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My "Simplified" CCIE Voice Strategy

Updated: 4/10/2012
Two years have passed since I made (and failed) my first CCIE Voice lab attempt.  Why did I fail it?  Well, I didn't know everything I needed to know.

Since then, I've put my CCIE Voice aspirations on hold due to business and family obligations.  So, now, after two years of additional experience with Cisco voice products and most recently, a new employer, I find that I'm recharged and ready to dedicate myself to study and preparation for the CCIE Voice certification (for real this time).

That all sounds great, huh?  But how am I going to do it?

One of the things that I learned from my 1st CCIE Voice lab attempt - don't take any topic for granted.  This certification requires a large accumulation of knowledge and then the skill to apply all of that knowledge.  Rushing through the CCIE Voice written portion won't do you any favors. So, this time - I'm going to rededicate myself to studying each component on the CCIE Voice blueprint with a careful and methodical approach.
I used IPExpert resources on my first attempt.  The resources didn't fail me that time - "I" failed me (for several reasons).  IPExpert has a great product.  This time, I'm going to use INE CCIE Voice products.  Both vendors have great products - my intention is not to compare them.

My CCIE Voice Simplified Study Strategy
  1. Read the Cisco Unified Communications Manager 7.x SRND [ 1152 pages ]
  2. Review other portions of my CCIE Voice Reading List
  3. Follow the (Step 3) plan outlined by Mark Snow in his blog post, "From CCNA Voice to CCIE Voice in One Year - A Detailed Study Plan". 
  4. Finally, the 10 Day CCIE Voice Bootcamp will ensure that I'm ready to get my number!
CCIE Voice Deep Dive Video Series

A major amount of time in step 3 above will be spent going through INE's CCIE Voice Deep Dive Video Series and Workbook.  Due to the very detailed nature of the series, I'm going to use this as a checklist to guide my topical study to ensure that I don't skip something.  The study of each "Deep Dive" topic below will be supplemented with online Cisco documentation and hand's on study (where possible).

Module 01 :: Network Infrastructure with LAN Quality of Service :: Runtime 8 hours 18 minutes

  • Net Infrastructure: VLANs
  • Net Infrastructure: NTP
  • Net Infrastructure: DHCP
  • Net Infrastructure: TFTP
  • CUCM: RSVP-based Locations for Call Admission Control
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Classification and Marking
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Conditional Trust
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Ingress Interface Mapping
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Ingress Interface Queuing
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Ingress Interface Expedite Queue
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 L2 CoS to L3 DSCP Mapping
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Interface Mapping
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Interface Queuing
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Interface Queue Memory Allocation
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Queue-Set Templates
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Weighted Tail Drop (WTD) Buffer Allocation
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Interface Expedite Queue
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Interface Sharing
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Egress Interface Shaping
  • Catalyst 3560/3750 Scavenger Traffic Policing

Module 02 :: CUOS GUI and CLI Admin :: Runtime 3 hours 36 minutes

  • CUCM WebUI: Service Activation and Stop/Start/Reset
  • CUCM WebUI: Bulk Administration Tool (Import/Export, Phone Reports, etc)
  • CUCM WebUI: DB Replication Status
  • CUCM WebUI: Trace Files
  • CUOS CLU: TFTP Files Management
  • CUOS CLU: Status and Hostname
  • CUOS CLU: DB Replication Assurance
  • CUOS CLU: DB Replication Repair and Cluster Reset
  • CUOS CLU: Trace Files
  • CUOS CLU: RIS DB Search
  • CUOS CLU: Performance Monitor (PerfMon)
  • RTMT: Trace Files
  • RTMT: Performance Monitor (PerfMon)

Module 03 :: CUCM System and Phone - SCCP and SIP Fundamentals :: Runtime 4 hours 24 minutes

  • CUCM Services
  • UC Servers and Groups
  • Date/Time with NTP Reference
  • Regions and Codecs
  • Location-Based Call Admission Control
  • SRST References
  • Device Pools
  • System Parameters
  • Enterprise Parameters
  • Phone Button Templates
  • Softkey Templates
  • SCCP Phone Basics
  • SIP Phone Basics

Module 04 :: Users, Credentials, Multi-Level Roles and LDAP Internetworking :: Runtime 3 hours 36 minutes

  • CUCM User Credentials and Policies
  • LDAP Synchronization for CUCM and Unity Connection
  • LDAP Authentication for CUCM and Unity Connection
  • CUCM End Users
  • CUCM User Roles
  • CUCM Multi-Level Administration
  • CUCM Device/Phone/Line User Association
  • UCCX and CUP Basic Users

