Configuring Presence Call-Lists in CUCME
Configuring Presence call-lists in CUCME is fairly easy and can be done in a few simple steps. Activating this feature will allow the configured watchers to view the status (on/off hook, line busy, etc.) of the designated presentities. Now, Presence on CUCME is not as granular as it is on CUCM, you are not able to setup different Presence groups to allow some people to watch particular extensions, but not others. You have to keep that in mind when setting up who is the watchers and presentities are.
Using IOS Menus to Load Labs
Since I am using my home lab for the bulk of my training, I have been trying to find a way to easily load different lab configurations so I can rework different things or just practice a lab over and over. One easy and pretty slick way to accomplish this is to use the menu command built into the IOS.
In the example below, I have created a menu that prompts me to choose which lab I would like to load. All of the configuration files exist in a LabConfigs directory within the root of my TFTP server. Once I choose an option, the router/switch reaches out to the TFTP server for the configuration file and copies it to the startup-config. After this is complete, I have to issue a reload command to bring up the device with the selected configuration.
Lab Configurations & Topology
Like I mentioned in my previous post, I will be adding my device configurations as I go along through different stages of my studying (especially if it was something I think will be of interest). Now, figuring out how to make everything work together is a very integral part of the whole CCIE experience. So please only use these configurations if you are stuck on something, or are just curious as to how I did something.
Since I am about 85% done with gathering the equipment necessary to progress through the lab books, I have started to connect all of my equipment and configure the WAN interconnectivity. As you will see from the topology drawing I have uploaded, my design is quite similar to that of IPExpert’s and Internetworking Expert’s lab topologies. This was obviously done on purpose so I will be able to work through the lab manuals without much hindrance.
Configuring CUCME from the Ground Up: Basic CUCME
Configuring CUCME is really, really easy. At least a really basic, phones register and can call each other, CUCME configuration is really, really easy. In this post I will help you get your phones registered to your CUCME router, and get their firmware updated to whatever release you downloaded.
What you will need:
A couple Cisco IP phones (IP Communicator or IP Blue will work just fine)
A router and switch with network connectivity between each other (see: CUCM Network Configuration)
A computer running a TFTP server, connected to the above router/switch
CUCME files (download here : You must have a Cisco CCO Account)
Configuring CUCME from the Ground Up: Network Configuration
I know that Cisco has a very nice SRND & Administration Guide for CUCME, but I have found at time searching through them can be a little challenging when you are just wanting to get your equipment up and running so your phones can register. I am not sure how many parts this series of posts will include, but I am planning on starting with a new router with no configuration and going from there.
Here is the equipment I will be using during this series of articles:
2811ISR router running IOS c2800nm-spservicesk9-mz.124-24.T2
Catalyst 3550 switch running IOS c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-22.EA8
Cisco 7940 IP phone
Cisco 7912 IP phone
Cisco 7970 IP phone
Laptop for a TFTP server, also running Cisco IP Communicator