text only pages
• Integration with Social Media Sites for Notification
• Email and SMS Mass Notification
• Call Number Monitoring - 911 Alerting
• Integration with Jabber clients

There are numerous additional features of Advanced Paging. To  determine if Advanced Paging/Notification is appropriate for the end  user's Unified Communications Manager deployment, there is a 60 day  trial of the advanced functionality to evaluate the higher level  features. After installation of the software, there is an option to  begin the demonstration period for full access to all capabilities. To  retain Advanced Functionality after trial or if this functionality is  required at the time of the Unified Communications Manager purchase, the  Advanced Paging/Notification functionality can be purchased as a  perpetual license from SolutionsPlus or as a subscription directly from  Singlewire. For more information on the product's capabilities or for  sales questions, contact Singlewire or refer to the documentation and  support information included with the product.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/rel_notes/9_1_1/CUCM_BK_R6F8DBD4_00_release-notes-for-cucm-91_chapter_0100.html

Cheers!

Rob

"Far away from your trouble and worry
You belong somewhere you feel free" - Tom Petty

[Chris Deren]

Rob,

Correct, per this statement:

An unlimited number of groups is possible but with a maximum of 50 users  total in each group in basic paging.

HTH,

Chris

[Rob Huffman]

Hi Chris,

Thank you sir Hope all is well with you my friend! (+5)

Cheers!

Rob

"Far away from your trouble and worry
You belong somewhere you feel free" - Tom Petty

[Steven DiStefano]

5's are bountiful today.  Like tipping on NYE :-)

[Luciano Vigano']

Hi all,

thanks for sharing your thoughts :-)

Another question: if I have a dedicated vlan for voice, without routing ... is multicast configuration necessary (ip multicast routing, pim ...)? Or the default igmp configuration will be ok?

Ciao!

Luciano

[Aaron Harrison]

Hi

If it's a single VLAN with both the server and all phones in it, then it will most likely work by default...

Aaron

[Luciano Vigano']

Ciao,

the following general setup could be enough to have Multicast work well (no WAN)?

On every layer 3 devices that will route the traffic

ip multicast-routing

ip pim rp-address x.x.x.x               (i.e.: the address of the Voice SVI)

ip pim spt-threshold infinity

On every Voice SVI

interface VLAN XY

ip pim sparse-dense-mode     (we can use only “sparse-mode” but for testing it will be better to have both)

On layer 2 devices

ip igmp snooping

What do you think?

And what about if some ip phones are using IGMP v2 and others are using v3?

Ciao!

L.

[ravi.jayaprakash]

Hello,

Can anyone please post the link for the InformaCast software download on cisco.com. I can't find it under communications manager.

Thanks