500 series in Call Manager Environment

[sergii.kauk]

We use an old local PBX together with Call Manager located in the main office (*which is in* another country). Can we adopt a 500 series solution to use our IP phones for local calls (instead of the old PBX) and still be integrated into the global Call Manager infrastructure?

[paolo bevilacqua]

Yes, absolutely.

[sergii.kauk]

Our phones register through the global Call Manager. What will change after installing a 500 series device?

[paolo bevilacqua]

Normally, local phones register to a local device, like a 500 or CME.

If all you want is to have a local connection to PSTN for local calls from IP phones, install a small GW like a 1861 with an ISDN interface. Said 1861 can be also configured to run CME just like a 500 does.

[sergii.kauk]

Thanks! But what is the difference between C1861-SRST-F/K9 and UC520-8U-4FXO-K9? This is the capacity that we need and both devices has the same prices. Is there a cheaper solution for the local PSTN connection?

[Nicholas Matthews]

Hi Sergii,

Q. Can the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series be networked with Cisco Unified CME or Cisco Unified Communications Manager?

A. The Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series can be networked with an integrated services router-based Cisco Unified CME, but the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series does not work with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

From this link:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/voicesw/ps6788/vcallcon/ps7293/prod_qas0900aecd806a3cfa.html

It will probably work, but it will not be a supported configuration.

If you would like the same features and similar hardware that would support it, I would look towards the 1861 series router.

hth,

nick

[paolo bevilacqua]

If you want to try something ultra-cheap, get a linksys 4 ports analog GW, SPA400. Set it up as SIP GW in CM and you should be able to place and recieve calls from PSTN.

Remember however that for professional results, you should always use ISDN, not analog.

[sergii.kauk]

Would that be an unsupported configuration? What I need is some kind of proxy which will route local calls to analog/ISDN lines and to global Call Manager.

[paolo bevilacqua]

Possibly not supported, but will work.

A device that connects to pots lines it's called voice gateway, not proxy.

[sergii.kauk]

Thank you!

Is there additional information on the configuration of 1861 and SPA400 in CM environment?

[paolo bevilacqua]

Check the "adding a gateway" section in the CM manual. The Gw itself is very simple, like 10 commands in all.