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InformaCast® 8.1

Quick Start Guide for a Cisco Unified Communications Manager Telephony Environment

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© 2011 Singlewire. Confidential. All rights reserved.

InformaCast is a trademark of Singlewire Software.

All other referenced trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners and our referenceto them does not imply or indicate any approval, endorsement, sponsorship or affiliation withsuch owners unless such approval, endorsement, sponsorship or affiliation is expresslyindicated.

Last updated: December 8, 2011

Table of ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Install InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Prepare your Multicast Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Install InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Integrate Communications Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Configure InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Use InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Add a Recipient Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Add a New Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configure the Text Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Configure the Audio Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Configure the Re-broadcasting Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Configure the Scripting Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Configure the Confirmation Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Send a Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Send a Pre-recorded Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Send a Live Audio Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Send an Ad-hoc Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Manage SIP Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Configure a SIP Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Allow/Disable SIP Access to InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Enable SIP Authentication for InformaCast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Enable Digest Authentication with SIP User Credentials . . . . . . . 28Manage SIP Certificates to Facilitate TLS Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . 29Manage the SIP Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Restart SIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Configure DialCast Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialIntroduction

IntroductionInformaCast is Singlewire Software’s IP telephony broadcast system that allows you to simultaneously send an audio stream and text message to variety of endpoints including IP speakers, Cisco IP phones, overhead paging systems, computer desktops, digital signage, SMS text, social media sites, and more. This guide is designed to get you started quickly, by explaining how to complete some of the most common tasks you’ll need to get the most out of InformaCast.

EnvironmentsThere are three versions of this guide: one for environments using Cisco Unified Communications Manager, one for environments using Communications Manager Express, and one for hybrid runtime (HRE) environments, e.g. non-telephony, SIP, etc. Please make sure you have the right version by looking at the cover page, or by looking at the environment type printed at the bottom of every page.

PrerequisitesInformaCast has the following system prerequisites:

• A valid license key, which should have been provided to you by your Singlewire salesperson (contact [email protected] if you didn’t receive one)

• Meet the hardware requirements as defined in the “InformaCast Installation and User Guide”

• Enable and configure multicast routing for all network segments between InformaCast and the phones/speakers

• Configure a static IP address on the InformaCast server before installing InformaCast

• Disable all NICs on the InformaCast server other than the primary NIC with a static IP address

• Install and maintain Cisco Communications Manager server(s); the following versions are supported: 6.0.x, 6.1.x, 7.0.x, 7.1.x, 8.0.x, and 8.5

• Enable web access on any Cisco IP phones working with InformaCast

• Enable SNMP on all servers in a Communications Manager cluster

• Run the AXL service on at least one server in the Communications Manager cluster

• Run the CTIManager service on at least one node that’s also running the CallManager service. The CTIManager service can run on up to eight nodes in a cluster, and you should use more than one node with this service for redundancy.

TroubleshootingIf you’ve followed the instructions in this guide and are still having trouble getting InformaCast to work, you can:

• Consult the “InformaCast Installation and User Guide”

• Check out the troubleshooting tips in the online Knowledge Base, which provides Level 1 and 2 support for those with a current maintenance contract

• Submit a support request, which will be assigned to Singlewire Support personnel.

1Cisco Unified Communications Manager Telephony Environment

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mailto:[email protected]

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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialIntroduction

For a more interactive approach to the concepts in this guide, you can check out the tutorial videos for InformaCast.


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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialInstall InformaCast

Install InformaCastIt is expected that this application will be installed and configured by a Communications Manager administrator, as many of the concepts involved require familiarity with Communications Manager, and it will be necessary to configure Communications Manager as part of the installation process.

Prepare your Multicast Environment

Note Please follow these next recommendations before installing InformaCast. Your InformaCast environment will be more stable and installation will proceed more smoothly.

You must enable multicast across your network in order for your recipients to receive the audio portion of InformaCast broadcasts.

Caution Just because music on hold works on your phones does not mean that it is using multicast. Music on hold can be used with either unicast or multicast. If you need a tool to verify and test your multicast routing, Singlewire has a tool posted here: http://info.singlewire.com/singlewire-networking-support-tools/.

Multicast is communication between a single sender and multiple receivers on a network. InformaCast has no special requirements for how multicast is enabled, and you should use your network vendor’s best practices and design considerations. Multicast is typically routed with Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) that is deployed in either sparse or dense mode. InformaCast will work with either mode.

However, many Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network providers will not route multicast traffic on their networks. For WAN links where your circuit provider will not route your multicast, you have two options:

• GRE tunnels. Carry your multicast traffic from the location where the InformaCast server is located to its recipients. The only traffic that needs to traverse these GRE tunnels is the multicast traffic you might want to route. The tunnels do not need to create a full mesh between sites; they only need to be configured from the hub location to the spoke location(s). Please see the following link for details: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk828/technologies_configuration_example09186a00801a5aa2.shtml

• Singlewire Paging Gateway. Allows a lower bit rate unicast audio stream to be sent from an InformaCast server at one location to a Paging Gateway across a WAN that will not route multicast. The Paging Gateway can then turn the unicast audio stream it received from the InformaCast server at the other location into multicast on the local LAN segment. For more information, please contact your Singlewire Territory Manager: [email protected].

For recipients to receive the audio portion of InformaCast broadcasts, they make requests using Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). While most networks default to IGMPv2, newer recipients may use IGMPv3. If newer recipients are being deployed, be sure to enable the newer protocol version on network devices.


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http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk828/technologies_configuration_example09186a00801a5aa2.shtml



Network design and multicast configuration is outside the scope for which Singlewire can provide support. It is recommended that you work with your network vendor or partner. If you have a Cisco network, you can work with the Cisco TAC or locate a local Cisco Partner.

Also, set these server recommendations:

• Pre-configure the primary Network Interface Card (NIC) with a static IP address and disable all secondary NICs on the machine to avoid an IP address conflict.

• Do not install InformaCast on a Cisco Communications Manager or Cisco Unity machine.

• Install InformaCast on a server running Windows 2003 Server or 2008 Server.

• Verify that ports 8005, 8081, and 8444 are not currently in use by another application.

Install InformaCastUse the following steps to install InformaCast’s software.

Step 1 Open a web browser and log into the administration interface of the Communications Manager server.

Note Leave this window open. You will come back to it.

Step 2 Install Cisco’s JTAPI library on the InformaCast application server.

Step 3 Obtain the InformaCast installer and save its zip file to the server on which you will install InformaCast.

Tip It is best to use a dedicated server for InformaCast to avoid IP traffic conflicts. Giving the server a static IP address will avoid reconfiguration problems.

Step 4 Extract all files from the InformaCast installation zip file and double click on the InformaCast executable file.

Step 5 Follow the installer’s prompts, accepting the default location, pointing the installer to the server’s IP address where you’ll install InformaCast, and selecting your Communications Manager version.

Warning InformaCast can be installed on a drive other than the default C: drive; however, if InformaCast’s server needs to be rebuilt and the InformaCast database restored, InformaCast will need to be re-installed to the same drive letter. Otherwise, there will be broadcast and recipient group errors related to a data location mismatch.

Step 6 Open InformaCast by going to Start | Programs | Singlewire | InformaCast.

Step 7 Log into InformaCast, entering admin in the Login field and your password in the Password field. Your password is provided to you in the email from your Singlewire salesperson that contained the download link for InformaCast.

Step 8 Go to Admin | Manage License Key and upload your license key. If you have questions about your license key or haven’t received one, contact [email protected].


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Note Leave your InformaCast window open. You will come back to it.

Integrate Communications ManagerBefore you can begin using InformaCast in a telephony environment, you must configure your version of Communications Manager.

Tip Tutorials on completing the steps of integrating Communications Manager are available here: http://www.screencast.com/t/XsOWqSd1k.

Step 1 Go back to your Communications Manager window.

