Cisco IPC Express System Components

This section describes the components of a Cisco IPC Express system in detail. As previously explained, Cisco IPC Express includes the call processing software (Cisco CME), the IP Communications platform, the IP-based applications, and the IP-based endpoints.

Cisco CallManager Express

Cisco CME is a Cisco IOS-based call processing system that provides a wide range of IP telephony features for small- or medium-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices with up to 240 users. Cisco CME provides a cross section of traditional telephony features in addition to advanced converged features that are unavailable on most traditional telephony solutions. Businesses can also select between key system and PBX modes of operation or a combination of the two on a single network.

Because Cisco CME is completely IP-based call processing software, the software design has no physical connection constraints. This means that you can configure numerous phone and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) trunk combinations on Cisco CME, delivering a range of applications for businesses. For example, the hunt group feature lets you program multiple phones in your business to have extensions that ring sequentially. In other words, when the first phone is busy or receives an incoming call that is not answered, the call rolls over to the second phone in the hunt group in sequential order, and so on. In a busy business environment, the hunt group feature or the shared-line/multiline appearance feature allows many options for implementing call coverage such that any group of employees can answer customer phone calls in the most efficient manner.

The initial installation of Cisco CME is accomplished easily using the Configuration Wizard. This setup tool prompts you for answers to a number of pertinent questions to set up system parameters. Voice mailboxes can also easily be added using the Cisco UE Initialization Wizard.

Cisco CME offers the option of Cisco IOS software command-line interface (CLI) or a web-based GUI for everyday administration and configuration. The CLI is the same interface used to configure routers, switches, and the IP Communications platforms and is familiar to most system administrators. For nontechnical staff, the web-based GUI is a simple GUI to add users, phones, and extensions or to make configuration changes.

Cisco CME is enabled with the purchase of a Cisco CME feature license with your Cisco IOS release for the router platform. Appendix A, "Cisco IPC Express Features, Releases, and Ordering Information," summarizes the Cisco CME features.

IP Communications Platforms

Cisco CME runs on the Cisco IPC Express platforms, including the Cisco 1700, 2600XM, 2691, and 3700 Access Router series, as well as the Cisco 2800 and 3800 ISR series. These communications platforms feature a diverse set of analog and digital PSTN trunk interfaces, analog station interfaces, and modular extension slots where you can add a variety of options such as integrated switching, hardware virtual private network (VPN) acceleration, voice mail, and intrusion detection systems. Depending on the number of users in the office, the right-sized IP communications platform can be selected to perform routing, switching, security, and other services.

Businesses already using access routers or ISRs for their data connectivity can easily deploy Cisco IPC Express on these platforms as well. Alternatively, businesses that have chosen to deploy IP telephony for new sites or offices can purchase a complete bundle package that includes the platform, software, licenses, and applications. Because the platforms provide such a wide range of features in a single chassis, it is easy to manage and configure.

The Cisco IPC Express platforms provide easy modularity. The interface cards used for value-added applications or connectivity can be reused across the portfolio of routers. In addition, if a business outgrows a Cisco IPC Express deployment and decides to move to a Cisco CallManager system, the equipment and licenses already purchased can be reused for this migration, preserving the entire investment.

The portfolio of Cisco IPC Express platforms offers a wide range of routing capacity, IP phone support, and PSTN trunk density choices to meet any small- or medium-size office. The Cisco 1700 series and Cisco 2801 platforms are the low-density services platforms, offering modular connectivity and entry-level voice services. The 2600XM series, 2691, and remaining 2800 series platforms offer extended modular connectivity. The Cisco 3700 and 3800 platforms are the high-density services platforms optimized for high performance and enhanced services. All these platforms support Cisco IOS software.

Cisco 1700 Series Platforms

The Cisco 1700 series router platforms are targeted at small businesses. Platforms that support voice include the Cisco 1751-V, 1760, and 1760-V platforms.

