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Networking Guide for Cisco Unity Release 5.x (With Microsoft Exchange)
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Chapter 5 AMIS Networking
AMIS Concepts and Definitions
outgoing messages reaches a multiple of nine. For example, one port will be used for message delivery
if there are nine or fewer messages to a node. For 10–18 messages, two ports will be used. For 19–27
messages, three ports will be used, and so on.
After a port starts an AMIS session, it continues sending messages as long as there are messages to be
sent. The port disconnects only when there are no more outgoing messages, or after it sends the ninth
message to the same node. In this case, the port disconnects briefly, and then continues sending messages
if there are more messages that need to be sent.
Because the transmission of outgoing AMIS messages can tie up voice ports for long periods of time,
you may want to adjust the schedule so that outgoing AMIS calls are placed during closed hours or at
times when Cisco Unity is not processing many calls. Additionally, if most or all of your AMIS delivery
numbers are long distance, you may want to schedule the outgoing AMIS calls when the long distance
phone rates are lower. Keep in mind, however, that outgoing messages are queued up in the UAmis
mailbox, so there must be sufficient storage available if you restrict the delivery window.
You can override the AMIS schedule so that messages that are marked urgent are sent immediately.
Additionally, by setting up a restriction table, you can specify which delivery numbers are sent
immediately and which numbers must wait for the AMIS schedule to become active.
If you adjust the AMIS schedule so that outgoing AMIS calls are made only after normal business hours,
be sure to inform subscribers. They may choose to contact users on the other voice messaging system
directly, or send e-mail, rather than send a voice message that will not be delivered immediately.
If your schedule is such that outbound AMIS calls are placed during normal business hours or when call
volumes are heavy, you may want to dedicate certain ports exclusively for incoming calls and other ports
exclusively for TRAP. By excluding AMIS outbound calls from those ports, you ensure that there will
be ports available for calls of a time-sensitive nature. Use the Ports Usage Analyzer, available in Tools
Depot, to monitor traffic for a few days and then adjust the ports as needed.
When Cisco Unity has an outbound AMIS call to make, it searches backwards for a port to use, starting
with the last port (which is the highest numbered port), until it finds an available port that is configured
for outbound AMIS calls. In dual-switch integrations, Cisco Unity starts the search for an available port
with the last port in the last integration (again, this is the highest numbered port).
In organizations with multiple Cisco Unity servers networked together, you can set up a “bridgehead”
Cisco Unity server to handle all AMIS calls—both inbound and outbound—for all of the Cisco Unity
servers in the network. This way, the ports on just one Cisco Unity server are used for AMIS messages.
UAmis Account
Outgoing AMIS messages are placed in a special Exchange mailbox called UAmis_<Server name>.
Before AMIS messages can be transmitted, you must create the UAmis account.
The mailbox for the UAmis account is located on the partner Exchange server, which is the Exchange
server that was selected in the Message Store Configuration wizard during Cisco Unity setup.
The storage limits for the UAmis mailbox are set to the limits that are defined for the mailbox store in
which the UAmis mailbox is created. Although you can change the storage limits for the UAmis mailbox
by using the Exchange administration application, do so with caution. If the UAmis mailbox is full,
subsequent outgoing messages cannot be delivered, and the sender receives a NDR.
Consider the following when determining whether limits should be set on the UAmis mailbox:
• If the AMIS dialing restrictions and schedule are configured such that AMIS messages are delivered
only during specified periods of the day, messages are queued up in the UAmis mailbox. The storage
limit must be high enough to store all AMIS messages during the non-delivery periods.