Step 2 Enable the following services on your Communications Manager cluster node(s): Cisco CallManager, Cisco TFTP, Cisco CTIManager, Cisco AXL Web Service, and Cisco CallManager SNMP Service.

Note Cisco CallManager SNMP Service must be enabled on all Communications Manager cluster nodes. Cisco AXL Web Service and Cisco CTIManager must be enabled on at least one node (or more if you want redundancy).

Step 3 Create an SNMP community string named InformaCast with the access privilege of ReadOnly. Select the Apply to All Nodes checkbox, if possible.

Step 4 Create a region, name it InformaCast, select InformaCast in the Regions area (as well as any other phone regions where broadcasting phones are located), and select G.711 from the Audio Codec dropdown menu.

Step 5 Create a device pool, name it InformaCast, and add the InformaCast region you just created to it.

Step 6 Create a route partition and name it InformaCast.

Note Make sure to add this partition to the calling search space your phones use or they will not be able to reach InformaCast’s route points.

Step 7 Create a route point, name it InformaCast, select InformaCast from the Device Pool dropdown menu, add a line to the route point, assign it a DN (which is the number that users will use to initiate a DialCast), select InformaCast from the Route Partition dropdown menu, and enter InformaCast in the Display (Internal Caller ID) and ASCII Display (Internal Caller ID) fields.

Note Add the InformaCast partition to your organization’s calling search space of which the phones are using or you will not be able to dial these extensions from your phones.


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Step 8 Create a calling search space and name it InformaCast. Add your phones’ partitions to this calling search space. InformaCast CTI ports will use this calling search space to place phone calls to record voice audio.

Step 9 Create the CTI ports InformaCast will rely on to enable users to record audio messages through their phones. Create one recording port for each simultaneous recording that you want InformaCast to be able to perform. Make sure to select the InformaCast device pool and calling search space and Cisco CTI Port - Standard SCCP Non-Secure Profile as the device security profile.

Note Most organizations will only need one port. If you require more, use a numbering scheme of InformaCast, InformaCast2, InformaCast3, etc.

Step 10 Add directory numbers (DNs) to your CTI port(s), making sure to choose a number for your DN that will not be used for any other purpose at your organization, and which is not within a direct-inward-dialing range. Select the InformaCast route partition and enter InformaCast for the Display (Internal Caller ID) and ASCII Display (Internal Caller ID) fields.

Step 11 Create a user group, name it InformaCast AXL User Group, and assign it the Standard AXL API Access role.

Step 12 Create an application user for InformaCast broadcasts, name it InformaCast, add the route points and CTI ports you just created to its Controlled Devices area, and add this user to the following user groups: Standard CTI Enabled, InformaCast AXL User Group, Standard CTI Allow Control of Phones supporting Connected Xfer and conf, and Standard CTI Allow Control of Phones supporting Rollover Mode.

Step 13 Ensure that the phone profile assigned to your phones that will work with InformaCast has the Web Access dropdown menu set to Enabled or that web access is enabled at the device level itself.

Step 14 Reset your phones.

Note You will have to reset your phones to make these changes permanent. However, you will also have to reset your phones in “Configure InformaCast” on page 7. If you have a lot of phones, this process can be time-consuming. If you only want to reset your phones once, wait to do so until after configuring your default Communications Manager cluster.


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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialConfigure InformaCast

Configure InformaCastOnce you’ve installed InformaCast, you must configure the integration of Communications Manager and InformaCast.

Step 1 Go back to your InformaCast window and go to Admin | Telephony | CUCM Clusters and click the Edit button next to Default Configuration.

Step 2 Enter the application user’s username in the Communications Manager Application User field. You created this user in Step 12 on page 6.

Step 3 Enter the application user’s password in the Communications Manager Application Password and Confirm Application Password fields.

Step 4 Make sure the Use Application User for AXL checkbox is selected, meaning that your application user credentials are used when building InformaCast’s phone cache.

Step 5 Enter your AXL IP address(es) in the AXL IP Address(es) field. Separate addresses with commas. If you leave this field blank, InformaCast will attempt to find a server running the AXL service among those servers running the CallManager service.

Tip You can find which cluster members are running the AXL service by logging into your Communications Manager, selecting Cisco Unified Serviceability from the Navigation dropdown menu, and going to Tools | Service Activation. Scroll down the Service Activation page to see whether the Cisco AXL Web Service checkbox is selected.

Step 6 Enter the IP address of the Communications Manager server(s) in the Communications Manager IP Address(es) field, which will be used when establishing a CTI (JTAPI) connection with Communications Manager. You can enter any and all Communications Managers running the CTI Manager service. Use the numeric IP addresses rather than DNS names.

Step 7 Enter the appropriate name in the SNMP Community Name and Confirm SNMP Community Name fields (see Step 3 on page 5).

Step 8 Open and log into Communications Manager.

Step 9 Go to System | Enterprise Parameters.

Step 10 Scroll down the page to the Phone URL Parameters section and note the current value of the URL Authentication field.

Step 11 Change the value of Communication Manager’s URL Authentication field to the value displayed in the XML Push Authentication section on InformaCast’s Edit Telephony Configuration page. This will usually be in the format http://<InformaCast IP Address>:8081/InformaCast/phone/auth.

Note If you are using Communications Manager 8.x, you will need to enter this IP address in the Secured Authentication URL field as well.

Step 12 Click the Save button to confirm the Communications Manager change.

Note You must reboot your phones for the new authentication URL to take affect.


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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialConfigure InformaCast

Step 13 Click the Update button on InformaCast’s Edit Telephony Configuration page.

Step 14 Refresh your recipient group list.

Step 15 Click the Update button.


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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialUse InformaCast

Use InformaCastIn order to effectively use InformaCast, it is useful to understand the following terms:

• A broadcast is an audio and/or textual message that is sent to a combination of endpoints, called recipients.

• A message contains the text and/or audio that will be broadcast and the recipients that will receive the broadcast.

• A recipient is an endpoint such as a digital phone, a computer, an email address, or an IP-enabled speaker. More than one recipient of any type can be organized into recipient groups.

• A user is a person who will use InformaCast to send a broadcast to one or more recipients.

• A user group is a set of users. Typically, groups are used to give a set of users the same capabilities, such as recording a message or sending messages to a specific set of recipients.

• A role is a set of predefined capabilities, such as the ability to send messages or the ability to administer security. One or more roles may be assigned to users, which in turn allows those users to use those sets of capabilities. Roles may also be assigned to groups.

Users are given privileges to use the system. Once you create a user, you will assign roles to it. By default, users have no access to the system until they are associated with one or more roles.

Add a Recipient GroupIf you’d like to be able to send messages to smaller groups of recipients (rather than all the endpoints in your system), you must set up appropriate recipient groups within InformaCast.

Note By default, InformaCast initially creates an “(All Recipients)” group, which contains all the recipients that can be discovered.

Step 1 Go to Recipients | Edit Recipient Groups. This page shows the number of phones, plugin recipients, and currently registered IP speakers for each group.

Note Only licensed options will appear on this page. For example, if your system is not licensed for IP speakers, the Speakers column will not appear.

Step 2 Click the Add button, name your recipient group, and decide whether you will add members to the group by selecting individual recipients or by making rules (a third option of selecting multiple, existing recipient groups is only available once you’ve created recipient groups and is discussed further in the “InformaCast Installation and User Guide, v8.1”):

• If you have chosen to select recipients, select the Individually checkbox, click its Edit button, and move your recipients from the Available Recipients area to the Selected Recipients area in the Select Individual Recipients pop-up window that appears. Filter your list by entering text in the Filter field. This text will be matched to values of the constraints described in the table on page 10. Click the Submit button to save your selection(s)


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• If you have chosen to make rules, select the Filter with Rules checkbox, click its Edit button, and use the dropdown menus/fields to create rules to which recipients will/will not match and thus be included or excluded from the recipient group. The rule parameters are described in the following table.