The Cisco 1751-V platform has a desktop form factor, whereas the 1760 and 1760-V are 19-inch rack-mounted platforms. The V extension indicates that the platforms have been fitted with the appropriate memory, IOS image, and digital signal processor (DSP) modules to support voice.

These platforms can be fitted with modular WAN interface cards (WICs) and voice interface cards (VICs) to support a variety of applications. WICs provide WAN connectivity such as broadband DSL, ISDN, leased lines, and Frame Relay, whereas VICs provide PSTN connectivity such as T1 or E1 Primary Rate Interface (PRI), Basic Rate Interface (BRI) or Foreign Exchange Office (FXO), and station-side connectivity using Foreign Exchange Station (FXS).

The Cisco 1700 series router platforms support features such as the following:

• Voice over IP (VoIP)
• High-performance routing with QoS
• Inter-VLAN routing
• VPN access with firewall options

Cisco 2600XM Series and 2691 Platforms

The Cisco 2600XM series and 2691 series routers are 19-inch rack-mounted platforms that target small and medium businesses or branch offices. Platforms in the portfolio include the Cisco 2611XM, 2621XM, 2651XM, and 2691 platforms. Like the Cisco 1700 series platforms, they support WIC and VIC slots.

In addition, the Cisco 2600XM series platforms support network module (NM) and Advanced Integration Module (AIM) slots. The NM form factor is very flexible, delivering a wide range of applications from Cisco UE voice mail and AA to high-density PSTN trunking and LAN switching. Unlike WICs, VICS, and NMs, AIMs are installed on the router's motherboard. This form factor supports security and additional voice applications, such as voice mail and digital signal processors. The Cisco 2691 platform has two AIM slots compared to the 2600XM platforms, which support only one AIM slot.

The Cisco 2600XM series and 2691 platform support a range of features:

• Multiservice voice and data integration
• VPN access with firewall and encryption options
• Analog dial access services
• Routing with bandwidth management
• Inter-VLAN routing
• Delivery of high-speed business-class DSL access
• Integration of low-density switching

Cisco 2800 Series Routers

The Cisco 2800 series routers include the 2801, 2811, 2821, and 2851 platforms. The Cisco 2800 series platforms target small and medium businesses and enterprise branch offices. They have been architected to deliver embedded voice, data, and security capability at wire-speed WAN performance for single or multiple T1 or E1 links. This means that instead of delivering services by adding optional interface cards to routers, the Cisco 2800 series routers come with core voice, data, and security features integrated on the platform chassis.

The Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 platforms support high-speed WICs (HWICs), VICs, NMs, and AIM slots, and the 2801 platform supports HWICs, VICs, and AIM slots. These router platforms all have motherboard slots where digital signal processor cards can be housed for onboard voice processing.

The platforms support four different NM form factor variants (network module enhanced, extended network module enhanced, double-wide network module enhanced, and extra-double-wide network module enhanced) for increased capacity and future growth potential.

The Cisco 2821 and 2851 platforms also support a high-density extension voice module (EVM) form factor that delivers up to 24 ports of analog or eight ports (16 channels) of BRI connectivity. They also feature a security hardware accelerator on the motherboard that supports the AES encryption algorithm.

Cisco 3700 Series Platforms

The Cisco 3700 series routers are high-performance platforms with extended high-density services including high-performance routing, integrated low-density switching, security, voice, IP telephony, voice mail, and content networking. These services are delivered using WICs, VICs, NMs, and AIM slots. The Cisco 3700 series includes the 3725 and 3745 platforms.

The Cisco 3725 supports two network module slots, whereas the Cisco 3745 supports four network module slots. In addition, the width of these network module slots can be adjusted to support high-density services. For example, the integrated EtherSwitch options include a 16-port NM and a 36-port, high-density service module (HDSM) version. The 36-port HDSM uses the extra capacity from the wider network module interface form factor.

