Cisco CallManager Administration Guide, Release 3.3(3)
Conference Bridge Configuration

Table Of Contents

Conference Bridge Configuration

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Software Conference Device

Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters


Conference Bridge Configuration


Conference Bridge for Cisco CallManager, a software and hardware application, allows both ad hoc and Meet-Me voice conferencing. Each conference bridge can host several simultaneous, multiparty conferences.

Both hardware and software conference bridges can be active at the same time. Software and hardware conference devices differ in the number of streams and the types of codec that they support. For software conference devices, you can adjust the number of streams. Hardware conference devices, however, support a fixed number of streams.

Refer to the "Conference Bridges" section of the Cisco CallManager System Guide for more information about conference bridges.


Note The hardware model type for Conference Bridge contains a specific Media Access Control (MAC) address and device pool information.


Use the following topics to configure conference bridges:

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Software Conference Device

Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Adding a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-4

Meet-Me Number/Pattern Configuration Settings, page 34-7

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Deleting a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-6

Finding a Conference Bridge

Because you might have several conference bridges in your network, Cisco CallManager lets you locate specific conference bridges on the basis of specific criteria. Use the following procedure to locate conference bridges.


Note During your work in a browser session, Cisco CallManager Administration retains your conference bridge search preferences. If you navigate to other menu items and return to this menu item, Cisco CallManager Administration retains your conference bridge search preferences until you modify your search or close the browser.


Procedure


Step 1 Choose Service > Media Resource > Conference Bridge.

The Find and List Conference Bridges window displays. Use the two drop-down list boxes to search for a conference bridge.

Step 2 From the first Find Conference Bridges where drop-down list box, choose one of the following criteria:

Name

Description

Device Pool


Note The criterion that you choose in this drop-down list box specifies how the list of conference bridges that your search generates will be sorted. For example, if you choose Description, the Description column will display as the left column of the results list.


From the second Find Conference Bridges where drop-down list box, choose one of the following criteria:

begins with

contains

ends with

is exactly

is not empty

is empty

Step 3 Specify the appropriate search text, if applicable, and click Find. You can also specify how many items per page to display.


Tip To find all conference bridges that are registered in the database, click Find without entering any search text.


A list of discovered conference bridges displays by

Conference Bridge icon

Conference Bridge name

Description

Device Pool

Status

IP Address


Note You can delete multiple conference bridges from the Find and List Conference Bridges window by checking the check boxes next to the appropriate conference bridges and clicking Delete Selected. You can delete all conference bridges in the window by checking the check box in the Matching records title bar and clicking Delete Selected.


Step 4 From the list of records, click the Conference Bridge icon or name, the Description, or the associated Device Pool that matches your search criteria.

The window displays the conference bridge that you choose.


Related Topics

Adding a Software Conference Device

Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Adding a Software Conference Device

This section describes how to add a software conference device. For Conference Bridge hardware configuration, see the "Adding a Hardware Conference Device" section.

Before You Begin

Make sure that the following prerequisites are met before you proceed with the steps:

Make sure that servers are configured. See the "Server Configuration" section.

Make sure that device pools are configured. See the "Device Pool Configuration" section.

Make sure that the Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application service is activated on the server. This optional software service runs on a server and allows software conferencing or software Media Termination Point (MTP). Refer to the Cisco CallManager Serviceability Administration Guide for more information.

Procedure


Step 1 Choose Service > Media Resource > Conference Bridge.

Step 2 In the upper, right corner of the window, click the Add a New Conference Bridge link.

The Conference Bridge Configuration window displays.

Step 3 Enter the appropriate settings as described in Table 25-1.

Step 4 Click Insert.

Step 5 Click OK.

The window refreshes and shows the information, including the status, for the device that you just added.

Step 6 To reset the conference bridge device and apply your changes, click the Reset button.

A message displays to state that this action resets the conference bridge device.

Step 7 Click OK.


Related Topics

Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Finding a Conference Bridge

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Software Conferences Devices, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Table 25-1 describes the software conference bridge configuration settings.

Table 25-1 Software Conference Bridge Configuration Settings 

Field
Description

Conference Bridge Type

Choose Cisco Conference Bridge Software.

Host Server

Choose a host server that contains the Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application service that you want to use.

If the server that you want to use does not appear in the drop-down list box, you must use Cisco CallManager Serviceability to activate the Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application service on that server.

Conference Bridge Name

Enter a name in this required field for the conference device, up to 15 alphanumeric characters.

Note If the specified device name is longer than 15 characters, the device cannot successfully register with the Cisco CallManager.

Description

Enter a description for the software conference device.

Device Pool

Choose a device pool that has the highest priority within the Cisco CallManager group that you are using or choose Default.

Location

Choose the appropriate location for this conference bridge. The location specifies the total bandwidth that is available for calls to and from this location. A location setting of None means that the locations feature does not keep track of the bandwidth that this conference bridge consumes.


Related Topics

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Software Conference Device

Updating a Conference Device

Software Conferences Devices, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

This section describes how to add a hardware conference device. For Conference Bridge software configuration, see the "Adding a Software Conference Device" section.

Before You Begin

Configure the Device pools. See the "Device Pool Configuration" section.

Procedure


Step 1 Choose Service > Media Resource > Conference Bridge.

Step 2 In the upper, right corner of the window, click the Add a New Conference Bridge link.

The Conference Bridge Configuration window displays.

Step 3 Enter the appropriate settings as described in Table 25-2.

Step 4 Click Insert.

Step 5 Click OK.

The window refreshes and displays the conference device that you just added. The device should appear in the list on the left side of the window.

Step 6 To reset the conference bridge device and apply your changes, click the Reset button.