Matching Parameter Description

Communications Manager Calling Search Space

Phones that match (or don’t match) the specified search space.a

Communications Manager Cluster Name Phones that match (or don’t match) the specified Communications Manager cluster name.

Communications Manager Device Pool Phones that match (or don’t match) the specified pool.

Communications Manager Device Type Phones that match (or don’t match) the specified model, as reported by the Communications Manager server.

If you choose Equal as your constraint, you get a dropdown menu with human-oriented model names. Otherwise, you will see the underlying numeric code number assigned by Cisco.

Can Display Text Recipients that match (or don’t match) in their ability to display text. Recipients that can display text are typically Desktop Notification System machines and IP phones.b

Can Listen Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) in their ability to listen. Recipients that can listen (to what’s going on at another speaker) are typically Desktop Notification System machines.b

Can Play High-Quality Audio Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) in their ability to play high-quality audio.b

Can Record Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) in their ability to record.b

Can Record High-Quality Audio Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) in their ability to record high-quality audio.b


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Description Recipients that match (or don’t match) the supplied description value. This is often a useful grouping tool because you have control over the description of the recipients in your system, so you can set up your descriptions in ways that facilitate grouping.

The text you enter will be compared against the Device Description entries of phones registered with your Communications Manager server and IP speakers defined in InformaCast. Any recipients whose descriptions match with the rule you’ve specified will be considered part of the recipient group.

Dial Code Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) the supplied dial code. Dial codes can also be used to trigger broadcasts using URLs in other applications, or identify recipients using the interface on a phone.

Directory Numbers Phones that match (or don’t match) the supplied phone number(s) assigned to them in the Communications Manager Server.b

IP Address Recipients that match (or don’t match) the supplied subnet boundaries. When choosing this parameter, you are given a new Comparison Type choice, Belongs to Subnet, which allows you to enter a subnet mask like 172.17.30.0/8. See “Subnet Matching” on page 523 for more information about this approach.

InformaCast Device Type Recipients that match (or don’t match) in their functionality as an IP phone or an IP speaker.

Is Registered IP speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) in their status of being registered on the network.

This parameter doesn’t apply when building recipient groups because only registered IP speakers/Desktop Notification System machines can participate in broadcasts. However, it is useful in filtering the speaker list and tracking down wayward speakers during configuration (see “Adding Individual IP Speakers” on page 387).

Location Recipients that match (or don’t match) the supplied location value.



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Step 3 Click the Update button when you are done creating your recipient group.

Add a New MessageMessages are the basis of any InformaCast broadcast. A message predefines the characteristics of the broadcast (such as whether it consists of text and/or audio, is live or prerecorded, should skip phones in use, or whether its delivery is synchronized or as available).

A message can be composed of text, audio, or both. InformaCast has eight message types:

• Text

• Text and Pre-recorded Audio

MAC Address Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) the supplied network hardware address of the recipient, which is guaranteed to be unique across your network.

Name Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) the supplied name. Like the Description parameter, you have control over names, so they may useful for grouping, but should be concise.

Partition Names Phones that match (or don’t match) the supplied dial plan partition assigned to each directory number, a.k.a. phone number, assigned to an IP phone in Communications Manager.

Profile Description Phones that match (or don’t match) the Communications Manager’s user device profile description. Phones that are using extension mobility or a profile when logged out are eligible to be filtered in this way. This option is only available when using Communications Manager version 6 or later.

Volume Speakers or Desktop Notification System machines that match (or don’t match) the supplied playback volume.

a. Warning: If your site is using extension mobility, bear in mind that the calling search space, and even the directory number, assigned to a phone can change when a user logs in. Because of this, you should avoid using Communications Manager Calling Search Space as the criterion for setting up any recipient groups that are supposed to reflect geographic (rather than personnel) divisions. For such geographic divisions, IP Address is likely a better choice when extension mobility is a factor.

b. The recipient must be currently registered for this parameter to match. InformaCast has no information about the detailed features of unregistered recipients.



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• Text and Live Audio

• Text and Ad-hoc Audio

• Pre-recorded Audio

• Live Audio

• Ad-hoc Audio

• Talk and Listen

Step 1 Go to Messages | Send or Edit Messages and click the Add button.

Step 2 Enter a description of your message and select the type of message you want to create from the Message Type dropdown menu. The following table describes the different message types.

Message Type Description

Text These messages appear on the phone’s display and in a pop-up window on Desktop Notification System machines.

Text and Pre-recorded Audio

These messages have the same display features as Text messages, but add an audible component.

Text and Live Audio These messages are the combination of a Text message (whose content is predetermined, although it may be dynamic) with Live Audio that is streamed to recipient groups in real time when the message is broadcast.

Text and Ad-hoc Audio These messages are the combination of a Text message (whose content is predetermined, although it may be dynamic) with an Ad-hoc Audio message, whose content is determined when the message is broadcast. Ad-hoc broadcasts are sent immediately after the audio is recorded. They are used to rapidly respond to unpredictable events.

Pre-Recorded Audio These messages are audio only and are sent to the specified combination of phones, IP speakers, and Desktop Notification System machines. These messages have no display component; they do not affect the display of the phone (other than a small animation showing incoming stream activity, and the illumination of the Mute and Speaker lights during the audio broadcast).

Live Audio In these messages, the audio is not recorded at all; it is streamed to recipient groups in real time when the message is broadcast.

Ad-hoc Audio These messages are a form of Audio message in which the audio is not recorded in advance; instead, it is recorded each time the message is sent. Ad-hoc broadcasts are sent immediately after the audio is recorded. They are used to rapidly respond to unpredictable events.

Talk and Listen Talk and Listen messages allow any phone in a recipient group to speak, in real time (“live”), to all the other phones receiving the broadcast by pressing a Talk softkey. Other listeners can respond by pressing the Talk softkey on their own phones.


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Step 3 Select the Allow Customization checkbox if you want to allow your users to change the contents of a message before it is sent out as a broadcast. When sending a message through the web interface, the Short and Long Text fields of the Text tab will be customizable. Applications initiating broadcasts through the Web Services API will be able to change the Short and Long Text fields of the Text tab and the Audio field of the Audio tab.

Warning If the Allow Customization checkbox is not selected, broadcast requests through the Web Services API (e.g. external applications programmed to initiate InformaCast broadcasts like InformaCast Director, DORA, and CallAware) will be blocked if you chose to override text or audio in the external application. For example, if CallAware tries to send a broadcast with the initiating phone’s DN in the Short Text field, the broadcast will fail if Allow Customization is not selected for that message in InformaCast.

Step 4 Select the Require Confirmation checkbox to display the Confirmation tab, which allows you to specify your message’s confirmation parameters, such as whether confirmation will be required, how confirmation will be configured, whether there will be escalation upon confirmation, etc. The Require Confirmation checkbox and Confirmation tab will only appear for the following message types: Text, Text and Pre-Recorded Audio, Text and Live Audio, and Text and Ad-Hoc Audio.

Note The text of messages that require confirmation will always be persistent, i.e. the text component of your broadcast will remain on an IP phone indefinitely (and the Persistent Text checkbox on the Text tab will be automatically selected and grayed out); subsequent broadcasts will not replace it.

The following sections walk you through the process of filling in the Add Message page tabs. Depending on the message type you selected, these tabs (and the selections available on them) will appear/disappear as appropriate.

Configure the Text Tab

Use the following steps to edit the Text tab on the Add Message page.

Step 1 Decide if you want the text component of your broadcast to remain on an IP phone indefinitely (select the Persistent Text checkbox) or if you’d like the message to be cleared out of your phone’s cache by subsequent broadcasts (deselect the Persistent Text checkbox). By default, all InformaCast messages with text are initially set to use persistent text.

Note Talk and Listen message text is always persistent and cannot be changed.

Step 2 Type a short message in the Short Text field; this defines what will appear on a recipient during the broadcast.