Cisco 3800 Series Platforms

The Cisco 3800 series platforms, similar to the 2800 series platforms, are the latest generation of access routers and are architected for integrated services. Data, voice, and security applications are embedded into the router motherboard. This frees up modular slots to allow businesses to take advantage of new high-speed slots, such as the HWIC and network module enhanced (NME), for additional services, interfaces, and densities. VICs, NMs, and AIM slots are also supported, as are high-density extension voice module (EVM) slots. The Cisco 3800 also supports embedded VPN hardware acceleration.

The Cisco 3800 series includes the 3825 and 3845 platforms. The 3825 supports two network module slots, and the 3845 supports four network module slots.

The Cisco 2800 and 3800 series platforms significantly improve performance and integration over the corresponding Cisco 1700, 2600, and 3700 series platforms. They exhibit architectural improvements such as embedded security features, onboard DSPs, multiple new interfaces, and increased services density. For example, instead of using an NM-HDV2 network module for T1 or E1 PSTN access, you can now use a T1 or E1 voice or WAN interface card (VWIC) together with the router onboard DSP modules (PVDM2). This frees up your network module slot for other applications such as voice mail and content distribution.

Cisco IPC Express Platform Attributes

Table 1-1 summarizes the attributes of each platform.

Table 1-1. Performance and Interface Summary for Cisco IPC Express Platforms

Platform	WIC/VIC Slots	NM Slots	AIM Slots	EVM Slots	LAN Ports
Cisco 1751-V	2	0	0	0	1 10/100 Ethernet port
Cisco 1760, 1760-V	2	0	0	0	1 FE 10/100 Ethernet port
Cisco 2600XM	2	1	1	0	1 or 2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 2691	3	1	2	0	2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 2801	4	0	2	0	2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 2811	4	1	2	0	2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 2821	4	1	2	1	2 GE (10/100/1000) Ethernet ports
Cisco 2851	4	1	2	1	2 GE 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports
Cisco 3725	3	2	2	0	2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 3745	3	4	2	0	2 FE 10/100 Ethernet ports
Cisco 3825	4	2	2	Up to 1 EVM in NM slots	2 GE (10/100/1000) Ethernet ports
Cisco 3845	4	4	2	Up to 2 EVMs in NM slots	2 GE (10/100/1000) autosensing Ethernet ports

 

Cisco IPC Express Platform Capacity

Table 1-2 lists the number of phones and mailboxes supported on the Cisco IPC Express platforms (applicable to Cisco CME 3.2).

Table 1-2. IPC Express Platform Capacity

Platform	Maximum Number of IP Phones Supported	Maximum Number of Cisco CME DNs Supported	Cisco UE Number of Mailboxes Supported
Cisco 1751-V, 1760, 1760-V	24	120	Not supported
Cisco 2801	24	120	12, 25, or 50
Cisco 261xXM, 262xXM, 2811	36	144	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 265xXM, 2821	48	144	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 2691	72	288	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 2851	96	288	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 3725	144	500	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 3745	192	500	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 3825	168	500	12, 25, 50, or 100
Cisco 3845	240	720	12, 25, 50, or 100

 

WAN Interfaces

A variety of WAN interfaces are supported with the Cisco IPC Express platforms, delivering data connectivity via ATM, OC-3, T3/E3, channelized T1/E1, Ethernet, Frame Relay, high-speed serial, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI, and xDSL interfaces.

IP-Based Applications

Several applications can be deployed with Cisco IPC Express to round out its business communications feature set. These include AA and voice mail applications such as Cisco UE and Cisco Unity.

Cisco Unity Express

Cisco UE is a voice mail and AA application available in a network module or advanced integration module (AIM) form factor that fits into the Cisco communications platform. The capacity of Cisco UE 2.1 is summarized in Table 1-3.

Table 1-3. Cisco UE Capacity

	Number of Mailboxes	Number of Storage Hours	Number of Ports
NM-CUE	12, 25, 50, or 100	100	8
AIM-CUE	12, 25, or 50	8 or 14	4 or 6

Businesses have the option of configuring Cisco UE using either CLI commands or the Cisco IPC Express web-based GUI. CLI commands are familiar to system administrators who have configured Cisco access routers in the past. CLI is also ideal for businesses that manage multiple Cisco IPC Express systems using scripting.

