Planning How the Voice Messaging Ports Will Be Used by Cisco Unity Connection
See the following sections in this chapter:
Introduction: Issues to Consider When Planning Port Setup
Before programming the phone system, you need to plan how the voice messaging ports will be used by Cisco Unity Connection. The following considerations will affect the programming for the phone system (for example, setting up the hunt group or call forwarding for the voice messaging ports):
- The number of voice messaging ports installed.
For a Cisco Unity Connection cluster, each Cisco Unity Connection server must have enough ports to handle all voice messaging traffic in case the other server stops functioning.
- The number of voice messaging ports that will answer calls.
- The number of voice messaging ports that will only dial out, for example, to send message notification, to set message waiting indicators (MWIs), and to make telephone record and playback (TRAP) connections.
The following table describes the voice messaging port settings in Cisco Unity Connection that can be set on Telephony Integrations > Port of Cisco Unity Connection Administration.
Table 2-1 Settings for the Voice Messaging Ports
|
|
Enabled |
Check this check box. |
Server |
(When a Cisco Unity Connection cluster is configured) Select the name of the Cisco Unity Connection server that you want to handle this port. Assign an equal number of answering and dial-out voice messaging ports to the Cisco Unity Connection servers so that they equally share the voice messaging traffic. |
Answer Calls |
Check this check box.
Caution All voice messaging ports connecting to the Cisco Unified CM server must have the Answer Calls box checked. Otherwise, calls to Cisco Unity Connection may not be answered.
|
Perform Message Notification |
Check this check box to designate the port for notifying subscribers of messages. |
Send MWI Requests |
Check this check box to designate the port for turning MWIs on and off. |
Allow TRAP Connections |
Check this check box so that users can use the phone as a recording and playback device in Cisco Unity Connection web applications. |
Determining How Many Voice Messaging Ports to Install
The number of voice messaging ports to install depends on numerous factors, including:
- The number of calls Cisco Unity Connection will answer when call traffic is at its peak.
- The expected length of each message that callers will record and that users will listen to.
- The number of users.
- The number of ports that will be set to dial out only.
- The number of calls made for message notification.
- The number of MWIs that will be activated when call traffic is at its peak.
- The number of TRAP connections needed when call traffic is at its peak. (TRAP connections are used by Cisco Unity Connection web applications to play back and record over the phone.)
- The number of calls that will use the automated attendant and call handlers when call traffic is at its peak.
- Whether a Cisco Unity Connection cluster is configured. For considerations, see the “Considerations for a Cisco Unity Connection Cluster” section.
It is best to install only the number of voice messaging ports that are needed so that system resources are not allocated to unused ports.
Determining How Many Voice Messaging Ports Will Answer Calls
The calls that the voice messaging ports answer can be incoming calls from unidentified callers or from users. Typically, the voice messaging ports that answer calls are the busiest.
You can set voice messaging ports to both answer calls and to dial out (for example, to send message notifications). However, when the voice messaging ports perform more than one function and are very active (for example, answering many calls), the other functions may be delayed until the voice messaging port is free (for example, message notifications cannot be sent until there are fewer calls to answer). For best performance, dedicate certain voice messaging ports for only answering incoming calls, and dedicate other ports for only dialing out. Separating these port functions eliminates the possibility of a collision, in which an incoming call arrives on a port at the same time that Cisco Unity Connection takes the port off-hook to dial out.
If your system is configured for a Cisco Unity Connection cluster, see the “Considerations for a Cisco Unity Connection Cluster” section.
Determining How Many Voice Messaging Ports Will Only Dial Out, and Not Answer Calls
Ports that will only dial out and will not answer calls can do one or more of the following:
- Notify users by phone, pager, or email of messages that have arrived.
- Turn MWIs on and off for user extensions.
- Make a TRAP connection so that users can use the phone as a recording and playback device in Cisco Unity Connection web applications.
Typically, these voice messaging ports are the least busy ports.
If your system is configured for a Cisco Unity Connection cluster, see the “Considerations for a Cisco Unity Connection Cluster” section.
Caution
In programming the phone system, do not send calls to voice messaging ports in Cisco Unity Connection that cannot answer calls (voice messaging ports that are not set to Answer Calls). For example, if a voice messaging port is set only to Send MWI Requests, do not send calls to it.
Considerations for a Cisco Unity Connection Cluster
If your system is configured for a Cisco Unity Connection cluster, consider how the voice messaging ports will be used in different scenarios.
When Both Cisco Unity Connection Servers Are Functioning Normally
- A hunt group is configured to send incoming calls first to the subscriber server, then to the publisher server if no answering ports are available on the subscriber server.
- Both Cisco Unity Connection servers are active and handle voice messaging traffic for the system.
- In Cisco Unity Connection Administration, the voice messaging ports are configured so that an equal number of voice messaging ports are assigned to each Cisco Unity Connection server. This guide directs you to assign the voice messaging ports to their specific server at the applicable time.
- The number of voice messaging ports that are assigned to one Cisco Unity Connection server must be sufficient to handle all of the voice messaging traffic for the system (answering calls and dialing out) when the other Cisco Unity Connection server stops functioning.
If both Cisco Unity Connection servers must be functioning to handle the voice messaging traffic, the system will not have sufficient capacity when one of the servers stops functioning.
- Each Cisco Unity Connection server is assigned half the total number of voice messaging ports.
If all the voice messaging ports are assigned to one Cisco Unity Connection server, the other Cisco Unity Connection server will not be able to answer calls or to dial out.
- Each Cisco Unity Connection server must have voice messaging ports that will answer calls and that can dial out (for example, to set MWIs).
When Only One Cisco Unity Connection Server Is Functioning
- The hunt group on the phone system sends all calls to the functioning Cisco Unity Connection server.
- The functioning Cisco Unity Connection server receives all voice messaging traffic for the system.
- The number of voice messaging ports that are assigned to the functioning Cisco Unity Connection server must be sufficient to handle all of the voice messaging traffic for the system (answering calls and dialing out).
- The functioning Cisco Unity Connection server must have voice messaging ports that will answer calls and that can dial out (for example, to set MWIs).
If the functioning Cisco Unity Connection server does not have voice messaging ports for answering calls, the system will not be able to answer incoming calls. Similarly, if the functioning Cisco Unity Connection server does not have voice messaging ports for dialing out, the system will not be able to dial out (for example, to set MWIs).