Asterisk PBX as Voicemail for CUCM

Configure Asterisk PBX as Voicemail Server for Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) which will use SIP Trunk Integration between the Asterisk and CUCM.  The callers can deposit voicemail if the extension is busy/unavailable/unregistered. The end users can also listen to their voicemail as well. Only drawback is Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) which i couldn’t figure out how to configure. So the end users will have to call by themselves and see if there are any voicemail for them.

How are we going to achieve this? 

Our scenario:

Extension Range on CUCM and Asterisk – 8109XXXX
Voicemail Pilot – *81099999
No Answer, Busy, Unregistered call forwarding to VM on Extensions – *8109XXXX   (Replace XXXX with the last 4 digit of extension configured on CUCM/Asterisk)
 

What are we going to do in our taken scenario?

On Cisco Unified Communications Manager –

We will create two extensions in Cisco Unified Communications Manager i.e., 81091000 and 81091001.
We will create a Route Pattern with *.8109XXXX and point it to SIP Trunk to Asterisk. We will discard pre-dot characters.
We will create a Voicemail Pilot with *81099999
We will create a Voicemail Profile and associate *8109999 Voicemail Pilot

On Asterisk PBX Server-

We will configure the same number in Asterisk as Virtual Extension as 81091000 and 81091001 and enable voicemail and create Voicemail password for the extensions.
We will create a Misc. Destination and point it to *97
We will create Inbound Route with 8109999 and Point it to Misc. Destination

Configuration on Cisco Unified Communications Manager : 

Configure Voicemail Pilot and Voicemail Profile

• Go to Advance Features > Voice Mail > Voice Mail Pilot > Add New
• Voice Mail Pilot Number > *81099999
• Calling Search Space > Select appropriate Calling Search Space
• Description > Voicemail Pilot to Asterisk PBX
• Click on Save
• Go to Advance Features > Voice Mail > Voice Mail Profile > Add New
• Voice Mail Profile Name * > Asterisk-VMP
• Description > Asterisk Voicemail Profile
• Voice Mail Pilot ** > Select *81099999 from the drop down menu
• Click on Save

Configure Extensions in CUCM

• Create a extension as 81091000
• Associate Asterisk-VMP as created in the above step
• Forward Busy Internal > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward Busy External > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward No Answer Internal > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward No Answer External > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward No Coverage Internal > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward No Coverage External > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward on CTI Failure > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward Unregistered Internal > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space
  Forward Unregistered External > *81091000 and assign appropriate Calling Search Space

• Similarly create another extension as 81091001 and use the same forward procedure as *81091000 but replace 1000 with 1001

Configure Route Pattern

• Go to Call Routing > Route/Hunt > Route Pattern
• Click on Add New
• Route Pattern > *.8109XXXX
• Route Partition > Select appropriate Route Partition
• Description > Route Pattern to Asterisk PBX for Voice Mail
• Gateway/Route List > Select the SIP Trunk that was created to route the calls between CUCM and Asterisk
• Discard Digits > Select PreDot from the Drop Down Menu
• Click on Save

Configuration in Asterisk PBX

Configure Misc. Destinations

• Login to Asterisk PBX Server
• Under Internal Options & Configuration > Click on Misc. Destinations > Click on Add Misc. Destination
• Description > CUCM-VM-Pilot-Trigger
• Dial > *97
• Click on Submit Changes
• Click on Apply Config

Configure Virtual Extensions 

• Under Basic > Click on Extensions
• Device > Select “None (Virtual Exten)” from the Drop Down Menu
• Click on Submit
  • User Extension > 81091000
  • Display Name > User A
  • Voicemail Status > Select “Enabled” from Drop Down Menu
  • Voicemail Password > Enter a Password which will be used to access the voicemail
  • Fill all other necessary details if required.
  • Click on Submit
  • Click on Apply Config
• Similarly create another Virtual Extension for the User B with extension 81091001

Configure Inbound Routes

• Under Inbound Call Control > Click on Inbound Routes
• Description > Inbound Route from CUCM to Asterisk Voicemail Pilot
• DID Number > 81099999
• Set Destination > Select Misc. Destination from the Drop Down Menu > Select CUCM-VM-Pilot-Trigger
• Click on Submit
• Click on Apply Config

Time to test the configuration

Depositing Voice Mail

• Now make a call from extension 81091000 to 81091001
• Let the call ring the extension and after few rings the call will go to Voicemail of Extension 81091000. You try to leave a Voicemail.

Retrieving Voice Mail using Message Button and Listening to the Voice Mails

• Now click on Message button on IP Phone on Extension 81091000.
• You will hear something like “Comedian Mail..”
• Enter UserID as Extension 81091000
• You will now hear “Password”
• Enter the Password created for the extensions
• You will be logged into your voicemail box and can listen to the Voice Mails.

Accessing Voice Mail using the Voice Mail Pilot Number

• From the extension 81091000 > Dial 8109999
• You will hear something like “Comedian Mail..”
• Enter UserID as Extension 81091000
• You will now hear “Password”
• Enter the Password created for the extensions
• You will be logged into your voicemail box and can listen to the Voice Mails.

If you have not done CUCM and Asterisk SIP Trunk Integration, kindly refer to the below post.

CUCM Asterisk SIP Trunk Integration

If you would like to change the default “Comedian Mail” Audio Greetings in Asterisk PBX , kindly refer to the below post.

Asterisk PBX Comedian Mail Change Audio Greetings

Hope this helps!

Originally posted 2016-07-06 12:23:34. Published by Team UC Collabing

Avinash Karnani

I am working in an IT company and having 10+ years of experience into Cisco IP Telephony and Contact Center. I have worked on products like CUCM, CUC, UCCX, CME/CUE, IM&P, Voice Gateways, VG224, Gatekeepers, Attendant Console, Expressway, Mediasense, Asterisk etc. I am not an expert but i keep exploring whenever and wherever i can and share whatever i know. You can visit my LinkedIn profile by clicking on the icon below.

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