The web-based Cisco IPC Express GUI is integrated for both Cisco CME and Cisco UE provisioning to simplify management. Information about phones, extensions, and mailboxes is coordinated automatically between the router and the Cisco UE application module configurations.

In addition, Cisco UE features a telephony user interface (TUI) for user mailbox interaction. A simple step-by-step tutorial is provided to guide users through the first login and mailbox setup process. This tutorial lets new subscribers record a new greeting or spoken name, and set a personal identification number (PIN) to secure their mailbox.

To deploy Cisco UE, you order the hardware and purchase a feature license for the appropriate number of mailboxes. Refer to the section "Ordering Cisco Unity Express" in Appendix A for more information on Cisco UE features.

Although Cisco UE is an integrated part of the Cisco IPC Express system, Cisco CME can also be deployed with other external applications such as Cisco Unity voice or unified messaging, or non-Cisco voice messaging products.

Cisco Unity

Cisco Unity is a full-featured Windows-based voice messaging, unified messaging, and AA application. Cisco Unity features include support for up to 250,000 users and 19 languages, networking capability with Cisco UE and other traditional voice mail systems, distribution list capability, and a unified communications engine that supports both Lotus Domino and various Microsoft Exchange environments.

The unified messaging system integrates with Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes to deliver all messages in a single mailbox, making it easy to access and send e-mails, voice mails, and faxes from your PC with just a click of the mouse. Using Cisco Unity's text-to-speech capability, information about the messages can be played over the telephone.

Businesses with multiple sites may select a centralized Cisco Unity voice mail or messaging application over a locally deployed Cisco UE system if more sophisticated features or unified messaging are needed. However, a QoS-enabled WAN with sufficient bandwidth is required for users at remote offices to access the central location for their voice mail as well as for all call forwarding into voice mail.

IP-Based Endpoints

IP endpoints include Cisco IP phones, softphones, and Cisco IP Communicator. IP phones allow users to place telephone calls just as they do with traditional digital or analog phones. IP phones also offer additional functionality, such as XML applications, that enhance employee productivity. For example, the directory information on an executive's cellular phone can be easily transferred to the Cisco IP phone directory, making it seamless for the person to reach his or her contacts from either phone. IP phones also deliver useful information to employees, such as missed calls, received calls, call history, and directory services. IP phones are managed like any other IP device, making personnel additions, moves, and changes as easy to accomplish as plugging an IP phone into the nearest Ethernet port.

Softphones and Cisco IP Communicator are IP phone software applications running on a user's PC. They provide the same IP phone features as their hardware-based counterpart and are ideal for employees who are on the road.

Cisco IPC Express supports a wide range of IP phone endpoints and analog phone adapters. Detailed information on the endpoints supported is provided in Chapter 4, "Cisco IP Phone Options." This section provides only a brief overview and the typical combinations of endpoints that are supported in an office.

IP phones in the enterprise branch or small and medium businesses should be selected based on the telephony needs of the staff working at the office. A business office might deploy a range of different phones. For instance, it might need a Cisco 7912G for the lobby, Cisco 7960Gs for managers, a Cisco 7970G for executives, Cisco 7940Gs or 7960Gs for regular staff, and perhaps a Cisco 7920 wireless phone for anyone who is constantly on the move, such as a floor supervisor.

Cisco 7970G IP Phone

The Cisco 7970G IP Phone is ideal for executives, decision-makers, and users who do not have PCs and who use only a telephone for their business needs. Therefore, they need a sophisticated, top-of-the-line color IP phone that includes a backlit, high-resolution color touch-screen display. This phone supports an advanced XML development platform for more dynamic applications, eight telephony lines, a high-quality hands-free speakerphone, a built-in headset connection, and both Cisco prestandard Power over Ethernet (PoE) and IEEE 802.3af PoE.