Step 3 Optionally, enter a longer message in the Long Text field to provide more details than the Short Text field allows. Users receiving a broadcast containing text entered in the Long Text field can display it by pressing the Details softkey on their phones.


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Note You can include dynamic text in both the Short and Long Text fields of your message by using variables, such as ${date} or ${time}, to add the current date or time to your broadcast, i.e. a Short Text field of “School is cancelled on ${date}” would display as “School is cancelled on 4/29/2009.” To set up your own variables with information from your network or the system, use the Data Setup script described in “Configure the Scripting Tab” on page 19.

Tip InformaCast supports non-Roman alphabets in both the Short and Long Text fields and on phones’ display screens. Your phones’ regions must support the appropriate alphabet, you must have the correct firmware installed on the phone, and your keyboard must allow entry of the appropriate alphabet.

Step 4 Select Repetitions or Seconds from the Scroll Duration dropdown menu and enter a value in its field if any of your recipients support scrolling and you want to control the number of times a message scrolls or the number of times a message scrolls within a specified period of time, respectively.

Step 5 Select a value from 1 to 10 from the Scroll Speed dropdown menu to control how fast a message scrolls across the displays of compatible recipients.

Step 6 Enter a path for a different icon in the Upload an Icon field if you have an icon file for your phones that you’d like to use instead of the default one. You can also click the Browse button to navigate to your new file. In most cases, the default icon is left as is.

Step 7 Click the Refresh button to preview what the text from the Short Text field (and icon) will look like when displayed. It’s a good idea to look at the preview and ensure that all of your text fits on the display, as there’s no way for the user to scroll this page.

Step 8 Click the Add button to create your message if you are done specifying its parameters.

Note If you get an error because of a missing field, you’ll have the opportunity to correct it and click the Add button again.

Tip If you’d like to send your new message right away, click the Send button in the row that corresponds to your newly created message on the Send or Edit Messages page and follow the process described in “Send a Broadcast” on page 23.

If you have more message configurations to set, continue with the following sections.


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Configure the Audio Tab

Use the following steps to edit the Audio tab on the Add Message page.

Step 1 Select the Synchronized or As Available radio buttons to determine how your message will be delivered. Synchronized delivery will wait until all recipients capable of playing audio are ready to play the broadcast. As Available delivery will play your broadcast immediately to any recipients ready to play the broadcast and, as each new recipient becomes available, the broadcast will play at that time (and possibly in the middle of the message).

Step 2 Click the Add button across from Audio to upload or record audio from a phone or Desktop Notification System machine.

Step 3 Decide if you are going to upload your audio (begin with Step a), record it from a phone (skip to Step e on page 17), or record it from a Desktop Notification System machine (skip to Step g on page 17).

Tip Messages that are to be used only with Singlewire IP speakers and/or Desktop Notification System machines can use high-quality (HQ) recordings (16 bits per sample, 44,100 samples per second, monaural). These messages use approximately 10 times the bandwidth as the G.711 format used for standard messages. Broadcasts that carry high-quality audio will not be received by IP phones. If you are going to upload a file to be used with IP phones it must be in a mono, 8-bit, 8KHz, µLaw format WAV file. If the file is not in the right format, you will receive an error notification. The application Microsoft Sound Recorder can be used to convert WAV files to CCITT µLaw format. You can also use Cisco’s CCM Audio Translator if you have existing WAV or MP3 files you’d like to convert to µLaw format.

Note There are various pre-recorded sound files available for your use in the following directory: C:\Program Files\Singlewire\InformaCast\webapp\sounds.

a. Upload audio: click the Upload Audio radio button and its Browse button to locate your WAV file on your hard drive.

Note You can also enter the full path of the audio file into the Upload Audio field directly. If you do so, skip to Step j on page 17.

b. Navigate to your WAV file and click on it to select it.

c. Click the Open button.

d. Click the Submit button. The Audio tab refreshes with information on how long your audio clip is, and a Play button appears so you can preview your audio. Skip to Step j on page 17.


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e. Record from a phone: click the Phone DN radio button, enter the directory number of the phone from which you would like to record in the Phone DN field, and click the Submit button. InformaCast will call the phone extension you provided and prompt you to begin recording while “Recording in Progress” appears on your screen.

f. Press the # key on the phone to stop recording. The Audio tab refreshes with information on how long your audio clip is, and a Play button appears so you can preview your audio. Skip to Step j on page 17.

g. Record from a Desktop Notification System machine: select your Desktop Notification System machine from the Record Speaker dropdown menu and click the Submit button.

h. Click the Start button and begin speaking into the microphone.

i. Click the Done button when you are finished recording your message. When the recording is complete, the Audio tab refreshes with information on how long your audio clip is, and a Play button appears so you can preview your audio.

j. Preview the audio: click the Play button to preview what the audio sounds like. This will send the audio to your web browser. (If you need to, click the browser’s Back button to return to the Add Message page when you’re done listening.)

Step 4 Click the Add button across from Pre Tone to upload or record audio from a phone or Desktop Notification System machine that will play before a broadcast begins to signal an impending broadcast.

Note Pre and post tones are only available for messages with a synchronized delivery method.

Step 5 Decide if you are going to upload your audio, record it from a phone, or record it from a Desktop Notification System machine. Follow Step 3 on page 16, which describes uploading audio, to configure your pre tone.

Step 6 Click the Add button across from Post Tone to upload or record audio from a phone or Desktop Notification System machine that will play after a broadcast ends to signal the end of a broadcast. Follow Step 3 on page 16, which describes uploading audio, to configure your post tone.

Step 7 Depending on whether you selected Synchronized or As Available, the next checkbox will either be Wait Time or Play Time, respectively:

a. Synchronized. Enter a value into the Wait Time field that represents the maximum number of seconds that InformaCast should wait for slow or distant recipients to join the broadcast before sending it.

If all recipients are active before this time elapses, the broadcast will start sooner. Otherwise, the broadcast starts after this delay, and any recipients that were not yet ready will miss the beginning of it. You will need to experiment based on your number of phones, IP speakers, Desktop Notification System machines, and other network characteristics to determine a good value for the Wait Time field.

b. As Available. Enter a value into the Play Time field that is at least twice the length of the recorded message in seconds.

Note Pre and post tones are not available when you have selected As Available as your delivery method.


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Step 8 Select the Skip Phones in Use checkbox if phones that are being used when this message goes out should be skipped. When Skip Phones in Use is checked, InformaCast will refrain from sending the audio portion of the broadcast to any phones that are involved in calls at the time.

Note Associating the InformaCast application user in Communications Manager with phones for which it is important that skipping occur can improve the chances of InformaCast detecting those phones are in use. However, it increases the load on the Communications Manager server and slows down the InformaCast startup process. Because of this, it is not practical to associate all phones in installations larger than 100 phones.

Step 9 Select the volume at which you want the broadcast played from the Play Volume dropdown menu. The Play Volume dropdown menu can be used to override the stream volume setting on the phones and speakers when playing the message. The default setting of As-Is leaves the volume unchanged, and is the safest choice because it is compatible with all multicast-capable phone loads. You can also choose Maximum, Medium, or Low to request that the message be played at the specified volume. However, before relying on a message with such a setting, test it to make sure that your phone and firmware are compatible with this feature. At the time of this writing, only the latest firmware for the Cisco 7920, 7940, 7941, 7960, 7961, 7970, and 7971 phones are compatible with volume control. Trying to use it with other phones or firmware may cause the broadcast to fail on those phones.

Step 10 Click the Ring Tone checkbox if you want the audio message to be available as a ring tone within the Bell Scheduler.

Step 11 Select the priority level for your message from the Message Priority dropdown menu. The lower the number, the higher the priority, i.e. a priority level 1 message is a higher priority (more important) than a priority level 3 message.

Note Priorities can only be assigned to messages with an audio component.


Note If you get an error because of a missing field, you’ll have the opportunity to correct it and click the Add button again.




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Configure the Re-broadcasting Tab

Use the following steps to edit the Re-broadcasting tab on the Add Message page.