A message displays that states that this action resets the conference bridge device.

Step 7 Click OK.


Related Topics

Adding a Software Conference Device

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Finding a Conference Bridge

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Adding a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-4

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Hardware Conference Devices, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Table 25-2 describes the hardware conference bridge configuration settings.

Table 25-2 Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings 

Field
Description

Conference Bridge Type

Choose Cisco Conference Bridge Hardware.

MAC Address

Enter a unique device MAC address in this required field. MAC addresses comprise 12 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F).

Example

1231123245AB

Description

This field automatically generates from the MAC address that you provide.

Device Pool

Choose a device pool that has the highest priority within the Cisco CallManager group that you are using or choose Default.

Location

Choose the appropriate location for this conference bridge. The location specifies the total bandwidth that is available for calls to and from this location. A location setting of None means that the locations feature does not keep track of the bandwidth that this conference bridge consumes.

Special Load Information

Enter any special load information or leave blank to use default.


Related Topics

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Updating a Conference Device

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

This section describes how to add a Cisco IOS conference device.

Before You Begin

Configure the device pools. See the "Device Pool Configuration" section.

Procedure


Step 1 Choose Service > Media Resource > Conference Bridge.

Step 2 In the upper, right corner of the window, click the Add a New Conference Bridge link.

The Conference Bridge Configuration window displays.

Step 3 Enter the appropriate settings as described in Table 25-3.

Step 4 Click Insert.

Step 5 Click OK.

The window refreshes and displays the conference device that you just added. The device should appear in the list on the left side of the window.

Step 6 To reset the conference bridge device and apply your changes, click the Reset button.

A message displays that states that this action resets the conference bridge device.

Step 7 Click OK.


Related Topics

Adding a Software Conference Device

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Finding a Conference Bridge

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Deleting a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-6

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Table 25-3 describes the Cisco IOS conference bridge configuration settings.

Table 25-3 Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings 

Field
Description

Conference Bridge Type

Choose Cisco IOS Conference Bridge.

Conference Bridge Name

Enter the host name of the Cisco VG200 in the format CFBxxxxxxxxxxxx, where xxxxxxxxxxxx represents the MAC address of the Cisco VG200.

Example

CFB1231123245AB

Description

This field automatically generates from the conference bridge name that you provide.

Device Pool

Choose a device pool or choose Default.

Location

Choose the appropriate location for this conference bridge. The location specifies the total bandwidth that is available for calls to and from this location. A location setting of None means that the locations feature does not keep track of the bandwidth that this conference bridge consumes.


Related Topics

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Updating a Conference Device

Updating a Conference Device

This section describes how to update a Conference Device.

Before You Begin

Make sure that the following prerequisites are met before you proceed with the steps:

Configure the servers. See the "Server Configuration" section.

Configure the device pools. See the "Device Pool Configuration" section.

Configure the Conference device. See the "Adding a Software Conference Device" section.

For software conference bridges, activate the Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application service. Refer to the Cisco CallManager Serviceability Administration Guide.

Procedure


Step 1 Locate the conference bridge by using the procedure in the "Finding a Conference Bridge" section.

Step 2 Click the conference bridge that you want to update.

Step 3 Update the appropriate settings as described in Table 25-1, Table 25-2, or Table 25-3.

Step 4 When you have completed your changes, click Update.

A message states that the changes take effect when you reset the conference bridge.

Step 5 Click OK.

Step 6 To reset the conference bridge device, click the Reset button.

A message displays that states that this action resets the conference bridge device.

Step 7 Click OK.


Related Topics

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Software Conference Device

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Deleting a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-6

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Deleting a Conference Device

This section describes how to delete a Conference Device.


Note You cannot delete devices that are assigned to the Media Resource Manager (MRM) or to a media resource group. To do so, you must first remove the conference device from the media resource group(s) to which it is assigned.


Procedure


Step 1 Locate the conference bridge by using the procedure in the "Finding a Conference Bridge" section.

Step 2 Click the conference bridge that you want to delete.

Step 3 Click Delete.

A message displays that states that you are about to permanently delete the device and that this action cannot be undone.

Step 4 If you want to continue with the deletion, click OK; otherwise, click Cancel.

The window refreshes again, and the conference device that you deleted is removed from the list of devices, and all active calls terminate.


Related Topics

Finding a Conference Bridge

Adding a Software Conference Device

Hardware Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Configuration Settings

Updating a Conference Device

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Deleting a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-6

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide

Updating Conference Bridge Parameters

This section describes how to update conference bridge parameters.


Note Cisco CallManager deletes the conference bridge service parameters if you deactivate the Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application service. If you activate the service after deactivating it, Cisco CallManager sets the service parameters to their default values.


Before You Begin

Make sure that the following prerequisites are met before you proceed with the steps:

Configure the servers. See the "Server Configuration" section.

Configure the device pools. See the "Device Pool Configuration" section.

Configure Cisco CallManager. See the "Cisco CallManager Configuration" section.

Procedure


Step 1 Choose Service > Media Resource > Conference Bridge.

Step 2 From the top, right corner of the window, click Conference Bridge Parameters.

The maximum number of users that are configured for both an ad hoc conference and a Meet-Me conference using Unicast appears under the Conference Bridge Parameters heading.

Step 3 Change the maximum number of users accordingly and click Update.


Related Topics

Adding a Software Conference Device

Adding a Hardware Conference Device

Adding a Cisco IOS Conference Bridge Device

Finding a Conference Bridge

Updating a Conference Device

Deleting a Conference Device

Updating a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-5

Deleting a Meet-Me Number/Pattern, page 34-6

Conference Bridges, Cisco CallManager System Guide