Table Of Contents
Introduction to Cisco Unity Express Voice Mail and Auto Attendant
Feature Overview
Differences Between the AIM and NM
Software Licenses and Factory-Set Limits
Administration Interfaces
Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco Unity
Interactions Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
Supported Platforms
Restrictions
Additional References
Related Cisco IOS Documents
RFCs
Introduction to Cisco Unity Express Voice Mail and Auto Attendant
The Cisco Unity Express voice mail and auto attendant applications work with Cisco CallManager Express (CME) to provide small- and medium-sized companies with the capability to:
•
Create and maintain voice mailboxes for onsite telephone users. Release 1.1 supports up to 100 mailboxes; earlier releases support up to 50 mailboxes. The maximum number of mailboxes depends on the hardware module and license agreement purchased for Cisco Unity Express.
•Record and upload messages for callers to hear when they dial the company's telephone number, and prompts to guide the callers to specific extensions or employees.
This chapter describes the Cisco Unity Express application and contains the following sections:
•Feature Overview
•Administration Interfaces
•Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco Unity
•Interactions Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
•Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
•Supported Platforms
•Restrictions
•Additional References
Feature Overview
Cisco Unity Express Release 1.1.2 offers the following features in addition to those in Releases 1.1 and 1.0:
•Support for an advanced integration module (AIM) with 1GB flash memory.
•New command-line interface (CLI) commands that display compact flash capacity and NTP server configuration information (source, servers, and associations).
Cisco Unity Express Release 1.1 features:
•AIM card with network connectivity through the PCI interface and access to Cisco IOS software and the console using back-to-back Ethernet through the parallel interface. No external interfaces or cabling is required.
•Script editor to create custom scripts for handling incoming calls to the automated attendant (AA). Activating a custom script deactivates the default auto attendant script that ships with Cisco Unity Express. The default script cannot be modified. The network module (NM) and the AIM supports up to four customized auto attendants.
•Recording of alternate AA greetings and prompts that can be uploaded or downloaded as needed. These alternate greetings and prompts are in addition to the default greetings and prompts that ship with Cisco Unity Express. The NM supports up to 50 alternate prompts. The AIM supports up to 25 alternate prompts.
•Access from the telephone user interface (TUI) to a greeting management system (GMS) for recording alternate greetings and prompts. Users with administrative privileges have access to the GMS.
Note We highly recommend attaching an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to the router housing the Cisco Unity Express module. Any reliable UPS unit provides continuous power to maintain the operation of the router and the Cisco Unity Express module. Consider the unit's capacity and run time because power consumption differs among Cisco platforms. Ideally, a UPS should include a signaling mechanism that directs the router to shut down Cisco Unity Express properly and then powers off the router.
Cisco Unity Express Release 1.0 features:
•Linux-based software installed on a module card that is installed in the Cisco CME router. (See the "Supported Platforms".) The software includes the operating system, application software, and ordered license information.
•Network module card with access to Cisco IOS software using back-to-back Ethernet and console. No external interfaces or cabling is required.
•Four orderable license packages. A license must be ordered for each voice mail system. See "Software Licenses and Factory-Set Limits" for the system capacities available with each license.
•Spare modules with factory installed software and license. Upgrades to larger capacity require purchase of a license and download of the license file.
•Upgrades or downgrades from one license size to another.
•Two administrative interfaces. (See the "Administration Interfaces".)
•An integrated administration GUI for both Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME. The integrated interface permits configuration of some Cisco CME parameters, such as telephones and extensions.
•Bulk provisioning of multiple sites using CLI scripts not provided by Cisco Unity Express. Systems are administered individually.
•Systems accessible anywhere on the IP network. If the Cisco Unity Express installer uses TFTP; the site running the installer must be closely located to the TFTP server. All other functions use FTP, which allows the servers to be anywhere in the IP network.
•Manual backup and restore using an FTP server located anywhere in the customer network.
•System reports and log files for troubleshooting.