Step 1 Click the Re-broadcast checkbox if you’d like your message to be broadcast more than once.

Note Dynamic content for re-broadcasted messages is only rendered once, i.e. if you have dynamic text in the Short Text field, such as “School is delayed until ${time}” (which displays as “School is delayed until 9:15 a.m.”), the time will continue to say 9:15 a.m. even though the message may re-broadcast past 9:15 a.m. In addition, any scripts attached to this message will not be re-run for re-broadcasts.

Step 2 Click the Re-broadcast Until Stopped checkbox if you’d like your message to be repeatedly broadcast until it is manually stopped.

Tip Re-broadcast Until Stopped should only be used for emergency purposes, e.g. a disaster has occurred and you need alert the occupants of your building before evacuating yourself.

Note When there are broadcasts occurring, InformaCast will display a short note at the top of the Send or Edit Messages page with a View button. Clicking this button opens a list of active broadcasts. A message with Re-broadcast Until Stopped selected can be stopped by finding it in this list of active broadcasts and clicking the End button next to it.

Step 3 Enter a numerical value (2 or greater) in the Broadcast Count field to designate how many times your message will be broadcast.

Step 4 Enter a numerical value in the Pause field to designate how many seconds InformaCast should wait between broadcasting your message.




Configure the Scripting Tab

There are three available scripts:

• Data Setup. Pulls dynamic information (e.g. RSS feeds, weather warning details, security threat levels, etc.—anything you can access programmatically over a network) from other sources.

• Audio Replacement. Pulls dynamic audio (e.g. weather reports, stock tickers, synthesized text using text-to-speech software, etc.) from other sources and attaches it to a message.


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• Send in Progress. Runs as soon as enough information has been gathered to begin activating recipients, i.e. as a broadcast starts going out, and triggers other events, such as sending an email (which could lead to an SMS message to some cell phones), activating other electrical devices using DORA and a contact closure if you have that configured, snapping a picture if you have a network camera, etc.

Note These scripts will apply only to this message.

Step 1 Click the Update button next to Data Setup, Audio Replacement, and/or Send in Progress.

Tip Click the Help button next to any script’s name for a more detailed definition of the script’s purpose and the variables available for your use.

Step 2 Click the Browse button and navigate to where you have saved your JavaScript file containing your script.

Step 3 Select it and click the Open button.

Step 4 Click the Submit button. The Scripting tab refreshes with a status of “Attached” and new buttons:

• View. Opens a script pop-up window that allows you to view the text of your script. Click the OK button to exit.

Note You cannot edit your script from this pop-up window. To edit your script, open the original JavaScript file in your preferred text editor, modify it, and upload the script again to your InformaCast message or click the Download button, modify your script, and upload it again to your message.

• Delete. Deletes the script from your message.

• Download. Allows you to open your script in a text editor for modifications.

Note If you make modifications to your script through the Download button, you will need to upload your script to InformaCast again in order to see your changes.

Step 5 Click the Add button to create your message.


If you have more message configurations to set, continue with the following section.


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Configure the Confirmation Tab

Use the following steps to configure the Confirmation tab of the Add Message page.

Note To configure this tab, you should have already selected in the Require Confirmation checkbox in Step 4 on page 14. By default, this checkbox is not selected, and the Confirmation tab is not visible.

Tip Sending a large number of broadcasts (e.g. >40,000) that require confirmation during the time period specified by the Broadcast History Retention Period field (Admin | Broadcast Parameters) will cause page performance issues. Ensure that your Broadcast History Retention Period field is set to a low value (e.g. 7 - 10). This prevents the Confirmation Statistics page from being overloaded with outdated information.

Step 1 Select the Skip No-response Recipients checkbox to skip sending this message to recipients that are unable to provide confirmation.

Note InformaCast doesn’t discriminate between recipients than can/cannot confirm a message; if they are included as recipients to a broadcast that requires confirmation, they will receive it.

Step 2 Select the Set a Time Limit checkbox and enter a value (in minutes) in its corresponding field to set how long InformaCast will collect recipients’ confirmations. Confirmations received after this time will not be registered.

Step 3 Select either the Acknowledge or Respond radio buttons next to Confirmation Mode to determine how confirmation will be applied:

• Acknowledge. By default, the Acknowledge radio button is selected, which requires that the message’s recipients simply acknowledge the fact that they received the message. When a recipient receives a broadcast configured with the Acknowledge confirmation mode, it will display the text of the message to you and provide a user interface element (e.g. a push button, link, etc.), allowing you to indicate that you have received and read the message (and perhaps hear its audio if the message has an audio component). When you activate that user interface element, the acknowledgement will be delivered to InformaCast.

• Respond. The Respond radio button allows recipients to respond to the message with one of several pre-defined responses. When a recipient receives a broadcast configured with the Respond confirmation mode, it will display the text of the message and let the recipient respond to it with one of several responses. The response will then be delivered to InformaCast.

Step 4 Continue with “Configure the Acknowledge Confirmation Mode” on page 22 or “Configure the Respond Confirmation Mode” on page 22.


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Configure the Acknowledge Confirmation Mode

Use the following steps for the Acknowledge confirmation mode. For the Respond confirmation mode, skip to “Configure the Respond Confirmation Mode” on page 22.

Step 1 Select the Acknowledge radio button next to Confirmation Mode.

Step 2 Select the Set Confirmations Needed checkbox and enter a positive value in its checkbox if you want to limit the total number of acknowledgements that InformaCast will register. By default, this checkbox is unchecked and InformaCast will register all recipient acknowledgements it receives. If this checkbox is checked, you are required to specify the maximum number of acknowledgements InformaCast should register before it stops accepting further acknowledgements.

Step 3 If the Set Confirmations Needed checkbox is selected, you can optionally select the Escalate on Failure checkbox to enable InformaCast to send an escalation Text broadcast to a particular recipient group when the desired number of acknowledgements cannot be registered. When the Escalate on Failure checkbox is selected, you are required to choose a recipient group from the Escalation Recipient Group dropdown menu and enter the text of the message into the Escalation Message Text input field.

Note Dynamic text (e.g. {date}) cannot be used in the Escalation Message Text input field.

Step 4 Click the Submit button to add your confirmation response.



Configure the Respond Confirmation Mode

Use the following steps for the Respond confirmation mode. For the Acknowledge confirmation mode, go to “Configure the Acknowledge Confirmation Mode” on page 22.

Step 1 Select the Respond radio button next to Confirmation Mode.

Step 2 Click the Add button next to Confirmation Responses and enter the text to display as a response in the Response Text field (e.g. Yes, I’m coming or No, I can’t make it).

Step 3 Optionally, select the Set Responders Needed checkbox and enter a value in its field to specify the maximum number of responders for this response.

Note A maximum of 16 confirmation responses can be created for each InformaCast message.


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Step 4 If the Set Confirmations Needed checkbox is selected, you can optionally select the Escalate on Failure checkbox to enable InformaCast to send an escalation Text broadcast to a particular recipient group when the desired number of acknowledgements cannot be registered. When the Escalate on Failure checkbox is selected, you are required to choose a recipient group from the Escalation Recipient Group dropdown menu and enter the text of the message into the Escalation Message Text input field.

Note Dynamic text (e.g. {date}) cannot be used in the Escalation Message Text input field.

Step 5 Click the Submit button to add your confirmation response.



Send a BroadcastA message, when sent to identified recipient groups, is called a broadcast. Depending on the message you are sending, you will need to follow a different set of steps:

• For Text, Text and Pre-recorded Audio, and Pre-recorded Audio messages, follow the steps in “Send a Pre-recorded Broadcast” on page 23

• For Text and Live Audio and Live Audio messages, follow the steps in “Send a Live Audio Broadcast” on page 24

• For Text and Ad-hoc Audio and Ad-hoc Audio messages, follow the steps in “Send an Ad-hoc Broadcast” on page 25

Note You must be logged in as a user with the role of messageAdmin, messageSender, or messageSenderDNsRestricted in order to send a message.

