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Preparing Your Network for Cisco IP SoftPhone

Cisco IP SoftPhone, which is a desktop application, enables you to use your desktop PC to place and receive telephone calls and to control an IP telephone. A Cisco CallManager server that must be installed on the IP network performs call-routing functions.

The following sections provide an overview of the Cisco IP SoftPhone administrator's tasks and describe how to set up the network so that users can install and use Cisco IP SoftPhone:

Overview of Cisco IP SoftPhone Administrator Tasks

The Cisco IP SoftPhone Administrator is responsible for deploying Cisco IP SoftPhone by performing the following tasks:

For more information, see "Using the Cisco IP SoftPhone Installation Utilities."

Understanding the Relationship of Cisco IP SoftPhone to the Network

Figure 1-1 shows an example of the network elements required to place, answer, and control calls with Cisco IP SoftPhone.

These sections help you understand the relationship of the Cisco IP SoftPhone to your network:

Cisco CallManager

To send and receive calls, ensure that the Cisco IP SoftPhone is registered with a Cisco CallManager system. The Cisco CallManager, an open and industry-standard call processing system, integrates traditional PBX functionality with the corporate IP network. Cisco CallManager manages the components of the IP telephony system, the phones, access gateways, and the resources necessary for such features as call conferencing and route planning.

You can register a Cisco IP SoftPhone with one of following Cisco CallManager system versions:

Related Topics

Understanding Cisco TSP

When communicating with the Cisco CallManager, Cisco IP SoftPhone uses Cisco TAPI Service Provider (TSP) for LDAP-directory-based security. Cisco TSP automatically gets installed on the client PC when the user installs Cisco IP SoftPhone.

With Cisco TSP, the username and password for each Cisco IP SoftPhone client is encrypted and stored in the client registry within the Cisco LDAP directory. Because no NT domain requirement exists, a secure Windows 95/98 deployment is possible. You can perform configuration and management by associating devices with users via the Cisco CallManager user pages. All lines in those devices become controllable by the user.

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Standards Support

Cisco IP SoftPhone supports the following networking and telephony standards:

Using Cisco IP SoftPhone in Other Languages

You have the flexibility to use Cisco IP SoftPhone in English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and German. During installation, you can select the language in which you would like to run Cisco IP SoftPhone. As a result, text in the Cisco IP SoftPhone graphical user interface and dialog boxes will appear in the language of your choice. When you run Cisco IP SoftPhone, you can switch to another language at any time.

The following section describes how to configure language settings for Cisco IP SoftPhone:

System Requirements

These sections describe the system requirements for Cisco IP SoftPhone:

Cisco CallManager Server Requirements

Cisco IP SoftPhone requires a Cisco CallManager server, Version 3.0.6 or later, with all user configurations.

See "Configuring the Cisco CallManager" section for details.

Also, refer to the Cisco CallManager System Guide for details on how to install and set up the Cisco CallManager.

Cisco IP SoftPhone Client Requirements

Table 1-1 lists the system and network requirements for installing and using Cisco IP SoftPhone on a client PC.

Table 1-1   Hardware and Software Requirements for Cisco IP SoftPhone

Item	Requirement	Notes
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later, Win XP or Windows 2000	English, French, German, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese versions only.
Free disk space	40 MB
Temporary disk space	60 MB	20 MB is used only for installation (TEMP directory)
Processor	Pentium II 266 MHz	A Pentium 166 MHZ MMX is sufficient if using only in phone control mode.
Memory	64 to 128 MB RAM	Depends on which features are active.
Internet browser	Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 or later, or Netscape Navigator 4.06 or later with Internet Explorer 3.02 or later installed.	You do not need an internet browser to use Cisco IP SoftPhone; however, Cisco IP SoftPhone requires the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which is included with Microsoft Internet Explorer. You need an internet browser to install Cisco IP SoftPhone from the web.1
Sound card	Microsoft Windows-compatible full-duplex sound card	If you have a USB2 microphone/headset, you will not need an additional sound card.
Computer headset or handset	Any PC-compatible headset or handset (microphone and headphone)	Required if you plan to use Cisco IP SoftPhone as a stand-alone application. A headset or headset is not required if you will be using Cisco IP SoftPhone to control a Cisco IP Phone.
Microsoft NetMeeting client application	Version 3.01	Required if you plan to do desktop collaboration. NetMeeting 3.01 automatically gets installed as part of the Cisco IP SoftPhone installation.
Address Resolution	To collaborate with Virtual Conference Room, the directory entry for each collaborator must include the IP address or host name in the Associated PC field. Note    If you want this field to automatically update, configure an LDAP directory in addition to configuring the Auto IP Network setting.

1For more details about Internet Browser requirements, see "Browser Requirements.". 2Universal Serial Bus

Configuring the Cisco CallManager

To configure the Cisco CallManager for use with Cisco IP SoftPhone, perform the following steps:

Tip To find out which version of Cisco CallManager you are using, log in as an administrator on the Cisco CallManager server machine and choose Help > About Cisco CallManager.

Adding a CTI Port

You need to add a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) port for each active voice line that you set up in the Cisco TAPI Service Provider configuration dialog box. The CTI port acts as a virtual device that allows you to create a virtual line.

If users will be using only Cisco IP SoftPhone to control their Cisco IP Phone, you do not need to add a CTI port.

To add a CTI Port, use one of the following procedures:

Adding a CTI Port (Cisco CallManager 3.1 or Later)

Procedure

Step 2   Choose Device > Add a New Device.

