Cisco Systems 5.x manual Locations and Digital Networking, Dialing Domains

Chapter 2 Digital Networking

Digital Networking Concepts and Definitions

•Distribution Lists, page 2-22

•System Broadcast Messages, page 2-23

Locations and Digital Networking

Central to how Digital Networking works is a Cisco Unity object called a location. Each Cisco Unity server is associated with one location, referred to as the default or primary location, which is created during installation and which cannot be deleted. With the exception of public distribution lists, all subscribers and other Cisco Unity objects (such as call handlers) that are created on your Cisco Unity server are associated with the primary location.

Each primary location contains the addressing information that Cisco Unity needs to route messages between Cisco Unity servers. Because Cisco Unity stores location and subscriber addressing information in the directory, the addressing information replicates to other Cisco Unity servers on the network.

The primary location also contains a Dial ID, which Cisco Unity uses as an identifier for the location. Carefully plan the numbers that you choose as Dial IDs for the primary location (and for any delivery locations that you create). Without careful planning, it is possible to inadvertently assign Dial IDs that will cause problems in locating message recipients at another location. See the “Assigning Dial IDs” section on page 9-2and the “Location Addressing Options” section on page 9-8for more information.

Dialing Domains

A dialing domain is a collection of Cisco Unity servers that access the same directory and that are integrated with the same phone system or phone system network. (This includes Cisco Unity servers that are configured for dual integrations.) A dialing domain is a grouping scheme that allows Cisco Unity to handle call transfers from one Cisco Unity server to another. Within the dialing domain, subscriber extensions in Cisco Unity must be unique just as the phone extensions in the phone system must be unique. (Typically, a subscriber extension and phone extension are the same number.) With a networked phone system, subscribers dial a phone extension without having to dial a trunk access code or prefix when calling someone who is at another location on the phone network. In the same way, when grouped in a dialing domain, subscribers who are associated with one Cisco Unity server enter a subscriber extension when sending messages to subscribers who are associated with another Cisco Unity server.

To be in a dialing domain, all of the Cisco Unity servers must access the same directory; a dialing domain cannot span directories. Dialing domains are not related to Exchange routing groups or Active Directory sites.

To group the Cisco Unity servers in a dialing domain, you enter information on the primary location page of each Cisco Unity server, as described in the “Customizing the Primary Location” section on page 2-6.

The following sections describe the functionality that can be provided when the Cisco Unity servers are in the same dialing domain:

•Release to Switch Transfers from the Automated Attendant or a Directory Handler to Subscribers on Other Cisco Unity Servers, page 2-16

•Identified Subscriber Messaging with Networked Cisco Unity Subscribers, page 2-16

•Addressing Search Scopes, page 2-17

•Addressing Options for Subscribers in a Dialing Domain, page 2-17

•Dialing Domains Shield Against Overlapping Numbering Plans, page 2-17

	Networking Guide for Cisco Unity Release 5.x (With Microsoft Exchange)
OL-13844-01		2-15