Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.1 Special and Early Deployments

Description of the Release

This release introduces IOS support for the following new features: 

• Interworking Signaling Enhancements for H.323 VOIPI
  
• AIM-VPN/BP, AIM-VPN/HP, NM-VPN/MP 
• T.37/T.38 Fax Gateway 
  
• VIC-2BRI-NT/TE, MC3810-BVM4-NT/TE 
  
• Multimedia Conference Manager with Voice Gateway image with RSVP to ATM SVC
  
• Catalyst 4000 Access Gateway Module

Any early deployment (ED) release of software should be used in a test network before being deployed in a production network.

Product and Feature Support

Features

Feature Description:

Interworking Signaling Enhancements for H.323 VOIP:

• Interworking Signaling Enhancements for H.323 VOIP provides major fixes to provide proper signaling when signaling is passed between ISDN (Q.931) and H.323 CAS interfaces.

• AIM-VPN is a hardware Layer 3 (IPSec) encryption hardware processor on AIM and NM form-factors, for use in 26xx and 36xx routers. Encryption is based on the IRE CryptIC chip currently in development, and provides DES (56-bit) and Triple-DES (3DES 168-bit) encryption algorithms.

• The primary objective is to offer voice, fax relay, and fax store and forward on the same voice port. This initiative is also meant to achieve a closer integration of the voice and fax applications - providing the ability to dynamically switch from one application to another in the same call (IVR, voice, fax relay, fax store and forward). This level of flexibility is required to support the Unified Communications requirements expressed by our customers.

• VIC-2BRI-NT/TE and MC3810-BVM4-NT/TE provides Network Side Basic Rate Interface (BRI) ISDN Voice for the 2600, 3600 & 3810
• Provides true PSTN tie & trunk line replacement using IP, Frame Relay or ATM as a transport mechanism for voice and fax
• • Eliminates the need to reconfigure connected PABX?s BRI interfaces, purchase new PBX/PABX BRI interfaces or purchase completely new PBX/PABXs
  • Allows enterprises to seamlessly migrate towards a single infrastructure Architecture for Voice, Video and Data
• Allows penetration into small and medium sized offices which are currently using small and mid-sized PABXs
• • Toll bypass and Packet Voice become easier to implement
  • Does not require users of inexpensive legacy PABXs to forklift upgrade to New World Telephony immediately
• Meets one of the primary needs/requests to date from EMEA and Asia-Pacific

• The Multimedia Conference Manager project is an IOS software image that will integrate H.323 Cisco MCM (Multimedia Conference Manager - H.323 gatekeeper and H.323 proxy) and H.323 VoIP gateway and routing.  Multimedia Conference Manager will be supported on the Cisco MC3810, 2600, 3600 and 7200 Series.  Multimedia Conference Manager will allow enterprise customers to reduce costs by incorporating these features into a single chassis. An installed chassis can be easily upgraded via a software download to obtain this functionality. This image will also incorporate the mapping of H.323 RSVP requests to ATM VBR SVCs, a very important feature for customers utilizing an ATM backbone.

Release Documentation

• Cisco IOS X-Release 12.1(3)XI 
• Cisco IOS Release 12.1 Release Notes
• • Release Notes for Cisco 2600 Series for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI
  • Release Notes for Cisco 3600 Series for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI
  • Release Notes for Cisco MC3810 for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI
  • Release Notes for Cisco AS5300 Universal Access Servers for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI
  • Release Notes for Cisco AS5800 Universal Access Servers for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI
  • Release Notes for Cisco 7200 Series for Cisco IOS Release 12.1 XI

• New Features in Release 12.1 T

• Cisco IOS Field Notices
• Cisco IOS Reference Guide
• Pricing Tool

Target Market

• Enterprise & SP VPNs (customers with high data security requirements)
• ISPs and Internet Telephony SPs (ITSP) that are retailing or wholesaling Unified Communications applications requiring support for voice and fax
• All VoX/MGC markets 
• State Education, State Government and Service Providers
• EMEA Enterprise market

Lifecycle of Release

Note: A rebuild may occur if required.

Recommended Customer Migration Path