The Add a Device screen appears.

Step 3   Choose Phone from the Device Type drop-down list box and click Next.

The Add a New Phone screen appears.

Step 4   Choose CTI Port from the Phone Type drop-down list box and click Next.

The Phone Configuration screen appears.

Step 5   Enter phone configuration settings as described in Table 1-2 and click Insert.

Step 6   When you are asked if you want to add a directory number for line 1, click OK.

Step 7   Enter an available directory number in the Directory field and click Insert.

Tip If you are not sure which directory numbers are available, choose Device > Phone on the Cisco CallManager Administration screen and do a search on Directory Number. This will display a list of the numbers that are already taken.

The following question box appears:

Step 8   Click OK.

Related Topic

Adding a CTI Port (Cisco CallManager 3.0.6)

Procedure

Step 2   Choose Device > Add a New Device.

The Add a Device screen appears.

Step 3   Choose Phone from the Device Type drop-down list box and click Next.

The Add a New Phone screen appears.

Step 4   Choose CTI Port from the Phone Type drop-down list box and click Next.

The Phone Configuration screen appears.

Step 5   Enter phone configuration settings as described in Table 1-3 and click Insert.

Step 6   When you are asked if you want to add a directory number for line 1, click OK.

Step 7   Enter an available directory number in the Directory field and click Insert and Close.

Tip If you are not sure which directory numbers are available, choose Device > Phone on the Cisco CallManager Administration screen and do a search on Directory Number. This will display a list of the numbers that are already taken.

Related Topic

Adding and Associating a User

To add and associate a user, use one of the following procedures:

Adding and Associating a User (Cisco CallManager 3.1 or Later)

Procedure

Step 2   Click User > Add a New User.

Step 3   Complete all the user fields with the requested information. Required fields are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Step 4   Click the check box next to "Enable CTI Application Use" so you can use lines in standalone mode.

Note   The Associated PC field is required for collaboration with Virtual Conference Room.

Note   The Auto Attendant Name Dialing field automatically gets generated when all the other fields are completed.

Step 5   Click Insert and then click Personal Information to view the user's Application Profiles panel.

Step 6   Click Device Association listed in the user's Application Profiles panel.

The page refreshes and brings up the User Device Assignment page.

Step 7   Click the check box next to the device (line name) that you want to associate with the user.

Step 8   After you have finished associating devices, click Update to add the information or click Personal Information to see the user's information.

Adding and Associating a User (Cisco CallManager 3.0.6)

Procedure

Step 2   Click User > Add a New User.

Step 3   Complete all the user fields with the requested information. Required fields are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Step 4   Click the check box next to "Enable CTI Application Use" so that you can use lines in standalone mode.

Note   The Associated PC field is required for collaboration with Virtual Conference Room.

Note   The Auto Attendant Name Dialing field automatically gets generated when all the other fields are completed.

Step 5   Click Device Association.

Step 6   The page refreshes and brings up the User Device Assignment page.

Step 7   Click the check box next to the device (line name) that you want to associate with the user.

Step 8   After you have finished associating devices, click Insert to add the information or click Personal Information to see the user's information.

Related Topics

Associating a User with a Cisco IP Phone

To associate a user with a Cisco IP Phone, use one of the following procedures:

Associating a User with a Cisco IP Phone (Cisco CallManager 3.1 or Later)

Procedure

Step 2   Open Cisco CallManager Administration.

Step 3   Click User > Global Directory.

This opens the User Search page.

Step 4   Enter the name of the user that you want to associate with a Cisco IP Phone and click Search.

Tip You may also search devices by device name or extension number.

Step 5   In the Find and List Users page, click on the person's name. The page refreshes and brings up the Update User Information page.

Step 6   Ensure that the check box next to Enable CTI Application Use is checked so that you can use lines in standalone mode.

Step 7   Click Personal Information to view the user's Application Profiles panel.

Step 8   In the user's Application Profiles panel, click Device Association.

Step 9   Enable the check box next to Cisco IP Phone icon (for example, 7960) and click Update.

Associating a User with a Cisco IP Phone (Cisco CallManager 3.0.6)

Procedure

Step 2   Open Cisco CallManager Administration.

Step 3   Click User > Global Directory.

This opens the User Search page.

Step 4   Enter the name of the user that you want to associate with a Cisco IP Phone and click Search.

Tip You may also search devices by device name or extension number.

Step 5   In the Find and List Users page, click on the person's name. The page refreshes and brings up the Update User Information page.

Step 6   Ensure that the check box next to Enable CTI Application Use is checked so that you can use lines in standalone mode.

Step 7   Click Associate Devices.

Step 8   Enable the check box next to Cisco IP Phone icon (for example, 7960) and click Update and then Insert.

Support Cisco Emergency Responder (CER) Service

Cisco IP SoftPhone 1.3 includes support for CER service. CER service provides 911 dispatchers with your caller information such as phone number and location. You can operate Cisco IP SoftPhone with CER service if you are using Cisco CallManager 3.1(x) and the Cisco CallManager has been configured for CER support.

If users install Cisco IP SoftPhone from a CD-ROM, they will need the following information to enable CER service:

These URLs are required for Cisco IP SoftPhone to pass CER information to the CER servers.

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Note    If users with CER service install Cisco IP SoftPhone from the web or a self-extracting executable, the primary and backup server URLs will be automatically configured for them.

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