Module 05 :: Call Features - In-Depth :: Runtime 5 hours 18 minutes

  • SCCP and SIP Phone Display
  • Phone Firmware
  • Phone Logging
  • Ring Settings
  • Basic and Advanced Call Forwarding Display
  • Auto-Answer Options
  • CallBack (Camp-On)
  • Intercom
  • Advanced Call Hold Options
  • Call Park
  • Directed Call Park
  • Advanced Call Park Settings
  • Call Pickup
  • Group Call Pickup
  • Other Call Pickup
  • Directed Call Pickup
  • Call Pickup Attributes
  • Shared Line
  • Barge and cBarge (Conference Barge)
  • Privacy
  • Built-In IP Phone Bridge

Module 06 :: Media Resources - MTPs, Conf Bridges, Annunciator and Music on Hold :: Runtime 5 hours 36 minutes

  • IOS Software MTP
  • IOS Conference Bridge
  • IOS Transcoding
  • Media Preference and Redundancy
  • Meet-Me Conferencing
  • Ad-Hoc Conferencing
  • Annunciator
  • Unicast Music on Hold
  • Traditional Multicast Music on Hold
  • Alternate Multicast Music on Hold

Module 07 :: Expert Gateways & Trunks :: Runtime 5 hours 54 minuts

  • ISDN Switch Types and Advanced CNAM options
  • ISDN Information Elements
  • SIP Trunks - Fundamental and Advanced Options
  • H.323 Gateways - Fundamental and Advanced Options
  • MGCP Gateways - Fundamental and Advanced Options

Module 08 :: Expert H.323 Gatekeeper :: Runtime 7 hours 6 minutes

  • Provisioning IOS H.323 Gatekeeper
  • Registering CUCM with H.323 Gatekeeper
  • Registering CUCME with H.323 Gatekeeper
  • Routing Calls from CUCME to CUCM via Gatekeeper in Multiple Zones with Dynamic E.164 Aliases
  • Routing Calls from CUCM to CUCME via Gatekeeper in Multiple Zones with Multiple Tech Prefixes
  • Routing Calls from CUCME to CUCM via Gatekeeper in Multiple Zones with Multiple Tech Prefixes
  • Routing Calls from CUCME to CUCM via Gatekeeper in Multiple Zones with Static E.164 Aliases
  • Routing Calls from CUCM to CUCME and Back via Gatekeeper in One Zone with One Tech Prefix
  • Gatekeeper Call Admission Control
  • Routing Calls from CUCM to CUCME and Back via Alternate Gatekeeper Clustering in Multiple Zones with Multiple Tech Prefixes using GUP

Module 09 :: Dial Plan - Line Device Approach and the Not-So-Basic Fundamentals :: Runtime 7 hours

  • Class of Service: Calling Search Spaces and Partitions
  • Gateways, Route Groups, Local Route Groups/Device Pools
  • Route Lists and Standard Local Route Groups
  • Route Patterns and Translation Patterns
  • Digit Manipulation: Calling & Called Party Transformations and IOS Dial Peers
  • Private Line Automatic Ringdown (PLAR)

Module 10 :: Dial Plan - Globalization & Localization of both the Calling and the Called Numbers, and with Mapping the Global Number to the Local Variant :: Runtime 6 hours 18 minutes

  • Inbound PSTN Calls (Ingress from PSTN, Egress to Phones): Calling Party Globalization :: GW Incoming Calling Party Settings
  • Inbound PSTN Calls (Ingress from PSTN, Egress to Phones): Calling Party Localization :: Phone Calling Party Transformations
  • Outbound PSTN Calls (Ingress from Phones, Egress to PSTN): Called Party Globalization :: PSTN Patterns - a.k.a. "Translation Patterns are the *New* Route Patterns"
  • Outbound PSTN Calls (Ingress from Phones, Egress to PSTN): Called Party Localization :: Digit Manipulation: Calling & Called Party Transformations and IOS Voice Translation Rules & Dial Peers
  • Mapping the Global Number to the Local Variant :: + Dialing and One-Button Missed Call DialBack

Module 11 :: Dial Plan - Unlocking the Full Potential of Globalization & Localization :: Runtime 4 hours 18 minutes

  • System & User Speed Dials and Corporate Directory
  • Call Forward on Unregister
  • Automated Alternate Routing Made So Simple
  • Multiple Backup Gateways for Every Site using only Standard Local Route Group
  • National and International Tail End Hop Off (TEHO)
  • Globalized Call Routing using H.323 ICTs

Module 12 :: Dial Plan - Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) with SIP Normalization :: Runtime 6 hours 30 minutes

