Session Manager or no? 1

[cajuntank]

I am very new to the hardware/applications that make up the Avaya IP PBX lineup. I am looking at the G450 series gateways and S8300 or above series server blades running CCM v6 for my new phone system. I have an Exchange 2010 installation and will standup an Exchange UM role server. So my question is on messaging. I have one vendor that is stating all I need is modular messaging to tie to my Exchange, while another is stating I will need Session Manager instead or in addition. I am confused on who is correct or not and I don't want to buy something I don't need. I just want unified messaging using Exchange. I want the Exchange UM server(s) to be my auto attendant and voicemail system. I also want faxes to be a part of unified messaging as well. Any insight or thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[cajuntank]

This must be a tough question as I haven't even gotten a nibble.

Anyone?

 

[dignoffo]

cajuntank,

You will need either Session Manager or a SIP gateway to interface the TDM side of CM to communicate with your Exchange server. We use AudioCode gateways to interface our CM 5.2.1 to Exchange 2007. We are upgrading to Exchange 2010 and our test environment indicates no issues with the configuration.

Session Manager does the same TDM to SIP conversion between CM to Exchange.

I am assuming you have digital and/or H.323 endpoints and will be deploying CM 6.01 evolution server.

Hope this helps.

 

[cajuntank]

Thanks "dignoffo" for the reply. I finally had a conference call conversation with the vendor, and after some research on my own, with NET. I also own a SIP gateway from them (NET) called a VX1200 that is certified by Microsoft (it's on Microsoft's list)for Exchange UM and Lync and thought this might be the same as what Avaya's Session Manager does. Turns out, just like you mentioned with you using the AudioCode gateways, it is the same. I own three of these VX1200 appliances, so I'm feeling a lot better about not having to all of a sudden come up with a ton of money for Session Manager. I will be attending an Avaya user group meeting next week and one of the last speakers is a engineer from Avaya that specializes in Avaya/Microsoft UM integration. I will float him my purposed setup as well, but right now... I'm feeling a ton of relief.

Thanks for you input.

 

[cajuntank]

I am assuming you have digital and/or H.323 endpoints and will be deploying CM 6.01 evolution server."

Wanted to get a clarification on that statement.

The location where we will have the CM (I'm assuming will be the latest rev) deployed, I'll have Avaya 96XX series phones. This location will also be where my Exchange 2010 is. I will have a few small locations that will have G430 gateways and Mitel IP phones (coming from a Mitel system, but can't afford to replace all handsets yet). These Mitel IP phones will operate in SIP mode, so I'm hoping that will be ok. I am being told that the SIP gateway will not be in play until they check for voicemail or autoattendant as the S8XXX card or CM (I forgot which) can be ordered with SIP licensing (no additional charge) and act as a SIP server for those phones to associate with.

 

[latitude12]

If your BP is proposing an S8300 with 'SIP licensing' (aka combo SES) then it will be running CM5. There are Avaya documents that cover SES to Exchange 2007 UM (doesn't require a SIP gateway), but I believe that is unsupported/doesn't work with Exchange 2010:

https://devconnect.avaya.com/public/download/interop/MS-UM-SP2-SES.pdf

http://www.avayausers.com/showthread.php?t=24107

You may want to compare the Avaya Midsize Enterprise Solution - this is a single server running Communication Manager and Session Manager (plus other software), it would be more future proof than the CM5 option but probably more expensive (plus it is a relatively new product):

http://www.avaya.com/usa/product/avaya-aura-solution-for-midsize-enterprise

 

[dignoffo]

cajuntank,

Yes, we will be deploying 6.01 CM Evolution server with our new Session Managers. We have a mix of endpoints: digital, H.323 and SIP Polycom Soundstation 7000's in conference rooms currently running on SES 5.01.

 

[cajuntank]

latitude12", I actually saw those articles when I was researching Session Manager and Exchange UM. They are January 2010 for the most part and I have seen references and articles that are more recent (2011), that I believe have these issues resolved. Again, I will be talking with an Avaya UM engineer at a user group meeting early next week and will confirm my proposed config to make sure, but all in all, I think I'm going to be ok.

Thanks.