CUCME: How to setup hardware conference call bridge (meetme and Ad-hoc)

Cisco Unified Call Manager Express(CUCME) provides software conference as a default feature that only allows 3 calling parties on the conference.

CUCME also provides more scalable hardware based conference bridge. Yes, it requires addition DSPs. ( PVDM module )

 

Software Conference

– No additional hardware(PVDM module) is required.
– Max 3 calling parties in conference.
– The participants must all be using the same codec.
– Ad-hoc only.

Hardware Conference

– Additional hardware(PVDM module) is required
– Max 16 parites for Ad-hoc conference mode
– Max 32 parites for meetme conference mode.

 

Hardware conference feature provides Ad-hoc and Meetme conference mode.

 

Ad-hoc : The person controlling the conference presses the telephone conference button and adds callers one by one.

Meetme : Participants call in to a central number and are joined in a single conference.
 

*Participants whose end devices use different codec types are joined in a single conference; no additional transcoding resource is needed.
 

Software Conference Bridge

1. How to setup

CUCME(config)# telephony-service
CUCME(config-telephony)# max-conferences max-conference-number [gain -6 | 0 | 3 | 6]
ex) max-conferences 8 gain -6 <— maximum number of conferences for a Cisco Unified IP phone to 8 and configures a gain of 6 db for inbound audio packets from remote PSTN or VoIP calls joining a conference

* gain – Amount to increase the sound volume of VOIP and PSTN calls joining a conference call, in decibels. The default = – 6.
 
CUCME(config-telephony)# end
 

 

Hardware Conference Bridge

1. How to setup

Lab System environment

– Router 2811 (Version 15.1(4)M8), 256MB.
– CME ver. 8.6
– VIC-4FXS/DID
– PVDM2-8 and PVDM2-64

 
2. Enabling DSP Farm Services for a Voice Card

voice-card 0 <- show dspfarm all
dsp services dspfarm

 
3. Configuring Join and Leave Tones

voice class custom-cptone jointone
dualtone conference
  frequency 600 900
  cadence 300 150 300 100 300 50
!
voice class custom-cptone leavetone
dualtone conference
  frequency 400 800
  cadence 400 50 200 50 200 50

4. Configuring SCCP for Cisco Unified CME

sccp local Vlan1
sccp ccm xx.xx.xx.xx identifier 1 priority 1 version 7.0
sccp

5. Configuring the DSP Farm

dspfarm profile 1 conference
codec g729ar8
codec g729abr8
codec g729r8
codec g729br8
codec g711ulaw
codec g711alaw
maximum sessions 4
conference-join custom-cptone jointone
conference-leave custom-cptone leavetone
associate application SCCP
no shut

6. Associating Cisco Unified CME with a DSP Farm Profile

sccp ccm group 1
bind interface Vlan1
associate ccm 1 priority 1
associate profile 1 register conference

7. Enabling Multi-Party Ad-Hoc and Meet-Me Conferencing

telephony-service
conference hardware
transfer-system full-consult
sdspfarm units 5 <–Specifies the maximum number of DSP farms that are allowed to be registered to the SCCP server
sdspfarm conference mute-on 111 mute-off 222
sdspfarm tag 1 conference
 
* Tip: To determine sdspfarm units, try "show dsp-group all"

 

Show commands
show dsp-group all
show sccp ccm group [group-number]
show dspfarm profile [profile number]
show dspfarm all
show sccp
show sccp connections
show media resource status

8. Configuring ephone-template(for meetme admin)

ephone-template  1
conference admin
softkeys connected Endcall Trnsfer Hold Confrn Acct ConfList  Flash HLog Join Park RmLstC Select
softkeys hold Resume Join Newcall Select
softkeys idle Redial Cfwdall Dnd ConfList Gpickup HLog Join Login Newcall Pickup RmLstC
softkeys seized Redial Endcall Meetme Cfwdall CWOff Callback Gpickup HLog Pickup

9. Configuring ephone DN

From below example;

– Two Ad-hoc conferences : Max 16 parties for each conference.
– Single Meetme conference : Max 16 parties for the conference.

ephone-dn  45  octo-line
number A1000
description ad-hoc
name Conference
conference ad-hoc
no huntstop
 
ephone-dn  46  octo-line
number A1000
description ad-hoc
name Conference
conference ad-hoc
preference 1
 
ephone-dn  47  octo-line
number A2000
description ad-hoc
name Conference
conference ad-hoc
no huntstop
 
ephone-dn  48  octo-line
number A2000
description ad-hoc
name Conference
conference ad-hoc
preference 1

ephone-dn 49 octo-line
number 5000
description meet-me
conference meetme
no huntstop
 
ephone-dn 50 octo-line
number 5000
description meet-me
conference meetme
preference 1

