configuration

Dear UC500.com Community,The Cisco Configuration Assistant( CCA) team is excited to announce the availability of the latest release of the product - CCA version 2.2.2. CCA is an easy to use interface for managing platforms within the Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS) Solution. 
The major highlights in CCA v2.2.2 include some key quality improvements and new platform features: 
Key Quality Improvements in CCA v2.2.2 include:  

UC500.com Community,
 
Cisco is pleased to announce the availability of Cisco Small Business Office Manager Beta (or Office Manager Beta), a new tool that enhances the end user experience and interaction with the SBCS solution.
 
Office Manager Beta offers a very simple way to change basic configuration options on the UC 500, such as call forward, SNR, remote access (VPN) and more!
 
Office Manager Beta is a "leave behind" tool. The Cisco Reseller installs it gets it ready to be used by the Office Administrator.
 
Office Manager Beta is fully compatible with the Cisco Configuration Assistant (CCA) version 2.2, and also includes a basic Video Viewer that allows you to automatically discover up to four Cisco PVC2300 or WVC2300 IP Cameras.
 

Dear UC500.com Community,
 
The Cisco Configuration Assistant( CCA) team is excited to announce the availability of the new major release, CCA version 2.2. CCA is an easy to use interface for managing platforms within the Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS) Solution v2.0.
 
 The major highlights in CCA v2.2 include:
 
• Cisco Unified Communications Model UC560 support -  Includes the ability to configure all features supported on the UC540 and license upgrade using a Product Authorization Key (PAK), for up to 104 users. Configuration of dual T1/E1 trunks, SmartPorts support for Gigabit Ethernet ports and field upgrade of voicemail storage have been added for UC560.
 
• Phone VPN Setup Wizard: Use the Phone VPN Setup Wizard to enable and configure SSL VPN client settings on SPA 525G IP phones. SPA525G phones configured by the wizard will automatically connect to UC500 over VPN when SPA525G phone is connected to home or remote network.
 
• Cisco AP541N Wireless Access Point Support: Includes ability to discover and manage Cisco AP541N access points. Supports configuration of wireless SSID settings for voice and data WLANs. On the system dashboard palette, the Wireless Client widget can monitor status of wireless clients associated with the AP541N or UC500 series integrated AP.
 

Excitement is building for the beta version of Cisco Configuration Assistant version 2.2.

Two of the most interesting features center around the Cisco SPA525g phones introduced earlier this year.

SSL VPN CLIENT
In case you were wondering why Cisco re-introduced SSL VPN support in CCA 2.1 this is the reason why. 

Cisco is introducing a new beta firmware for these phones that has a built in SSL VPN client. 
That's right, using the built in SSL VPN features of the Uc500 and a supported phone with the new firmware you can have a remote teleworker without a Cisco ASA or Router at the remote site.  The remote phone will use one of the 10 VPN licenses that comes included with a UC500.  Cisco is also including a wizard in Cisco Configuration Assistant 2.2 to help setup this functionality.

There is one thing to note. When working as a SSL remote phone the switchport will not allow a laptop to piggyback on the connection.  I'm told this has to do with the horsepower of the phone when performing VPN functions.

Video Monitor
The Cisco SPA525G has something the "high end" Cisco 7970 series does not.  The ability to show MPEG-4 video.  It looks like with the beta firmware you will be able to hook up to 4 Cisco 2300 Series IP based video cameras per phone and be able to see live video.  An interesting note is that CCA may be using Bonjour networking from Apple to located devices on the network.

I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy of the beta by this weekend to do some serious feature testing.

There is a bunch more due out in CCA 2.2 but I thought I would start with this as a teaser :)

Ted

First of all they changed the name of the Utility from Cisco Configuration assistant to Cisco Small Business Pro Configuration Assistant.

The rest I copied from the startup info first time I launched it. 

New features and devices that can be configured in Cisco Configuration Assistant Version 2.1 include the following

• Multisite Connection Manager for connecting up to 5 sites with full-mesh VPN for voice and data
• Cisco Unified Communications Model UC540 platform support
• Support for Cisco SPA 500 Series IP Phones (SPA501G, SPA502G, SPA504G, SPA508G, and SPA509G)
• Configuration of IPS, SSL VPN, and URL filtering on Cisco SR520-T1
• Enhanced monitoring and diagnostic tools, including security diagnostics and per-phone debug log generation
• Phone firmware load management
• Third-part application support

User Interface Changes from Previous Versions

• The following configuration options have been moved to different areas of the user interface:
• Users are now prompted to save changes to startup configuration on exit from CCA
• SIP trunking is configured in a separate window (Configure > Telephony > Trunks > SIP Trunk)
• Voice features are configured in separate windows under Configure > Telephony > Voice Features (Multiparty Conferencing, Music On Hold, Call Park, and System Speed Dials)
• Night Service is configured in a separate window (Configure > Telephony > Night Service)
• Application configuration windows and feature bar navigation have been reorganized.
• Enhanced online help system