Differences Between the AIM and NM
Release 1.1.2 supports both the AIM and the NM. Cisco Unity Express features work the same way on both modules with the following exceptions:
•The AIM is a 4-port module that stores a maximum of 50 voice mailboxes. The 512 MB flash version of the AIM supports 8 hours of voice messages while the 1 GB flash version of the AIM supports 14 hours of voice messages. The NM is an 8-port module that stores a maximum of 100 voice mailboxes and 100 hours of voice messages.
•A trace or log command issued on the NM automatically saves the data to the disk. On the AIM, the trace and log data are not saved to flash memory. A new Cisco Unity Express CLI command is available to save the data to the AIM flash memory.
•Cisco Unity Express tracks the use and wear activity of the AIM flash memory. This tracking is not necessary for the NM. The CLI command show interface ide 0 command and the GUI option Reports > System display the flash memory wear data.
Software Licenses and Factory-Set Limits
Factory-set system limits are determined by the ordered license. Limits for the NM are shown in Table 2 and Table 3. Limits for the AIM are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Table 2 System Capacities for Mailboxes, Storage Hours, Ports, Scripts, and Prompts on the NM
Cisco Unity Express License/Software SKU
|
Total Mailbox Storage (Hours)
|
Default Mailbox Size (Minutes)
|
Number of Ports
|
Number of Scripts
|
Number of Prompts
|
SCUE-12CME-1.1.2
|
100
|
353
|
4
|
8
|
50
|
SCUE-25CME-1.1.2
|
100
|
171
|
4
|
8
|
50
|
SCUE-50CME-1.1.2
|
100
|
92
|
8
|
8
|
50
|
SCUE-100CME-1.1.2
|
100
|
50
|
8
|
8
|
50
|
Table 3 Maximum Number of Mailboxes, Groups, Owners, and Members on the NM
Cisco Unity Express License/Software SKU
|
Number of Personal Mailboxes
|
Number of General Delivery Mailboxes
|
Number of Groups
|
Number of Owners
|
Number of Members
|
SCUE-12CME-1.1.2
|
12
|
5
|
20
|
400
|
880
|
SCUE-25CME-1.1.2
|
25
|
10
|
20
|
400
|
1000
|
SCUE-50CME-1.1.2
|
50
|
15
|
30
|
400
|
1000
|
SCUE-100CME-1.1.2
|
100
|
20
|
40
|
400
|
1000
|
Table 4 System Capacities for Mailboxes, Storage Hours, Ports, Scripts, and Prompts on the AIM
Cisco Unity Express License/Software SKU
|
Total Mailbox Storage (Hours) 1
|
Default Mailbox Size (Minutes)
|
Number of Ports
|
Number of Scripts
|
Number of Prompts
|
SCUE-12CME-1.1.2
|
8 (512 MB)
14 (1 GB)
|
28
|
4
|
4
|
25
|
SCUE-25CME-1.1.2
|
8 (512 MB)
14 (1 GB)
|
13
|
4
|
4
|
25
|
SCUE-50CME-1.1.2
|
8 (512 MB)
14 (1 GB)
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
25
|
Table 5 Maximum Number of Mailboxes, Groups, Owners, and Members on the AIM
Cisco Unity Express License/Software SKU
|
Number of Personal Mailboxes
|
Number of General Delivery Mailboxes
|
Number of Groups
|
Number of Owners
|
Number of Members
|
SCUE-12CME-1.1.2
|
12
|
5
|
20
|
100
|
200
|
SCUE-25CME-1.1.2
|
25
|
10
|
20
|
100
|
200
|
SCUE-50CME-1.1.2
|
50
|
15
|
20
|
100
|
200
|
Administration Interfaces
Cisco Unity Express offers two administration interfaces:
•Graphical user interface (GUI)—This user-friendly, web-based interface permits administration of all voice mail and auto attendant functions and some Cisco CME information, such as extensions, telephones, and some system-wide parameters.
The GUI is targeted for administrators familiar with web-based applications and who have little or no experience with Cisco IOS command structure. Refer to the Cisco Unity Express GUI Administrator Guide for Cisco CallManager Express for the configuration procedures using the GUI menus and screens.
