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