How to Virtualize Cisco Unified Communications Manager

I am going to list the high level steps required to virtualize CUCM.  This article is for you if your current installation of CUCM is on Cisco's MCS servers and you want to migrate this installation onto VMWare running on Cisco's new UCS servers. 

1. Download the OVA file from Cisco.com

Go to Cisco.com and sign in with your CCO account.

Go to Support->All Downloads->Voice and Unified Communications->IP Telephony->Unified Messaging->Cisco Unity Connection->Cisco Unity Connection Virtualization

Get the OVA version appropriate for your CUC version.  I'm running ESXi5.0 so I'll download the latest OVA file for VMV8.  At this time, the latest OVA file is CUC_9.1_vmv8_v1.5.ova

2. Get Installation ISOs

Can only be obtained through PUT

3. Download Upgrade ISOs from Cisco.com

Log into Cisco.com and download upgrades so that you can reach the supported version of 8.0(2) or greater.

4. Upgrade Existing Installation of UC Applications to Supported Version

Task time: 1.5 hrs for each publisher

This is only if your current version running on the MCS hardware is not a supported version

5. Perform DR Backup of Existing Installation

Task time: 5 mins + per system

Perform a DR backup of each system.

6. Deploy the OVA file onto UCS VMWare

Task time: 5 mins per system

Note: Make sure you have enough resources for reservations.

7. Upload the installation ISOs to the VMWare datastore

Task time: 5 mins assuming gigabit link

Mount this as a cd on the VM.

8. Install UC Application

Task time: 1.5 hrs for each publisher

Boot it up and install.  Make sure you have this information ready.

• Network information
• Hostname
• Domain
• IP Address
• IP Mask
• GW Address
• DNS server IP addresses
• Admin user credentials
• Certificate information
• Orgainization
• Unit
• Location
• State
• Country
• NTP server IP addresses
• Security password
• SMTP IP address
• Application user credentials

9. Upload the upgrade ISOs to the VMWare datastore

Mount this as a cd.  Log into the OS Administration page and upgrade.

10. Upgrade UC Application

Task time: 1.5 hr per server

When upgrading UC application, make sure to update VM to new OVA file specs and upgrade VMWare tools.

11. Upgrade VMWare Tools

Task time: 20 mins per system

After installation, you should upgrade the VMWare Tools.

See http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/VMware_Tools

12. Perform DR Restore

Perform the restore on the new server

13. Get license re-hosted

Get the new License MAC and get the licenses re-hosted

14. Repeat Steps for Subscribers

Resources

http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Implementing_Virtualization_Deployments

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/install/8_0_2/install/cmins802.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/connection/8x/installation/guide/8xcucigx.html
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/drs/8_5_1/drsag851.html