Shopping list for CUCM

Im ready to start with setting up CUCM and doing some configs. I currently have installed CUCM 8.6. Installed on a VM Workstation using 200GB HD and 2GB Ram. Everything is up and running and I can reached the GUI and ready to go but I dont know which way to go. I have setup CME on my 2801 and can dial out/in and VOIP to VOIP. Questions are this?

A) Do I need a Unity server for voice mail.

If yes, what version.
C) Any other kinda server software needed.
D) Does the CCNAV book teach you how to direct phone traffic to the CUCM instead of the router.
E) Is CUCM once up, easier to use them CME on the router?
F) Do I still need my 2801 with FXS and FXO Vics?
G) Does the CUCM server need to be on the VOICE or DATA VLAN?

Basically I need a road map to get me started from those of you who have walked this path allready.

Thank you in advance!

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DexterPark

I can tell from your questions that your knowledge of voice is a little sketchy, but don't worry as you will quickly come up to speed once you start playing around with this stuff. but to answer your questions:

A) Yes, you will need a Unity virtual machine or Unity express module if you want a voicemail solution.

8.6 is fine. Anything 7x or higher really...
C)Depends on what you mean. I use Vsphere for its flexibility. I can shift VM's back and forth from physical servers, take snapshots and rollback changes. Vsphere sits on top of Microsoft Server 2008 R2, and you will need to have ESXi 4 on your physical nodes.
D)Yes, it is a great book. Very informative and practical. You have to build phone profiles in CUCM same as Express. Phone traffic is really dictated from the TFTP Option 150 field they get when requesting a DHCP address. That is what points the phone to the server, it's VLAN/DHCP driven.
E) Not out of the box, but once configured I find it a lot easier to deal with, it can get complicated really quick if you just go in there doing stuff (hence the snapshots/restores) but if you just learn one piece at a time and research things before hand you will be ok.
F) No not really. It is great to have and play with to test legacy stuff, but if you want some real fun get a $4 SIP trunk from les.net and add it to your CUCM server then you'll have a fully functional VOIP solution for pennies a call.
G) VOICE. I am assuming that you want CUCM to be the DHCP server for your phones in which case you will need to have the DHCP server in your voice vlan. You don't have to do it this way though, maybe you want your switch or router to have the Voice DHCP scope so as long as you have a L3 capable device that can do inter-vlan routing between voice or data you could really put CUCM in either one. Just needs to be specified as the TFTP Option 150 for the phones.

My advice is to watch the video's, read the book, and try as many different lab setups as you can. CCNA Voice really just goes over the day-to-day administration of CUCM so watch the CIPT1 videos to figure out how to set CUCM up and preform advanced configurations.

Hope this helps!

drkat

A) Do I need a Unity server for voice mail. - YES

If yes, what version. - Depends... are you gonna be running Express or Unity

C) Any other kinda server software needed. - NO

D) Does the CCNAV book teach you how to direct phone traffic to the CUCM instead of the router. - YES

E) Is CUCM once up, easier to use them CME on the router? - No

F) Do I still need my 2801 with FXS and FXO Vics? - Yes you'll need a voice gateway you will no longer be running "CME"

G) Does the CUCM server need to be on the VOICE or DATA VLAN? - ??? what do you think?

Once you have cucm built up you'll add the 2800 as a gateway, now depending on the type of gateway h323/mgcp - if youre doing this for ccna voice it's a bit overkill IMHO

Hondabuff

Thanks guys for your replys. Both of you have been really helpful. I feel like Im back starting the Cisco CCENT track asking a ton of noob questions. Its a ton of fun to learn the voice but takes a few cracks to make it all clear. I went from being a solid network guy to the Microsoft route because my last job required it. I had to learn Server 2008 R2 real quick for building a primary DC with exchange 2010/AD/GP and the whole 9 yards. Then my skills allowed me to build a WDS Server with MDT at a couple schools so they can do there Win 7 migrations. At my current job, Im now the imaging expert and trying to get into there Network Dept. Of course everyone knows that Network guys dont ever leave their position unless promoted. So Im back to my love of Cisco and building on my prior skills. The Voice is seems very hard until it just clicks one day. I have been having a "AHH-HAA" moment about 3 times a week now. But hats off to you guys for being patient. Learning Cisco is a humbling adventure sometimes!

DexterPark

Your creeping me out man, for a second I thought I wrote that last comment! I went through nearly the same thing before I got into a Unified Communications Engineering role! I have handled many imaging deployments, WDS server and everything. On the home lab front, I have my own AD, Exchange, SharePoint, and more under Hyper-V. I have had those Ah-ha moments as well, not sure how I got into cisco voice it seems I just naturally gravitated towards it. Very humbling, its a lot of fun to try and understand something new see, asking questions, figuring out what hardware to get, etc....

drkat

Remember the kind words of Mr Garrison - "There are no such things as stupid questions, just stupid people"

enjoy the voice side.

I myself just started a new job as the Network Engineer but I feel as if my role is going to evolve more into Network + Windows Admin type of role and well... I havent touched Windows in this sense since April of 2010 - My roles have strictly been Cisco or Voice related ... cant wait lol.

Hondabuff

Anyone know if you can run CUCM Business edition on VM since it also includes unity?

shodown

Yes you can do business edition on unity. If you have a enviorment that uses BE then o for it, if no install them separately.