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Cisco Unity Express Installation/Setup - Service Module & Initial Web Interface Configuration - Part 2

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Mentioned in Part-1 of our Cisco Unity Express installation article, the Cisco Unity Express setup procedure is identical for ISM-SRE-300-K9 and SM-SRE-700-K9 modules. We will be using the smaller ISM-SRE-300-K9 for this article. The only notable difference in the CallManager Express configuration will be the module’s interface that connects to CallManager Express.

Users interested can also visit our Cisco VoIP/CCME - CallManager Section where they'll find more articles covering Cisco VoIP, CallManager, CallManager Express and Unity Express.

For the SRE-300, the module’s interface name is interface ISM0/0, whereas for the SM-SRE-700 it is service-module sm2/0. Both interfaces are GigabitEthernet, connected via each router’s internal bus.

The ISM-SRE-300-K9 module is configured with its own IP address and acts as a separate machine inside the router. Before we can begin configuring Unity Express, preinstalled by Cisco, we must configure IP connectivity with the router so we can then access the ISM-SRE-300-K9 module and initialize the Unity Express setup.

When physically installing an SRE module, CCME will automatically make two additional interfaces available in its configuration. For the ISM-SRE-300-K9, they are interface ISM0/0 and interface ISM0/1, whereas for the SM-SRE-700 they are interface SM2/0 and interface SM2/1.

First step is to configure IP connectivity between the router (CCME) and Unity Express. This is achieved by configuring interface ISM0/0 with an IP address (ISM-SRE-300-K9) or interface SM2/0 for the SM-SRE-700.

Our CCME router has two IP addresses, 192.168.9.5/24 (Data VLAN) and 192.168.10.5/24 (Voice VLAN). When configuring an IP address on Unity Express, there is the choice of assigning one part of the existing network(s) (192.168.9.0 or 192.168.10.0) or one that is on a completely different network. 

It is a common practice to configure Unity Express with an IP address that is part of the Voice VLAN, that is, 192.168.10.0/24 in our example:

interface ISM0/0
 description Unity-Express-Module
 ip unnumbered GigabitEthernet0/0.2
 ip virtual-reassembly in
 service-module ip address 192.168.10.10 255.255.255.0
 !Application: CUE Running on ISM
 service-module ip default-gateway 192.168.10.5

In the above configuration commands, we’ve configured our Unity Express module with IP address 192.168.10.10 and a default-gateway of 192.168.10.5 (CCME’s Voice VLAN IP address), this is because the Unity Express module is physically connected to our router’s internal interfaces (ISM) and therefore must use one of the router’s IP interfaces as a default-gateway.

The ip unnumbered <interface> command allows the Cisco Unity Express module to use a network subnet IP address associated with a specific router egress port such as GigabitEthernet0/0.2. This configuration method requires a static route to the service-engine interface. The router interface associated with the Cisco Unity Express interface (GigabitEthernet 0/0.2) must be in an "up" state at all times for communication between the router and module.

At this point we should note that GigabitEthernet0/0 is configured as a trunk link with our switch. This configuration method is known as ‘Router on a Stick’ and allows all configured VLANs to pass through a single interface. For more information on this configuration method, please refer to our Router-on-a-Stick article.

Following is the configuration of our GigabitEthernet 0/0 interface:

interface GigabitEthernet0/0
 no ip address
 duplex auto
 speed auto
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.1
 description Data-VLAN
 encapsulation dot1Q 1 native
 ip address 192.168.9.5 255.255.255.0
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.2
 description Voice-VLAN
 encapsulation dot1Q 2
 ip address 192.168.10.5 255.255.255.0
!

Next step is to create a static route to Unity Express’s IP address via the internal service module (ISM0/0):

2911-CCME (config)# ip route 192.168.10.10 255.255.255.255 ISM0/0

At this point, we should be able to ping Unity Express’s IP address:

2911-CCME# ping 192.168.10.10
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 192.168.10.10, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/1/1 ms

CallManager Express - Telephony-Service Configuration

Next step is to configure our CallManager Express web-based administrator user (if not already configured), voicemail extension on CallManager Express, voicemail dial-peer and Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) extensions used to enable/disable the red light (message waiting indicator) on the IP phone when there is a message waiting in the user’s voice mailbox:

2911-CCME(config)# telephony-service
2911-CCME(config-telephony)# web admin system name administrator password firewallcx
2911-CCME(config-telephony)# voicemail 810
2911-CCME(config-telephony)# create cnf
Creating CNF files
2911-CCME(config-telephony)# exit
2911-CCME(config)#
2911-CCME(config)# dial-peer voice 101 voip
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# description Unity Express - VoiceMail
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# destination-pattern 810
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# session protocol sipv2
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# session target ipv4:192.168.10.10
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# dtmf-relay rtp-nte
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# codec g711ulaw
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# no vad
2911-CCME(config-dial-peer)# exit
2911-CCME(config)#
2911-CCME(config)# ephone-dn  1
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)# number 800... no-reg both
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)# mwi on
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)# exit
2911-CCME(config)#ephone-dn  2
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)# number 801... no-reg both
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)# mwi off
2911-CCME(config-ephone-dn)#exit
2911-CCME(config)#

Now we must enable the IP http & http secure server and ensure the http access-lists (if any) allow the login of Unity Express’s IP address:

2911-CCME(config)# ip http server
2911-CCME(config)# ip http access-class 50
2911-CCME(config)# ip http authentication local
2911-CCME(config)# ip http secure-server
2911-CCME(config)# ip http timeout-policy idle 60 life 86400 requests 10000
2911-CCME(config)# ip http path flash:
2911-CCME(config)# access-list 50 remark -=[Control CUCME Web Access]=-
2911-CCME(config)# access-list 50 permit 192.168.9.0 0.0.0.255
2911-CCME(config)# access-list 50 permit host 192.168.10.10
2911-CCME(config)# access-list 50 remark

Failing to configure the above commands will result in the failure of Unity Express to log into the CallManager Express system and not able to complete the Unity Express initialization process. In our setup, network 192.168.9.0 is the Data VLAN, whereas host 192.168.10.10 is our Unity Express IP address.

Unity Express Module Administrator User Configuration

Final step involves login into the Unity Express CLI and creating the admin user to be used for the web-based initialization process that follows:

2911-CCME# service-module ism 0/0 session

Trying 192.168.10.5, 2131 ... Open
**************************************************
The administrator user ID cannot be empty.
**************************************************
Enter administrator user ID:
  (user ID): admin    
Enter password for admin:
  (password):
Confirm password for admin by reentering it:
  (password):

SYSTEM ONLINE
se-192-168-10-10#
se-192-168-10-10# config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
se-192-168-10-10(config)# hostname 2911-UnityExpress
2911-UnityExpress(config)# exit
2911-UnityExpress# wr
2911-UnityExpress# exit

Session closed

[Connection to 192.168.10.5 closed by foreign host]

We are now ready to connect to Unity Express and begin the module’s initialization.

Unity Express Web Interface Initialization & Configuration

Open a web browser and enter the IP address of the Cisco Unity Express module, in our case this is 192.168.10.10. The Unity Express is yet to be initialized and therefore will only allow administrator login.

Using the username and password entered above, we log in to the Unity Express administration panel:

Upon logon, we need to select the appropriate Call Agent Integration from the drop-down menu, in our case Cisco Unified Communication Manager Express:

unity express initialization installation wizard

After the selection, the system will warn that it will delete Jtapi related configuration and reboot. Do not be alarmed and click on OK to continue:

cisco unity express installation

If you’re connected to the unity express CLI, you’ll also be able to view the whole reboot process. Here is the session we captured during this reboot:

MONITOR SHUTDOWN...
INIT: Sending processes the TERM signal
Rebooting ...
shutdown: sending all processes the TERM signal...
platform.config:    INFO platform.config server output END
trace:    INFO trace daemon output END
rbcp:    INFO rbcp daemon output END
shutdown: sending all processes the KILL signal.
shutdown: turning off swap
shutdown: unmounting all file systems
Please stand by md: stopping all md devices.
while rebooting the system.
ACPI: PCI interrupt for device 0000:01:00.0 disabled
ACPI: PCI interrupt for device 0000:01:01.0 disabled
Restarting system.
Aug 12 11:39:31.024: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface ISM0/1, changed state to down
Aug 12 11:39:31.056: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down
Initializing memory. Please wait...
Memory initialization OK. Continue...
Aug 12 11:39:40.080: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface ISM0/1, changed state to up
DDR Memory 0512 MB detected
Genuine Intel(R) processor              1.06GHz
BIOS ISM 2.6,  BIOS Build date: 10/16/2009
System now booting...
Authenticating boot loader....  
Secondary Boot Loader authenticated - booting....  
Please enter '***' to change boot configuration:
Detect and Initialze network device
Backup current platform configurations....
SRE step 1 - SM registration...
Response - no installation needed (len: 422)
SRE Installation Not Needed
Restoring orignial configuration...
Updating flash with bootloader configuration.
Please wait .................. done.
Loading disk:/bzImage ...
Aug 12 11:39:58.512: %SM_INSTALL-6-INST_RBIP: ISM0/0 received msg: RBIP Registration RequestVerifying ... done.
Starting Kernel.
Platform: ism
sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
Verifying application level programs
Application level programs verification OK!
INIT: version 2.86 booting
mounting proc fs ...
mounting sys fs ...
mounting /dev/shm tmpfs ...
reiser root fs ...
Reiserfs super block in block 16 on 0x801 of format 3.6 with standard journal
Blocks (total/free): 1002928/899804 by 4096 bytes
Filesystem is clean
Filesystem seems mounted read-only. Skipping journal replay.
Checking internal tree..finished
Aug 12 11:40:10.080: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to up
FILESYSTEM CLEAN
Remounting the root filesystem read-write...
kernel.sem = 1900 4000 32 100
vm.overcommit_memory = 1
                Welcome to Cisco Service Engine
Setting the system time from hardware clock
********** rc.aesop ****************
Populating resource values from /etc/ism_rsrc_file
Populating resource values from /etc/default_rsrc_file
Populating resource values from /etc/products/cue/default_rsrc_file
Populating resource values from /etc/products/cue/ism_rsrc_file
WARNING: Found files describing previous failures...
         Saving them as /var/javacores/*.prev
Processing manifests . . . . . . . . . . . . . complete
==> Management interface is eth0
==> Management interface is eth0
Serial Number: FOC162427RV
INIT: Entering runlevel: 2
********** rc.post_install ****************
INIT: Switching to runlevel: 4
INIT: Sending processes the TERM signal
==> Starting CDP
STARTED: ntp_startup.sh
STARTED: LDAP_startup.sh
STARTED: SQL_startup.sh
STARTED: dwnldr_startup.sh
STARTED: HTTP_startup.sh
STARTED: probe
STARTED: fndn_udins_wrapper
STARTED: superthread_startup.sh
STARTED: /usr/wfavvid/run-wfengine.sh
STARTED: /usr/bin/launch_ums.sh
 Waiting 74 ...
SYSTEM ONLINE

2911-UnityExpress#

While Unity Express reboots, the GUI interface shows a messaging explaining that the system is reloading and will automatically try to reconnect once the reboot cycle is complete:

cisco unity express reboot

When the system is back online it is necessary to log back in using the Unity Express administrator account previously created (admin).

After the logon process is complete, we are presented with the CUCME Logon screen. This screen is to provide the credentials so that Unity Express can log on to the CCME and obtain user account configuration. This account is the same account created under the Telephony-Service section of CCME (shown previously). We can also provide the hostname or IP address of CCME. We selected the IP address of the Voice VLAN, 192.168.10.5:

cisco unity express cme login credentials

In case of logon failure, Unity Express will present a pop-up window explaining that it failed to log on. In such a case, check the CCME web user under telephony-services and ensure the rest of the required commands are present.

As soon as Unity Express’s login to CCME is complete, it will present all users it finds and allow the administrator to associate the Primary Extension for each one. Here, you can also enable Mailbox creation, set a specific user as an Administrator or set CFNA/CFB (Call Forward No Answer / Call Forward Busy) so that incoming calls to the user are directed to his/her voicemail when not answered or busy:

cisco unityexpress import users

Clicking on Next takes us to the Defaults page where default settings are configured for all new users and mailboxes created from now on. Ensure the System Default Language is set to English (in most cases) and take note of the Password & PIN Options.  The rest can be changed as required:

cisco unityexpress pin configuration

Next page coves the handling of calls to Unity Express. Here you set the Voice Mail Number. This same number should be configured under Telephony-Service in CallManager Express (covered earlier in this article). MWI ON/OFF should be automatically configured, if not, select the correct extensions configured.  SIP MWI should be left as default unless there is a reason to change it:

cisco unityexpress call handling

A final screen is presented where there is an option to finalize the configuration and save it to the Unity Express startup-config. Review as necessary and click on Finish to begin the process:

cisco unityexpress configuration summary

As the saving of the configuration is in progress, Unity Express executes a number of scripts in the background and makes the necessary modifications. An update of this progress is shown on the web browser screen:

cisco-unityexpress-p2-12

Finally, Unity Express will present a summary of the setup and inform the administrator of all successes and failures:

cisco unityexpress status

In our example, Unity Express failed to create and allocate a voice mailbox to our user due to the absence of an active mailbox license.

Unity Express licensing will be covered in a separate article, along with more details and information.

This completes a two-part article covering the physical installation of ISM300 and SME700 Service Engine Ready modules with Unity Express 8.0.

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