  • SIP Trunk to SIP ITSP for PSTN Call Routing
  • Conforming to ITSP Reqs: Various SIP-Attrib
  • Conforming to ITSP Reqs: SIP Header Conv
  • Advance Call Admission Control Mechanisms with CUBE
  • Skype SIP Trunk for Branch2 Site
  • Skype SIP Trunk for Branch2 Site - Testing
  • Testing Supplamentary Features

Module 13 :: Unified Mobility - Getting the Most out of Single Number Reach and Direct Inward System Access :: Runtime 6 hours 48 minutes

  • Mobile Connect Basics
  • Mobile Connect Ring Schedule
  • Mobile Connect Localization
  • Mobile Connect Access Lists and Exclusivity
  • Mobile Connect Interaction with Local Route Group
  • Mobile Voice Access - Inbound Call Recognition and Display
  • Mobile Voice Access and Direct Inward System Access (DISA)
  • Mobile Connect Mid-Call Features - Supplementary Services

Module 14 :: Device Mobility & Extension Mobility - What They Have in Common and When to Use Each :: Runtime 4 hours

  • Device Mobility - Between Sites but Within a Country
  • Device Mobility - Between Sites and Between Countries
  • Extension Mobility
  • Device and Extension Mobility and TEHO Interactions

Module 15 :: CUCME System and Phone Basics, SCCP and SIP :: Runtime 5 hours

  • IOS DHCP
  • IOS Clock and Network Time
  • IOS TFTP Server
  • SIP CME Server Setup
  • SIP CME Phone and DN Setup
  • SCCP CME Server Setup
  • SCCP CME Phone and DN Setup
  • CME Directory Services
  • SCCP CME Server Redundancy
  • Endpoint Registration with External SIP Proxy Server
  • CME Templates for SCCP and SIP Phones and DNs
  • CME Phone Customization

Module 16 :: CUCME Dialplans, Class of Restrictions and Media Resources :: Runtime 5 hours 36 minutes

  • PSTN Dialing from CME
  • IOS Voice Translation Rules in CME
  • Load Balancing Calls in CME
  • Class of Restrictions for CME
  • Multicast Music on Hold for CME
  • IOS Transcoding for CME
  • IOS Hardware Conference Bridge for CME
  • Multicast Broadcast-Paging in CME
  • MTP and DSP Resources in CME
  • Speed Dials in CME

Module 17 :: CUCME Advanced Call Features :: Runtime 4 hours 12 minutes

  • Shared Lines with SIP Phones
  • Shared Lines and Feature Ring with SCCP Phones
  • Shared Lines with Barge and Privacy for SCCP Phones
  • Intercom for SIP and SCCP Phones
  • Night Service Bell for SCCP Phones
  • Call Park for SIP and SCCP Phones
  • Call Blocking for SIP and SCCP Phones
  • CallerID Blocking for SIP and SCCP Phones
  • Call Transfer and Forwarding for SIP and SCCP Phones

Module 18 :: CUCME Call Coverage and Survivable Remote Site Telephony :: Runtime 3 hours 30 minutes

  • CME as SRST Fallback Mode (SIP, SCCP and MGCP Fallback)
  • Traditional SRST Fallback Mode (SIP, SCCP and MGCP Fallback)
  • 4-Digit Reachability from CUCM & SRST While in Fallback Mode
  • Call-Coverage - Call Pickup Groups
  • Call-Coverage - Basic-Automatic Call Distribution (B-ACD)
  • Call-Coverage - SIP and SCCP Hunt Groups and IOS Hunting

Module 19 :: Unified Contact Center Express - Integration, CSQ Provisioning and Custom Scripting :: Runtime 5 hours 6 minutes

  • UCCX Setup and Integration and Troubleshooting Being "Locked-Out"
  • CSQ Setup with Preferential Agent Choice
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Examination of UCCX Editor and "Simple Queuing.aef" Default Script
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Day of Week & Time of Day
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Reroute to Voicemail or Proceed to Queue
  • Basic Custom Scripting - MoH in Queue
  • Basic Custom Scripting - How Many Times Through Queue with Option to Go to Voicemail
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Nested Queues for More Available Agents
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Agent-Based Routing
  • Basic Custom Scripting - Testing and Debugging

Module 20 :: Messaging - Unity Connection & Unity Express :: Runtime 2.4 hrs

  • Unity Connection Integrated with CUCM
  • Unity Express Integrated with CUCM

Module 21 :: CUCM Presence and Cisco Unified Presence Server - Integration and Client Usage :: Runtime 4 hours

  • CUCM-Only Presence with Subscribe CSS
  • CUCM-Only Presence with Presence Groups
  • CUPS & CUCM Integration and CUPC Personal Communicator Provisioning
  • CUPS and IP Phone Messenger (IPPM)

Should be simple, don't you think?

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