•Command-line interface (CLI)—This text-based interface has the same administration and configuration capabilities as the GUI. Installation, upgrade, and troubleshooting functions are available only through the CLI commands. The administrator accesses this interface through a Telnet session to the router.
The CLI is targeted for installers, resellers, support personnel, and others familiar with Cisco IOS command structure and routers. For them, accessing the system using the CLI may be easier than using the GUI, especially for troubleshooting, scripting, and bulk provisioning of many sites. See "Entering the Command Environment" on page 17 for the instructions to enter the CLI environment.
The Cisco Unity Express CLI commands have a structure very similar to Cisco IOS CLI commands. However, the Cisco Unity Express CLI commands do not affect the Cisco IOS software configuration. After you have logged in to the Cisco Unity Express module, the command environment is no longer the Cisco IOS environment.
Error messages in Cisco Unity Express are not always the same as error messages in the Cisco IOS environment.
The GUI and CLI are accessible from a PC or server anywhere in the IP network. To access the GUI, use Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or a later release. Cisco Unity Express does not support the Netscape browser. To access the CLI, Telnet to the router, then use a session command.
Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco Unity
Cisco Unity Express is not the same application as Cisco Unity, although both of them are in the Cisco family of voice messaging products, and the differences are:
•Cisco Unity is a Microsoft Windows-based application and uses the Microsoft Windows operating system's messaging infrastructure. Cisco Unity Express is a Linux-based application.
•Cisco Unity is usually deployed in a central location that can be networked with multiple sites. Cisco Unity Express Release 1.1.2 can be deployed in standalone locations that serve the local users.
However, a Cisco Unity Express system can be administered from any location that has IP connectivity with the router housing the Cisco Unity Express application. If several sites in a network use Cisco Unity Express, they can be administered individually from a single PC or server. The administrator opens a browser on a PC or server to the GUI at each site or opens a Telnet session to the CLI at each site.
•Cisco Unity supports 100 or more mailboxes and Cisco Unity Express supports 100 or fewer mailboxes.
•Cisco Unity has a larger set of features than does Cisco Unity Express Release 1.1.2.
Cisco Unity Express uses Cisco Unity Release 3.1 voice-mail prompt recordings and prompt flow, which provides the end user with the same voice-mail look-and-feel.
Interactions Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
Cisco CME is the software that controls the telephony functions. Cisco CME resides on a router, which accepts incoming and outgoing calls to your network. Cisco CME contains a call agent, which decides where an incoming or outgoing call should be sent. Cisco CME has a database of information that contains the telephone hardware identifications, extension numbers associated with the telephones, users on the system, logins, routing destinations, call handling features, and other system-wide parameters.
Cisco Unity Express is an application that enhances Cisco CME by providing the voice messaging and automated attendant capabilities. The Cisco Unity Express module contains the voice mail and auto attendant software. During the system installation process, the installer inserts this module into the Cisco CME router. A Cisco Unity Express database contains information about the voice mailboxes, auto attendant prompts, and voice messages. The Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME databases are synchronized to ensure that calls are handled correctly and voice messages are received and stored properly.
The integrated Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME administration software allows you to configure the voice mail and auto attendant parameters and some of the Cisco CME parameters, such as extensions and telephones. As you go through the initialization and configuration procedures, be sure to save your data so that both databases have current information.
Differences Between Cisco Unity Express and Cisco CME
Cisco Unity Express is not the same application as Cisco CME, although both of them are in the Cisco family of voice messaging products, and the differences are:
•Cisco CME requires a web administrator to configure the router and other system components. Cisco CME users and administrators are stored in the Cisco CME database. Cisco CME does not treat the web administrator as a telephone user.
Cisco Unity Express permits configured Cisco CME users to be copied into the Cisco Unity Express database. The Cisco CME administrator ID cannot be copied to the Cisco Unity Express database and, therefore, cannot be assigned as the administrator ID for Cisco Unity Express.
Caution Before starting the configuration using the GUI, the Cisco CME administrator must configure at least one telephone user on Cisco CME who will be copied to Cisco Unity Express during the initialization phase and designated as the Cisco Unity Express administrator. You need the Cisco Unity Express administrator's user ID and password to log back in to Cisco Unity Express GUI after the initialization process is completed.