Send a Pre-recorded Broadcast

Use the following steps for sending Text, Text and Pre-recorded Audio, and Pre-recorded Audio messages.

Step 1 Go to Messages | Send or Edit Messages.

Step 2 Click the Send button in the row of the message you want to send.

Step 3 Select the recipient group or groups to which you’d like to send the message by clicking the boxes to the left of the recipient groups’ names. Alternatively, you can enter the extension(s) of the phones to which you’d like to send the message in the IP Phone Extension (DN) field. Separate each extension number with a comma.


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Note Depending on your assigned role, you may or may not be able to send messages to DNs to which you have not been assigned direct access.

Step 4 Click the Send button and the message will be sent out as a broadcast.

Send a Live Audio Broadcast

Use the following steps to send Text and Live Audio and Live Audio messages. To send a Live Audio broadcast, you can use either a Desktop Notification System machine or a phone as the source of the audio.

Step 1 Go to Messages | Send or Edit Messages.

Step 2 Click the Send button of the live message you want to send.

Step 3 Select the recipient group or groups to which you’d like to send the message by clicking the boxes to the left of the recipient groups’ names.

Note If the audio source of a live message (i.e. a phone, speaker, or Desktop Notification System machine) is initially contained in the list of recipients, it will be removed. For example, if a live broadcast is made from a phone to the All Recipients recipient group, that initiating phone will not receive the message, even though it is a member of the All Recipients recipient group.

Step 4 Click the Send button.

Decide if you will dictate your audio message from a phone or Desktop Notification System (machine or IP speaker):

• If you will be using a Desktop Notification System machine, continue with Step 5

• If you will be using a phone, skip to Step 9 on page 25

Step 5 From a Desktop Notification System machine: Select a Desktop Notification System machine from the Speaker dropdown menu.

Note Only Desktop Notification System machines that have registered with the InformaCast server and which are currently active on the network will be available as choices for dictating audio. If there are no such recipients available, you will get an error message.

Step 6 Click the Send button. The Desktop Notification System opens a status window on the machine where the Desktop Notification System is installed.

Step 7 Click the Start button. The broadcast will begin immediately to the recipient group(s) you specified, and the status updates to show that you are broadcasting.

Step 8 Click the Done button when you are finished dictating your message. Your broadcast ends immediately. You have completed this procedure.


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Note If you’re using a Desktop Notification System as the live audio source, a pre tone that has been recorded and associated with the message will not sound. Pre tones only function with live audio broadcasts when you’re using a phone as the audio source. Post tones will still work accordingly, regardless of the audio source.

Step 9 From a phone: Enter the extension of a phone to which you have access in the Dial Number field.

Note This phone must be configured to be reachable from the calling search space of the CTI ports created for InformaCast, and the device pool used by the phone must be configured with a region using the G.711 codec from the InformaCast server to the phone.

Step 10 Click the Send button. Once you submit the phone number, InformaCast will immediately place a call to that number. If you pick up the phone before the recipient activator, which is contacting and activating the recipients in your recipient group, you will hear stall tones. Once the recipients have been activated, you will hear a go tone. If no recipients are activated, you will hear a failure tone and the broadcast will be cancelled. Once you hear your go tone, you are broadcasting live to your recipients. Hang up or press the End Call softkey to end your broadcast.

Send an Ad-hoc Broadcast

Ad-hoc broadcasts are sent immediately after the audio is recorded; they are used if you want to be able to cancel and start again in case you misspeak, without anyone hearing the mistakes.

Step 1 Go to Messages | Send or Edit Messages. The Send or Edit Messages page appears.

Step 2 Click the Send button of the ad-hoc message you want to send. If InformaCast still has the set of messages with which it shipped, you can use the one labeled “(Example Ad-Hoc Broadcast).” The Send Message page appears.

Step 3 Select the recipient group or groups to which you’d like to send the message by clicking the boxes to the left of the recipient groups’ names.

Step 4 Click the Send button. The Send Message page refreshes.

Step 5 Decide if you will record your audio message from a phone or a Desktop Notification System machine (or IP speaker):

• If you will be using a Desktop Notification System machine, continue with Step 6

• If you will be using a phone, skip to Step 10

Step 6 From a Desktop Notification System machine: Select a Desktop Notification System machine from the Speaker dropdown menu. Only Desktop Notification System machines that have registered with the InformaCast server and which are currently active on the network will be available as choices for dictating audio. If there are no such recipients available, you will get an error message.

Step 7 Click the Send button. The Desktop Notification System opens a status window on the machine where the Desktop Notification System is installed.


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Step 8 Click the Start button and begin speaking into the microphone. The status updates to show that you are recording.

Step 9 Click the Done button when you are finished recording your message. Your message is sent immediately.

Step 10 From a phone: Enter the extension of a phone to which you have access in the Dial Number field.

Note This phone must be configured to be reachable from the calling search space of the CTI ports created for InformaCast, and the device pool used by the phone must be configured with a region using the G.711 codec from the InformaCast server to the phone.

Step 11 Click the Record button. Once you submit the phone number, InformaCast will immediately place a call to that number. When you pick up the phone, you will hear a prompt instructing you to record your message.

Step 12 Record your message. Once you’re done recording, you can either hang up or press the # key to confirm the broadcast. Pressing the # key will often result in a better-sounding message that is free of the noise of hanging up the receiver. In either case, the broadcast will begin immediately to the recipient group(s) that you specified. If you are in the recording process and decide that you would not like to send the broadcast after all, you can cancel it at any time by pressing the * key.

Manage SIP Functionality

Note Knowledge of SIP is required for completion of this section. If you have any questions, the “InformaCast Installation and User Guide” for version 8.1 and later has more comprehensive instructions.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is supported by a growing number of PBXs and telephony devices, and provides InformaCast with the capability to receive SIP calls allowing other SIP devices to locate and call InformaCast.

Configuring SIP functionality allows you to access DialCast and voice menu functionality without the use of Communications Manager—although you can still use Communications Manager if you wish—by using SIP/SIP devices to communicate with InformaCast. If you have a Communications Manager Express or HRE installation of InformaCast, configuring SIP is the only way you can access DialCast and voice menu functionality.

In order to configure SIP functionality, you will need to configure a SIP trunk and InformaCast’s SIP pages.

Configure a SIP Trunk

If you would rather use SIP for telephony communication with InformaCast instead of Communications Manager’s route points (created in Step 7 on page 6) in combination with CTI or JTAPI, you need create a SIP trunk, which has three basic components: a SIP trunk security profile, a SIP trunk, and a route pattern.


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Note The following sections should be used with Communications Manager 6.0 and later.

Step 1 Open a web browser and log into the administration interface of the Communications Manager server (the address will be similar to https://<Communications Manager IP Address>/CCMAdmin).

Step 2 Go to System | Security Profile | SIP Trunk Security Profile and click the Find button, which returns a list of SIP trunk security profiles.

Step 3 Click the Copy icon in the row of your default profile, Non Secure SIP Trunk Profile, enter a unique name for your SIP trunk security profile, enter a description of your SIP trunk security profile, and select Non Secure from the Device Security Mode dropdown menu.

Note If you would like to use the TLS protocol with your environment, create the SIP trunk as directed here and also follow the steps in “Manage SIP Certificates to Facilitate TLS Protocol” on page 29.

Step 4 Select either TCP and UDP from the Outgoing Transport Type dropdown menu, leave the Incoming Port field as 5060, and click the Save button.

Step 5 Go to Device | Trunk and click the Add New button.

Step 6 Select SIP Trunk from the Trunk Type dropdown menu, ensure that SIP appears as the Device Protocol dropdown menu selection, and click the Next button.