Show commands
show ephone-dn conference
show telephony-serivce conference hardware detail

10. Configuring Examples

In the following example, extension 1111 initiates a three-way conference. After the conference is established, extension 1111 can press the Confrn soft key to disconnect the last party that was connected and remain connected to the first party that was connected. If extension 1111 hangs up from the conference, the other two parties remain connected if one of them is local to the Cisco Unified CME system.

ephone-dn 10
  number 1111

ephone 20
  button 1:10
  keep-conference drop-last local-only

In the following example, extension 3666 initiates a three-way conference. After the conference is established, extension 3666 can press the Confrn soft key to disconnect the last party that was connected and remain connected to the first party that was connected. Also, extension 3666 can hang up or press the EndCall soft key to leave the conference and keep the other two parties connected.

ephone-dn 10
  number 1111

ephone 25
  button 1:36
  keep-conference drop-last endcall

In the following example, extension 3777 initiates a three-way conference. After the conference is established, extension 3777 can press the Confrn soft key to disconnect the last party that was connected and remain connected to the first party that was connected. Also, extension 3777 can hang up or press the EndCall soft key to leave the conference and keep the other two parties connected only if one of the two parties is local to the Cisco Unified CME system.

ephone-dn 38
  number 3777
 
ephone 27
  button 1:38
  keep-conference drop-last endcall local-only

In the following example, extension 3999 initiates a three-way conference. After the conference is established, extension 3999 can hang up or press the EndCall soft key to leave the conference and keep the other two parties connected only if one of the two parties is local to the Cisco Unified CME system. Extension 3999 can also use the Confrn soft key to break up the conference but stay connected to both parties.

ephone-dn 39
  number 3999

ephone 29
  button 1:39
  keep-conference endcall local-only

Tips and Troubleshooting

1. To see a status of active and inactive participant of each conference

 

3 parties are in each of conference bridge.

CUCME# show ephone-dn conference
type         active inactive  numbers
=======================================
Ad-hoc          3       13     A1000
DN tags: 45, 46

Ad-hoc          3       13     A2000
DN tags: 47, 48

Meetme          0       16     5000
DN tags: 49, 50

 

6 parties are in first Ad-hoc conference bridge.

CUCME#show ephone-dn conference
type         active inactive  numbers
=======================================
Ad-hoc          6       10     A1000
DN tags: 45, 46

Ad-hoc          0       16     A2000
DN tags: 47, 48

Meetme          0       16     5000
DN tags: 49, 50

 

2. To see who initiated the conference call and who is master of the conference call.

CUCME#show telephony-service conference hardware
Conference   Type              Active  Max  Peak    Master         MasterPhone   Last
                                                                   cur(initial)
=============================================================================================
5000         Meetme                3     8     3    1001 Chris Y   1     (  1)   1003 Joshua

A1000        Ad-hoc                4     8     4    1002 Janice    2     (  2)   1004 Michael

 

3. To see a status of DSP level on the conference

CUCME#show dspfarm all
Dspfarm Profile Configuration

 Profile ID = 1, Service = CONFERENCING, Resource ID = 1
 Profile Description :
 Profile Service Mode : Non Secure
 Profile Admin State : UP
 Profile Operation State : ACTIVE
 Application : SCCP   Status : ASSOCIATED
 Resource Provider : FLEX_DSPRM   Status : UP
 Number of Resource Configured : 8
 Number of Resource Available : 8
 Maximum conference participants : 8
 Codec Configuration: num_of_codecs:6
 Codec : g711ulaw, Maximum Packetization Period : 30 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g711alaw, Maximum Packetization Period : 30 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729ar8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729abr8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729r8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729br8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required

SLOT DSP VERSION  STATUS CHNL USE   TYPE    RSC_ID BRIDGE_ID PKTS_TXED PKTS_RXED

0    5   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    5   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    6   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    6   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    7   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      95        1453      1451
0    7   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      96        1453      1450
0    7   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      98        1393      1388
0    7   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      86        11377     11377
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      87        11377     11375
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      89        11296     11287
0    8   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –

4. To see how many DSP units on the router

CME#show dsp-group all
DSP groups on slot 0:
dsp 1:
  State: UP, firmware: 28.3.11
  Max signal/voice channel: 8/8
  Max credits: 160
  num_of_sig_chnls_allocated: 4
  Transcoding channels allocated: 0
  Group: FLEX_GROUP_VOICE, complexity: FLEX
    Shared credits: 130, reserved credits: 0
    Signaling channels allocated: 4
    Voice channels allocated: 2
    Credits used (rounded-up): 30
    Voice channels:
      Ch01: voice port: 0/0/0, codec: g711ulaw, credits allocated: 15
      Ch02: voice port: 0/0/1, codec: g711ulaw, credits allocated: 15

dsp 5:
  State: UP, firmware: 28.3.11
  Max signal/voice channel: 16/16
  Max credits: 240
  num_of_sig_chnls_allocated: 0
  Transcoding channels allocated: 0
  Group: FLEX_GROUP_CONF, complexity: CONFERENCE
    Shared credits: 0, reserved credits: 240
    Codec: CONF_G729, maximum participants: 8
    Sessions per dsp: 2

dsp 6:
  State: UP, firmware: 28.3.11
  Max signal/voice channel: 16/16
  Max credits: 240
  num_of_sig_chnls_allocated: 0
  Transcoding channels allocated: 0
  Group: FLEX_GROUP_CONF, complexity: CONFERENCE
    Shared credits: 0, reserved credits: 240
    Codec: CONF_G729, maximum participants: 8
    Sessions per dsp: 2

dsp 7:
  State: UP, firmware: 28.3.11
  Max signal/voice channel: 16/16
  Max credits: 240
  num_of_sig_chnls_allocated: 0
  Transcoding channels allocated: 0
  Group: FLEX_GROUP_CONF, complexity: CONFERENCE
    Shared credits: 0, reserved credits: 240
    Codec: CONF_G729, maximum participants: 8
    Sessions per dsp: 2
    Conference sessions:
      Sess01: Credits allocated: 120

dsp 8:
  State: UP, firmware: 28.3.11
  Max signal/voice channel: 16/16
  Max credits: 240
  num_of_sig_chnls_allocated: 0
  Transcoding channels allocated: 0
  Group: FLEX_GROUP_CONF, complexity: CONFERENCE
    Shared credits: 0, reserved credits: 240
    Codec: CONF_G729, maximum participants: 8
    Sessions per dsp: 2
    Conference sessions:
      Sess01: Credits allocated: 120

4. To see how allocated DSP in concurrent time.

CUCME# show dspfarm all
Dspfarm Profile Configuration

 Profile ID = 1, Service = CONFERENCING, Resource ID = 1
 Profile Description :
 Profile Service Mode : Non Secure
 Profile Admin State : UP
 Profile Operation State : ACTIVE
 Application : SCCP   Status : ASSOCIATED
 Resource Provider : FLEX_DSPRM   Status : UP
 Number of Resource Configured : 8
 Number of Resource Available : 8
 Maximum conference participants : 8
 Codec Configuration: num_of_codecs:6
 Codec : g711ulaw, Maximum Packetization Period : 30 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g711alaw, Maximum Packetization Period : 30 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729ar8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729abr8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729r8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required
 Codec : g729br8, Maximum Packetization Period : 60 , Transcoder: Not Required

SLOT DSP VERSION  STATUS CHNL USE   TYPE    RSC_ID BRIDGE_ID PKTS_TXED PKTS_RXED

0    5   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    5   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    6   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    6   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    7   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    7   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      86        27206     27206
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      108       26819     26812
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      89        27125     24423
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      102       7503      7498
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      105       5695      5694
0    8   28.3.11  UP     1    USED  conf    1      111       3318      3317
0    8   28.3.11  UP     N/A  FREE  conf    1      –         –         –

Total number of DSPFARM DSP channel(s) 8

How to use it?

 
Ad-hoc

1.Call 1st destination party
2. Once 1st caller has picked up the phone, press "Confrn" button and call 2nd destination party.
3. Once 2nd caller has picked up the phone, press "Confrn" again to complete setup Ad-hoc conference.

4. If you want to add more party to the conference, repeat step 1~3.
 

Meetme

1. Only designated phone(master) can initiate a meetme conference call.
* ex) Apply ephone-template 1

2. From the meetme admin(master) phone, press "meetme" button and dial meetme conference phone number (ex 5000). After beep sound, meetme conference call will be initialized.
3. Now, all other parties can join the meetme conference by dialing 5000 in above cases.