•Cisco Unity Express allows only letters, numbers, and the characters underscore (_), dot (.), and dash (-) in user IDs. User IDs must start with a letter. Any Cisco CME user IDs that contain other characters cannot be copied into the Cisco Unity Express database.
•Spaces are not allowed in passwords. Acceptable password characters are lowercase letters a to z, uppercase letters A to Z, digits 0 to 9, and the following symbols: - , . + = _ ! @ # $ ^ * ( ) ? / ~ < > & %
•Passwords are case sensitive.
Supported Platforms
Hardware Platforms
•Cisco 2600XM series routers
•Cisco 2691 router
•Cisco 3700 series routers
•Cisco 3800 series routers
•Cisco Unity Express network module
•Cisco Unity Express advanced integration module
Software Platforms
•Cisco IOS Release 12.3(4)T or a later release for the network module
•Cisco IOS Release 12.3(7)T or a later release for the AIM
•(GUI only) Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or a later release
•(GUI only) Microsoft JScript 5.6.x or or a later release
•Cisco CallManager Express 3.0
Restrictions
The following restrictions apply to Cisco Unity Express Release 1.1.2.
System Functionality
•For the NM, only one administrator and four users may log in to the GUI simultaneously. For the AIM, only one administrator and two users may log in to the GUI simultaneously.
•Date and time cannot be set in the Cisco Unity Express software. Cisco Unity Express can be configured as a network timer protocol (NTP) client. Please refer to your NTP server CLI for more information.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support language customization. Only one language is available, U.S. English. This language controls the TUI system prompts and greetings. The administrative interfaces (GUI and CLI) are available only in U.S. English. Cisco CallManager Express 3.0 controls the telephone displays, which may be available in multiple languages, and are independent of the Cisco Unity Express supported languages.
Voice Mail Application
•Cisco Unity Express does not support voice mail networking between different sites. Voice mail is local; users can leave a message with, forward a message to, and reply to a message from other local users.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support broadcast messaging.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support distribution lists.
•Cisco Unity Express supports two greetings per user, one standard greeting and one alternate greeting. The greetings' time is included in the user's allotted mailbox storage space.
Hardware Limitations
•Only one Cisco Unity Express module per router chassis is permitted, regardless of the number of module slots in the chassis.
•The AIM cannot be installed in slot 0 of the Cisco 3745 router chassis.
•The NM's front panel Fast Ethernet 0 port is not used by the Cisco Unity Express applications and is disabled. The Fast Ethernet 1 port connects the Cisco Unity Express network module to the router and is the only active Fast Ethernet port on the network module.
•The hard disk on the NM cannot be replaced. If the network module's hard disk crashes, the network module must be replaced.
•Online insertion and removal (OIR) of the Cisco Unity Express NM is available only on the Cisco 3745 router. The replacement module must be the same type as the original module. OIR is not available for the AIM.
Caution If the network module or AIM flash memory card must be replaced, manually shut down the Cisco Unity Express application before removing the module from the chassis to prevent file corruption and data loss.
Backup and Restore
Cisco Unity Express does not support the following backup and restore capabilities:
•Scheduled backup and restore operations. The backup and restore procedures begin when you enter the appropriate command.
•Centralized message storage arrangement. The Cisco Unity Express backup files cannot be used or integrated with other message stores.
•Selective backup and restore. Only full backup and restore functions are available. Individual voice mail messages or other specific data cannot be stored or retrieved.
Other Restrictions
•Cisco Unity Express is an embedded system and provides no access to the Linux system. Users cannot add other Linux-based applications to the Cisco Unity Express module.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support managing and configuring using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) except for hardware inventory.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support Cisco Networking Services (CNS) or Subnetwork Access Protocol (SNAP) autoprovisioning.
•Cisco Unity Express does not support CiscoWorks configmaker.
Additional References
The following documents have information that may help you in administering the Cisco Unity Express applications.
Related Cisco IOS Documents
RFCs
RFCs
|
Title
|
1305
|
Network Time Protocol (Version 3)
|
