Polycom Real Connect - Teams and Cisco CMS

[CS-Sebastian]

Hello,

I have a question connecting MS Teams via Polycom Real Connect with existing Cisco Video Infrastructure.

Is it possible to use Real Connect to connect existing Cisco infrastructure? Cisco infrastructre is as follows:

CMS - Version: 2.4.

VCS-C: X8.11.1

VCS-E: X8.11.1

In case of possibility how could it be implemented?

Thanks

[mschulze]

Hi @CS-Sebastian,

Real Connect is an interoperability service by Polycom hosted in Azure. With this service it is possible to bring any standards-based VTC into a Lync/Skype for Business/Teams meeting.

These traditional on-premises management and routing functions could also be performed by existing infrastructure like Cisco VCS or Call Manager deployments. The goal here is to simple allow a VTC to place a call off-network to the Internet and reach the MCUs hosted in Azure.

In addition it is also possible to use One Touch Dial with Cisco Endpoints if you use the Polycom Cloud Relay VM. For further info have a look here:

http://blog.schertz.name/2018/02/what-is-realconnect/

[CS-Sebastian]

Hi @mschulze,

thanks for the reply. 

That means it is more or less easily possible to connect Teams with on-prem cisco infrastructure via RealConnect as interop platform. And Cisco express gateway would be connection point between Real Connect in Azure and Cisco CMS?

Would it be a recommended way to use real connect in a first step also for sfb hybrid with online hosted users and on-prem cisco infrastructure. Could this simplify later Teams connection?

Thanks

[mschulze]

I would recommend that you contact a certified reseller to discuss your needs. There are different license models you have to discuss.

• Standard (User-based),Original model only applicable to Skype for Business Online and not scalable to enterprise, limited to special users. More important, no Teams support
• Hybrid (concurrent VTC based), enterprise model, enables all users for interop, first for SfB but you can prtable the licenses to Real connect for Teams
• Teams

 You also should explain your enviroment (SfB onprem? Online? Hybrid?) in detail.

[CS-Sebastian]

Thanks again for your answer.

The environment is Skype for Business Hybrid (SfB Standard 2x FE, 1x Edge) and all users are hosted in SFB Online. Hybrid architecture because of local usage of pstn infrastructure.

To summarize your answers. It is possible to connect Cisco infrastucture via real connect. Maybe a license question.

Thanks 

[mschulze · Accepted solution]

RealConnect cascades media and content streams transparently between on-prem/online SfB users and VTC endpoints through the Polycom RealConnect Video interoperability service. Your Cisco infrastructure does its job for Video Routing, Firewall Traversal (highly recommended for RC), SIP and H.323. No extra licenses needed, except RC-licenses.

By the way, there´s the possibilty to have a Trial for 60 days, maybe interesting for you.

[CS-Sebastian]

Yes very interesting thanks for the information.

For the moment I have all informations needed. Maybe will came back while implementing.

Thanks again.