Step 7 Enter a name for your SIP trunk, select the device pool you created in Step 5 on page 6, scroll down to the Inbound Calls area and select the calling search space you created in Step 8 on page 6, scroll down to the SIP Information area and enter the IP address of your InformaCast server in the Destination Address field.

Step 8 Ensure that the value in the Destination Port field is the same as listed in Step 4 on page 27, select the SIP trunk security profile that you just created, and select Standard from the SIP Profile dropdown menu.

Step 9 Click the Save button.

Step 10 Go to Call Routing | Route Hunt | Route Pattern to create a route pattern that uses the SIP trunk you just created.

Step 11 Click the Add New button, enter a route pattern in the Route Pattern field, select the route partition you created in Step 6 on page 6, enter a description of your route pattern, select the SIP trunk you just created, and select the Route This Pattern radio button.

Step 12 Click the Save button.

Note Leave your Communications Manager window open. You will come back to it.

Allow/Disable SIP Access to InformaCast

SIP access permits you to either allow or deny incoming SIP calls.


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Note Changes made to SIP access take effect immediately and do not require a restart of InformaCast.

Step 1 Go to Admin | SIP | SIP Access and select the Allow radio button to allow SIP calls to be answered.

Step 2 Click the Add button to add exceptions to the SIP calls that are allowed.

Step 3 Enter the IP address or fully qualified domain name of the host you want to exclude from SIP access in the Host field.

Tip When defining exceptions, make sure to specify the host that directly sends the INVITE request to InformaCast. This may be a SIP proxy server if proxies stand between InformaCast and the calling host.

Step 4 Click the Add button and click the Update button to save your changes.

Enable SIP Authentication for InformaCast

Note This section is optional depending on the security of your environment.

SIP authentication allows you to enable or disable digest authentication of incoming SIP requests.

Step 1 Go to Admin | SIP | SIP Authentication and select the Authenticate Incoming Requests checkbox to enable SIP authentication.

Note The fields on this page come pre-filled. You only need to edit them if you want to change them. By default, the realm is named InformaCast, the authentication username is sipuser, and the authentication password is changeMe.

Step 2 Select the length of time InformaCast should allow for a single authentication request from the Nonce Duration dropdown menu.

Step 3 Click the Update button to save your changes.

Enable Digest Authentication with SIP User Credentials


SIP peers may challenge InformaCast to provide valid credentials for its SIP realm when registering or terminating a SIP call. You should enter valid credentials for each SIP realm where you expect InformaCast to be challenged.


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Step 1 Go to Admin | SIP | SIP User Credentials and click the Add button.

Step 2 Enter the name of your SIP peer’s SIP realm, the username and password associated with the SIP peer’s SIP realm, and click the Add button.

Manage SIP Certificates to Facilitate TLS Protocol


The TLS protocol is used by SIP to provide secure signalling between SIP endpoints. It is essential that the InformaCast certificate be downloaded and installed at each host that expects to use TLS as its SIP transport protocol with InformaCast. It is also essential that a certificate from each of those same hosts be uploaded to InformaCast. You will also need to modify it and its security profile to use TLS.

Step 1 View InformaCast’s SIP certificate by going to Admin | SIP | SIP Certificates, and clicking the View button.

Step 2 Install the InformaCast SIP certificate on a SIP device by going Admin | SIP | SIP Certificates, click the Download button followed by the Save button. Select a location accessible to your Communications Manager server(s) and click the Save button.

Note Leave this window open. You will come back to it.

Step 3 Go back to your Communications Manager window, select Cisco Unified OS Administration from the Navigation dropdown menu, click the Go button, and log into the OS administrative interface.

Step 4 Go to Security | Certificate Management and click the Upload Certificate button.

Step 5 Select CallManager-trust from the Certificate Name dropdown menu, click the Browse button, navigate to where you saved the InformaCast.pem file, select it, and click the Open button.

Step 6 Click the Upload File button on the Upload Certificate window, then click its Close button.

Step 7 Perform these steps for each Communications Manager server used by the SIP trunk.

Note TLS certificates are regenerated whenever Communications Manager is installed. So, if the server is restored from backup, these steps may need to be followed again. Also, InformaCast certificates are regenerated whenever InformaCast is installed or its IP address is changed, so this process will need to be followed again if InformaCast is re-installed or its IP address is changed.

Step 8 Modify the SIP trunk’s security profile to use TLS by selecting Cisco Unified CM Administration from the Navigation menu, clicking the Go button, and logging into the administrative interface.

Step 9 Go to System | Security Profile | SIP Trunk Security Profile and click the Find button, which returns a list of SIP trunk security profiles.


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Step 10 Click the Name link for your SIP trunk security profile, then select Encrypted from the Device Security Mode dropdown menu, select TLS from the Outgoing Transport Type dropdown menu, enter InformaCast-<x.x.x.x> in the X.509 Subject Name field, where <x.x.x.x> should be replaced with the IP address section of the common name assigned to InformaCast, enter 5061 in the Incoming Port field, and click the Save button.

Step 11 Modify your SIP trunk to use TLS by going to Device | Trunk and clicking the Find button.

Step 12 Click the Name link for your SIP trunk, scroll down to the SIP Information area, enter 5061 in the Destination Port field, click the Save button, and click the Reset button.

Step 13 Install SIP device certificates on InformaCast by selecting Cisco Unified OS Administration from the Navigation dropdown menu, clicking the Go button, and logging into the OS administrative interface.

Step 14 Go to Security | Certificate Management and click the Find button.

Step 15 Click the CallManager.pem link in the .PEM File column and download the .pem file to a location accessible to your InformaCast server.

Note Perform Steps 13 through 15 for each Communications Manager server that will communicating to InformaCast.

Step 16 Go back to your InformaCast window.

Step 17 Go to Admin | SIP | SIP Certificates and click the Upload button. Click the Browse button and navigate to where you saved your CallManager.pem file, select it, and click the Open button. Click the Upload button.

Step 18 Perform Step 17 for each CallManager.pem file you downloaded.

Note Any changes made to InformaCast’s certificate cache, including uploads and deletions, require a SIP restart before they take effect.

Step 19 Go to Admin | SIP | Restart SIP and click the Restart button. It may take a few moments for SIP to restart.

Caution Restarting SIP causes all SIP calls to be dropped, i.e. any callers interacting with the DialCast IVR will have their calls dropped. Broadcasts using SIP calls will also be impacted by a restart. Live broadcasts using SIP calls will be stopped.

Manage the SIP Stack

InformaCast uses the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SIP stack to provide it with basic SIP functionality. The SIP stack (Admin | SIP | SIP Stack) provides InformaCast with fundamental low-level SIP functionality such as transaction handling, dialogs, utilities for SIP headers, maintenance of SIP timers, etc.


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Caution Caution should be exercised when enabling detailed logging in the SIP stack because of the large size of the log files it produces and the degradation of stack performance due to extensive logging. Detailed logging is intended to be used only when troubleshooting SIP problems and should not be enabled for any longer than necessary. Two log files are generated in the InformaCast logs directory: sipStackDebug.log and sipStackServer.log.

Note Most values on this page should not ever need to be changed. The values most likely to be changed are the SIP port numbers and the detailed logging check box.

The following fields/dropdown menus can be found on the SIP Stack page:

• UDP/TCP Port. The port number on which the SIP stack will listen for incoming requests that use the UDP or TCP transport protocol.

• TLS Port. The port number on which the SIP stack will listen for incoming requests that use the TLS protocol.

Note The standard SIP port for UDP and TCP is 5060; the standard port for TLS is 5061. The stack can be configured to use non-standard ports if necessary.

• Enable Detailed Logging. Controls the SIP stack logging level. When checked, extensive and detailed logging of the SIP stack’s activities are enabled, likely resulting in decreased performance. When unchecked, logging is confined to reporting problems encountered by the SIP stack, and its ordinary activities. Unless told otherwise by Support personnel, it is recommended that this checkbox remain unchecked.

• Max Forwards. The maximum number of forwards allowed while a SIP message is being routed to its destination.

