Earlier this year I decided to develop a web application (NetCraftsmen Enterprise Directory - NED) that could provide a multi-tenant and multi-source corporate directory feature for the Cisco Unified Communication Manager (CUCM) telephony environment. I have written custom corporate directory apps before using the Cisco IP Phone SDK.
This time around, I decided to start from scratch. I also decided to use C# and the ASP.NET framework. So, I am immersed in a learning curve - which is really where I like to be. I thought that periodically I could throw a tidbit of information in this blog. Whether that information is about C#, ASP.NET, or just Cisco-isms.
In the current installment, I am going to provide a very simple example for determining what model of phone is connecting to a web application. Turns out, this is pretty important to create a robust corporate directory application for Cisco IP Phones.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and, more specifically, Cisco IP Phones support application extensibility by leveraging web server applications and the Extensible Markup Language (XML). Anyone who has used Extension Mobility, Corporate Directory, Missed Calls, Received Calls, and other similar apps on a Cisco IP phone has witnessed a XML application in action.
Users of these standard applications and the numerous other productivity applications optimized to leverage the Cisco IP Phone XML capabilities have grown to expect these applications to be 100% available. A common question I field from customers and one I have seen on the Cisco Support Forums from time to time is: "how to make these web-based applications redundant?".
We suffered a lapse in our weekly series on Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) SQL Queries. Getting back on track, I wanted to take a spin off of the installment I presented on querying speed dials and dive into a related CUCM feature: Fast Dials and its partner in crime Personal Address Book (PAB).
I typically leverage this query when doing upgrades for people. I also query this data when customers feel they need to do some sort of house cleaning. Fast Dials have this uncanny way of being forgotten. I can see why. Anyway, on with the show...
One of the main focal points for this blog is to talk about topics around design, implementation, and operation of UC and Collaboration technologies. But that isn't all that I do. I also collect 1/6th scale action figures. Specifically Hot Toys Marvel characters (with some Dark Knight thrown in - the only DC series I like). Yeah, it's nerdy but "I am what I am and that's all that I am".
Anyway, a few weeks ago my wife and I were hanging out and talking about a new macro lens she was testing (she's a professional photographer) and we decided to snap a few shots. I figured I might as well go ahead and post a couple here. First round goes to the Dark Knight.
It has been a couple of weeks since I put up a blog. I had a couple of work distractions come up, I was out in San Jose for the ATA conference, I took the CCIE-V (written), and I was working with a designer on a logo for my "online brand". I have also spent a decent amount of time tweaking blogger templates to give my blog a facelift incorporating the new logo. I am still tweaking but version "2.0" is online and I plan to stick with it for a few months.
I am pretty happy with the new look and wanted to take this opportunity to give a shout out to Luci Morreale at Ladderback Design (http://ladderbackdesign.com). Luci was the creative force behind the newly branded logo. Needless to say I definitely (and shamelessly) recommend Luci and Ladderback to anyone who is looking to update their brand, logo, or online identity. Luci was very adept at extracting the essence of my abstract (and sometimes warped) ideas and giving them substance.
If you like the logo, let me know via comments! If you don't, you can still comment but don't be surprised if I quietly click "delete". Yeah, that's how I roll!
Thanks for reading. If you have time, post a comment!
Several years ago I was in a Cisco office in Herndon, VA and I was cruising the hallway looking for someone (paging Dr. Ta). During my wondering, I came across the unicorn of Cisco phones - a gold plated 7971. At least, I think it was a 7971. I thought it was kind of odd and found out later that it was a "trophy" given to AMs who hit certain thresholds. Cute.
Well, I all but forgot about that phone until recently. One of the engineers on our Collaboration team is Bruce Enders. Bruce has been in the industry for a long time and has recently retired. Well, of course I want to send Bruce off in style. What do you get someone when they retire? A gold watch? A plaque? A night out on the town? Well, NetCraftsmen was doing the plaque, company gift, and night out on the town. So, that left me with the watch. Bruce recently bought a new watch and really likes it. So, I decided to give him the next best thing: a Gold Cisco IP Phone. This blog is about the process used to turn an old gray piece of telephony plastic to a shiny new gold show piece (insert bling sound >here<).
In this week's installment of my Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) SQL Queries series I wanted to build on last week's query with a special treat: Using the update SQL query to make changes to database entries.
This type of query is handy whenever you are looking to make system wide dial plan changes. For instance, you are going to move from a 4-digit dialing solution to a 5-digit solution or you are going to change your off-net dialing prefix for some reason. Yeah, this actually happens. In fact, it is a recent query from a colleague concerning off-net dialing prefix changes that inspired this week's installment.
