Convert Audio Files for use with the Cisco Unified Communications Suite

Quick Note: I thought I would make a quick post around how I prepare audio files for deployment in Unity Connection, Communications Manager, Contact Center Express, and other Cisco UC1 products. This post will be focused around Unity Connections but the same method can be used for all applications. The Request: Due to inclement weather conditions in the southeast I had multiple clients that needed emergency messages uploaded to their Unity Connection auto attendants....

January 28, 2014 · 2 min · Dan C Williams

Configure TACACS+ Access on Nexus 7K

The Request: Two new Nexus 7Ks have been installed at one of my client’s data centers. Management connectivity was brought up to the data center core and verified. I was given console access and told to configure TACACS+1 authentication and authorization on the F2 VDC2. The Solution: Configuring TACACS+ on the Nexus 7K is totally different than on IOS and even different than on the Nexus 5K equipment. It also requires a certain order of operations and there is one solid “gotcha” that most people run into....

January 23, 2014 · 4 min · Dan C Williams

Cisco Unified Communications Manager & Unity Connection SFTP Emergency Backup to Mac OS X over the Internet

The Request: I was engaged by a long time client who was having an issue with their local SFTP1 server. After some upgrades to their server infrastructure they noticed their phone/voicemail system had not been backed up in MONTHS! They asked if there was a way for me to perform an “emergency” backup to my system if they gave the voice VLAN access to the Internet temporarily while they fixed their SFTP issues....

December 23, 2013 · 4 min · Dan C Williams

Cisco Translation Rules, CDRs, and Unity Connection

The Request: I had a new client contact me requesting that I investigate a call that came in over the weekend where an external customer was able to leave a voicemail on an internal users extension, using the corporate IVR, instead of being routed to the weekend service. This behavior was unacceptable and caused much concern throughout the leadership. The client provided me the internal extension where the voicemail was left and a timeframe....

December 19, 2013 · 3 min · Dan C Williams

Cisco VRF/MP-BGP Router on a Stick with NAT

The Request: I was approached by a client who wanted me to build their multi tenant network for a small office building. During the initial meeting it came out that they already had equipment and would like to use this equipment without purchasing much more. This is what I had to work with: 1 x Cisco X8XX Series ISR1 6 x Cisco 2960X Switches The client also has an existing Cisco Unified Communications System that they will be configuring to provide voice services to all of the tenants....

December 18, 2013 · 10 min · Dan C Williams