• Read Timeout. The read timeout for TCP connections, in milliseconds.

• Cache Client Connections. Controls whether the SIP stack frees the resources associated with a client transaction when it reaches its terminated state. When checked, the SIP stack will cache a transaction’s resources when it terminates, thereby improving the SIP stack’s performance.

• Cache Server Connections. Controls whether the SIP stack frees the resources associated with a server transaction when it reaches its terminated state. When checked, the SIP stack will cache a transaction’s resources when it terminates, thereby improving the SIP stack’s performance.

If you make any changes, click the Update button or click the Restore button to return to your default settings.

Caution You’ll need to restart SIP. Restarting SIP causes all SIP calls to be dropped, i.e. any callers interacting with the DialCast IVR will have their calls dropped. Broadcasts using SIP calls will also be impacted by a restart. Live broadcasts using SIP calls will be stopped.


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Restart SIP

Changes to the SIP stack or certificates require a restart before they take effect. Other SIP changes, such as changes to access and authentication, take effect as soon as they are made.

Caution Restarting SIP causes all SIP calls to be dropped, i.e. any callers interacting with the DialCast IVR will have their calls dropped. Broadcasts using SIP calls will also be impacted by a restart. Live broadcasts using SIP calls will be stopped.

Step 1 Go to Admin | SIP | Restart SIP.

Step 2 Click the Restart button. It may take a few moments for SIP to restart.

Configure DialCast FunctionalityInformaCast’s DialCast functionality allows you to dial a route point number to trigger an InformaCast broadcast. The configured route point dialing pattern that matches the dialed DN determines which InformaCast message should be sent and which recipient groups should receive it.

Note Make sure you have a user with a numeric login/password who has message-sending rights for the specific messages you want broadcast.

Dialing patterns determine which message and recipient group will be used based on the number that is dialed.

Step 1 Go to Admin | DialCast | Dialing Configurations, click the Add button, and enter a dialing pattern (e.g. 8811) for a route point monitored by InformaCast in the Dialing Pattern field. This is the same route point you created in Step 7 on page 5. You can also enter a regular expression to specify the dialing pattern for the route point (e.g. 88(\d)(\d)$). You will need to add at least one dialing pattern configuration for each route point line monitored by InformaCast.

Tip It is possible to use * or #, when setting up a dial pattern, but you must add \ before the character so that InformaCast doesn’t treat it as a wildcard. For example, **1 would have a dial pattern of \*\*1.

Step 2 Select an authentication method from the Authentication dropdown menu. None will not require your users to prove their identity when making a DialCast broadcast. User Login will require your users to enter their numeric username. User Login and Password will require your users to enter their numeric usernames and passwords.

Step 3 Select a message from the Select Message dropdown menu or enter a regular expression in the Message Description field that specifies the message to be broadcast.

Step 4 Use any of the following methods to designate who will receive the broadcast (you can use more than one and the Dialcodes and DNs fields support more than one entry, separated by commas):


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• Select a recipient group from the Select Recipient Groups dropdown menu

• Enter a regular expression in the Recipient Group Name field

• Enter a regular expression in the Dialcodes field

• Enter a regular expression in the DNs field

Step 5 Click the Add button to save your current dialing pattern configuration.

Step 6 Dial the dialing pattern and depending on what you set up, a broadcast will be immediately initiated and sent to appropriate recipient groups or whoever dialed the dialing pattern will have options available to them in sending out the broadcast.

TroubleshootingYour first line of support is the Help icon. Clicking it takes you to the online help system. Accessing its dropdown menu allows you to access:

• The online help system

• Its FAQ section

• Its Troubleshooting section

• InformaCast’s Support page

Tip Tutorials on the major sections of installing, configuring, and using InformaCast are available here: http://www.screencast.com/users/Singlewire.


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http://www.screencast.com/users/Singlewire

InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialIndex

IndexAAcknowledge Confirmation Mode 22Add

Message 12Pre Tone 17Recipient Group 9SIP Access Exception 28

Ad-hoc MessageSend 25

Allow CustomizationDefinition of 14

As Available Delivery, Description of 16Audio Files, Formatting for Phones 16Audio Only Message

Send 23Audio Tab

Configure 16

BBroadcast

Send 23Broadcast, Description of 9

CCommunications Manager

Application User 6Configure InformaCast 7Create AXL User Group 6CTI Ports 6Device Pool 5Directory Numbers 6Enable Services 5G.711 5Integrate 5JTAPI Library 4SNMP Community String 5

ConfigureApplication User 6Audio Tab 16Communications Manager Server 7CTI Ports 6Device Pool 5Directory Numbers 6G.711 5InformaCast 7JTAPI Library 4Message Confirmation Tab 21Message Confirmation Tab, Acknowledge 22Message Confirmation Tab, Respond 22Re-broadcasting Tab 19Scripting Tab 19SIP Trunk 26SNMP Community String 5Text Tab 14

CreateAXL User Group 6Region 5

DDialing Configuration

Regular Expression 32Dynamic Text 15, 19

EEnable

Communications Manager Services 5Environments, Description of InformaCast Environments 1

HHelp 33High-quality (HQ) Recordings 16

IInformaCast

Documentation 33Help 33Prepare your Multicast Environment 3Support 33

InformaCast, Description of 1Install, InformaCast 3, 4Integrate

Communications Manager 5

LLive Audio and Text Message

Send 24Live Audio Message

Send 24

MManage

Digest Authentication with SIP User Credentials 28SIP Access to InformaCast 27SIP Authentication for InformaCast 28SIP Certificates 29SIP Functionality 26SIP Stack 30

MessageAdd 12Configure the Audio Tab 16Configure the Re-broadcasting Tab 19Configuring the Scripting Tab 19Delivery Type 16Dynamic Text 15, 19Send a Broadcast 23

MessagesAcknowledge Confirmation Mode 22Ad-hoc Audio, Description of 13Configure Confirmation Tab 21Configure Confirmation Tab, Acknowledge 22Configure Confirmation Tab, Respond 22Configure the Text Tab 14Description of 9Live Audio, Description of 13Persistent Text 14Pre-recorded Audio, Description of 13Respond Confirmation Mode 22Talk and Listen, Description of 13Text and Ad-hoc Audio, Description of 13Text and Live Audio, Description of 13


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InformaCast Quick Start Guide - ConfidentialIndex

Text and Pre-recorded Audio, Description of 13Text, Description of 13

Multicast Environment PreparationInformaCast 3

PPersistent Text 14Pre Tone 17Pre-recorded Sound Files 16Prerequisites, Description of 1

RRe-broadcasting Tab

Broadcast Count 19Configure 19Dynamic Text 19Pause 19Re-broadcast Until Stopped 19

Recipient GroupAdd 9

Recipient, Description of 9Recordings, High-quality 16Regular Expressions

Dialing Configuration 32Respond Confirmation Mode 22Restart

SIP 32Ring Tone

Add 18Role, Description of 9

SScripting Tab

Audio Replacement, Description of 19Configure 19Data Setup, Description of 19Delete 20Download 20Send in Progress, Description of 20View 20

SendAd-hoc Broadcast 25Broadcast 23Live Audio Broadcast 24Pre-recorded Broadcast 23

SIP 26Add Access Exception 28Allow/Disable Access to InformaCast 27Configure a SIP Trunk 26Enable Authentication for InformaCast 28Enable Digest Authentication with SIP User Credentials 28Manage SIP Certificates 29Manage SIP Stack 30Restart 32

SIP FunctionalityManage 26

Support 33Synchronized Delivery, Description of 16

TText and Audio Message

Send 23Text Only Message

Send 23Text Tab

Configure 14Dynamic Text 15

TLSDefinition 29Manage SIP Certificates 29

Troubleshooting, Description of 1Tutorials 2, 5

UUpload Audio 16User Group, Description of 9User, Description of 9

ZµLaw Audio Format 16


Version 8.1

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