Cisco 7940G/60G IP Phones

The Cisco 7940G/60G IP Phones are ideal for employees with medium-to-high telephony traffic. These phones offer a rich set of features, including a pixel display area with dynamic feature access using softkeys and an additional display area for value-added services and applications. These IP phones support a visual MWI, a services key, 24 user-selectable ringers, hands-free speakerphone capability, and a built-in headset connection. The Cisco 7940G IP Phone supports two telephone lines, whereas the Cisco 7960G Phone supports six.

Cisco 7920 Wireless IP Phone

The Cisco 7920 Wireless IP Phone is an easy-to-use IEEE 802.11b-compliant wireless IP phone that provides comprehensive voice communications in conjunction with Cisco IPC Express and Cisco wireless access points. The Cisco 7920 Wireless IP Phone increases productivity by allowing users to be reached wherever they are in a branch office.

Cisco 7905G/7912G IP Phone

The Cisco 7905G and 7912G IP Phones are entry-level business phones targeted at areas with low telephony traffic, such as lobbies and break rooms. They also can address the voice communication needs of a low-to-medium telephony user. Both phones feature a single line and fixed-feature keys, including redial, transfer, conference, and messages. They have four dynamic softkeys and a hard "hold" key. Both phones support MWI, a low-power option using the same power supply as the Cisco 7940G and 7960G, a single RJ-45 connection, and call monitor capability. They have no microphones or headset jacks.

These phones support a maximum of two calls and one directory number. The main difference between the Cisco 7905G and the 7912G is that the Cisco 7912G comes with an integrated Ethernet switch, whereas the Cisco 7905G does not.

Cisco 7935/36 IP Phone Conference Station

The Cisco 7935/36 IP Conference Station is an IP-based, hands-free conference room phone for use on desktops and in conference rooms and executive suites. IP Conference Station features include three softkeys and menu navigation keys, a pixel-based liquid crystal display (LCD) with data and time, calling party name, calling party number, digits dialed, and feature and line status.

The Cisco 7936 IP Conference Station supports additional features such as external microphone ports, an optional external microphone kit, and an audio-tuned speaker grill. The optional microphone kit includes two microphones with six-foot cords. The external microphones enable support for larger offices and conference rooms of up to 20 feet by 30 feet compared to the Cisco 7935.

Cisco 7914 IP Phone Expansion Module

The Cisco 7914 IP Phone Expansion Module is ideal for administrative assistants or receptionists who monitor and manage multiple calls. The Cisco 7914 IP Phone Expansion Module adds buttons and an LCD display to the Cisco 7960G IP Phone. A maximum of 14 buttons can be added to the existing six buttons of the Cisco 7960G IP Phone, increasing the total buttons to 20. The Cisco 7960G IP Phone can support up to two Expansion Modules, increasing the total number of buttons to 34.

You can program the buttons on each Expansion Module as a directory number (DN), line key, or speed-dial key, much like the Cisco 7960 IP Phone. When used as a DN key, a button is illuminated, allowing easy identification of the call state. For example, a steady green illuminated button means a line is in use by you, and a flashing green button means the call is on hold. A steady red button means a line is in use by someone else. Each button not programmed as a DN key may be programmed as a speed-dial button.

Cisco Analog Telephony Adaptor

The Cisco Analog Telephony Adaptor (ATA) products let you connect analog-based devices such as analog telephones, fax machines, and analog conference telephones to IP-based telephony networks. This helps you protect your investment in analog products until you are ready to migrate to IP-based devices. The Cisco ATA 188 has two voice ports, each supporting independent telephone numbers. An integrated Ethernet switch can be used to connect to a 10/100Base-T Ethernet network.

The ATA supports Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP) and H.323 phone loads. A fax is supported only on ATAs running an H.323 phone load.

Using Cisco IPC Express in Retail, Financial, and Healthcare Businesses