The upgrade process as discussed in this document addresses different upgrade strategies, preparation for the upgrade operation, order of operations such as the sequence in which the system components should be upgraded, and other dependencies such as backward compatibility of software.
Note 
This document only provides information related to upgrading components that are present in both of the targeted release sets (previous and next). It does not provide installation information about components that are not part of the existing production network and are being newly added to the network as a part of the next release. This information is available in the individual component installation documents.
Upgrade Roadmap
Perform the system-level upgrade of Cisco Unified Communications components using the following high-level roadmap:
Step 1 Review your hardware requirements and perform all required hardware equipment checks. For instance, verify that the deployed hardware and operating system support the new Cisco Unified Communications releases. Also verify that the DVD ROM drive in the server where you plan to perform the upgrade tasks is operational before you start the upgrade process.
For a list of supported MCS servers for Unified CallManager 5.0(4), see the Cisco Unified CallManager Server Upgrade Program at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/voiceapp/ps378/prod_brochure09186a0080174928.html 
Note Unified CallManager 5.0(4) only supports MCS servers with a "-EVV" or "-IPC" suffix. It does not support servers with "ECS" appended to the end of the model number.
Step 2 Upgrade the existing network components from the Cisco Unified Communications 5.0 release set to the Release 5.0(2) release set versions using one of the upgrade strategies described in the System Upgrade Strategy section. Be aware that the strategy you select should depend on a number of factors, including your size, topology, and the presence or absence of shared components among sites (such an Unified ICM system that spans multiple clusters).
Note The assumption for this roadmap is that the current test bed deployment includes components that are already supported by the Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0 release set. Verify that your hardware configurations are ready for an upgrade to the Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2) release set.
Step 3 Add any new components supported by the Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2) release set to the network by installing and configuring them. See the individual components' installation and configuration documents listed in the Adding New Components in Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2) section.
Be aware that this document does not provide upgrade and backup procedures for:
•Individual stand-alone components such as Unified CallManager, Unified CCE, and Cisco Unity. It only addresses the upgrade procedures of Cisco Unified Communications components at the system-level.
•Third-party co-resident applications (although they can be used during the upgrade and backup process) such as:
–Antivirus
–Security
–Server management
–Remote access
•Additional third-party off-board applications such as:
–Operator console
–VoIP recording
–Billing and accounting
•Server replacement (hardware upgrade) for components. See individual components' installation documents for this information.
Step 4 Remove any components from your network that are not part of the Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2) release set or have reached EOL (end-of-life)/EOS (end-of-sale). Follow proper procedures to uninstall these components.
Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0 Components
The following Cisco Systems enterprise voice products are considered part of the Release 5.0 release set:
•Cisco 6000 gatekeepers and gateways
•Cisco ATA 186/188
•Cisco Agent Desktop (CAD) and CAD Server
•Cisco Analog Phone Gateways (VG244 and VG248)
•Cisco Catalyst Switches
•Cisco Emergency Responder
•Cisco IP Communicator
•Cisco Security Agent
•Cisco Supervisor Desktop
•Cisco Unified CallManager
•Cisco Unified CallManager Express
•Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise
•Cisco Unified Contact Center Gateway Enterprise
•Cisco Unified Customer Voice Portal (Application Server and Voice Browser)
•Cisco Unified Intelligent Contact Management
•Cisco Unified IP Phones 7900 Series (SCCP and SIP)
•Cisco Unified MeetingPlace
•Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express
•Cisco Unified MobilityManager
•Cisco Unified Operations Manager and Cisco Unified Service Monitor
•Cisco Unified Outbound Dialer
•Cisco Unified Personal Communicator
•Cisco Unified Presence Server
•Cisco Unified System Contact Center Gateway
•Cisco Unified System Contact Center
•Cisco Unity
•Cisco Unity Bridge
•Cisco Unity Connection
•Cisco Unity Express
•Cisco Unified Video Advantage
•Cisco Unified Videoconferencing Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) 3511 and 3540
•CiscoWorks Management Center for Cisco Security Agent
•Cisco Remote Monitoring Suite
•CTI OS Agent and Supervisor Desktop
•Customer Response Solutions (CRS) (Cisco Unified IP IVR & Cisco Unified Contact Center Express)
•Enterprise Gateway 2200
•IOS devices (including SRST and Voice/VXML gateways)
•IOS Gatekeepers
•IP Video Gateway 3521 and 3526
•Music On Hold
•TDM Gateway
•Video Endpoint Tandberg 550 and 1000
•VoIP Monitor
•Wireless IP Phone 7920
•Wireless Access Point 1100 and 1200
Adding New Components in Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2)
In addition to the above list of components, the following new components have been added to the Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2) deployment:
•Cisco Unified Presence Server
•Cisco Unified Personal Communicator (formerly known as Unified Client)
You must install the new components into the network and configure them (rather than upgrade them). See the individual component's installation and configuration documents at the following URLs:
•Cisco Unified Presence Server:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6837/prod_installation_guide09186a00805ab7d2.html
•Cisco Unified Personal Communicator:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6844/products_installation_guide_book09186a008063484e.html
System Upgrade Paths
This section provides the general information required to migrate from a common starting point leading up to the latest Cisco Unified Communications releases.
Upgrading from IPC Systems Test Release Sets
If you want to upgrade from an IPC Systems Test release set to the Cisco Unified Communications release set, be aware of the possible upgrade paths as listed below. You can access a complete listing of all the IPC Systems Test releases at:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/ip_tele/gblink/ipcmtrix.htm
•Major IPC System Test to Minor IPC System Test. For example, System Test release 4.0 to 4.1.
•Minor IPC System Test to IPC Minor System Test. For example, System Test 4.1 to 4.2.
•Minor IPC System Test to Major IPC System Test. For example, System Test 3.1 to 4.0.
•Minor IPC Systems Test to Major Cisco Unified Communications.
Note Currently. the only supported path to upgrade from an IPC Systems Test to a Cisco Unified Communications is from IPC Systems Test Release 4.1 to Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0.
Upgrading from Cisco Unified Communications Release Sets
If you want to upgrade from an Cisco Unified Communications release set, be aware of the possible upgrade paths as listed below:
•Major Cisco Unified Communications to minor Cisco Unified Communications
•Major Cisco Unified Communications or minor Cisco Unified Communications to Cisco Unified Communications maintenance release
Figure 1 illustrates the recommended upgrade path from:
•Major IPC Systems Test release set to major IPC Systems Test release set
•Minor IPC Systems Test Release 4.1 to major Cisco Unified Communications System Release 5.0
•Major Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0 to maintenance release Cisco Unified Communications Release 5.0(2)
Figure 1 Upgrade Paths for IPC Systems Test and Cisco Unified Communications Releases
Go on to System Upgrade Strategy for an explanation of recommended upgrade strategies.