Cisco Cisco Expressway Release Notes
New features in X8.5
Unified Communications Cisco Expressway Series Software Release Notes (X8.5)
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New features in X8.5
Feature previews
The following two features are implemented in version X8.5 for the purpose of previewing with dependent
systems. They are not currently supported and should not be relied upon in your production environment. Full
support for these features is planned for a future release of the Expressway software.
systems. They are not currently supported and should not be relied upon in your production environment. Full
support for these features is planned for a future release of the Expressway software.
(Preview) Single sign-on over MRA
Enables single sign-on (common identity) for SSO-capable clients that are accessing on-premises Unified
Communications services from outside the network.
Communications services from outside the network.
(Preview) MRA support for new endpoints
Mobile and Remote Access via the Expressway is now compatible with the Cisco DX Series endpoints, and
with the 8800 Series and 7800 Series IP phones.
with the 8800 Series and 7800 Series IP phones.
Improved line-side capabilities
The line-side SIP capabilities of the Expressway have been extended to improve the support that MRA offers
for endpoints registering to Unified CM. The improvements are:
for endpoints registering to Unified CM. The improvements are:
Early Media support over MRA
Support for this feature means that endpoint users can hear media from the far end before the call is fully
established, to indicate call progress (eg. busy tone) or play interactive voice responder messages.
established, to indicate call progress (eg. busy tone) or play interactive voice responder messages.
The MRA deployment now supports passing through the 183 provisional response to enable early media, but
the feature is dependent on endpoint support. Early media is supported in recent software for TC series
endpoints.
the feature is dependent on endpoint support. Early media is supported in recent software for TC series
endpoints.
Unsolicited NOTIFY pass-through
The unsolicited NOTIFY between Unified CM and the endpoints provides support for features like Message
Waiting Indicator (MWI).
Waiting Indicator (MWI).
Multiple deployments for partitioning mobile and remote access to
Unified Communications services
Unified Communications services
This release introduces the concept of "deployments" to the Expressway.
A deployment is an abstract boundary used to enclose a domain and one or more Unified Communications
service providers, such as Unified CM, Cisco Unity Connection, and IM and Presence Service nodes.
service providers, such as Unified CM, Cisco Unity Connection, and IM and Presence Service nodes.
The purpose of multiple deployments is to partition the Unified Communications services available to mobile
and remote access (MRA) users. This enables different subsets of MRA users to access different sets of
services over the same Expressway pair. We recommend that you do not exceed 10 deployments.
and remote access (MRA) users. This enables different subsets of MRA users to access different sets of
services over the same Expressway pair. We recommend that you do not exceed 10 deployments.
For example, consider an implementation of two sets of Unified Communications infrastructure to provide a
live MRA environment and a staging environment, respectively. This implementation might also require an
isolated environment for sensitive communications.
live MRA environment and a staging environment, respectively. This implementation might also require an
isolated environment for sensitive communications.