Call recording for Cisco Unified Communications
- Kiss, Mate
- Gabor Moczar (Unlicensed)
Overview
The Verba Recording System can record Cisco voice calls, video calls and instant messages using various methods.
There are five main components of the Cisco recording solution:
- Verba Single Server solution: The Verba Media Repository and the Verba Recording Server co-located on one server
- Verba Media Repository:Â Stores recordings, provides web access, storage management, security, and auditing
- Verba Recording Server:Â Receives collected traffic and signaling and generates media files and call detail records. Contains the Verba Media Collector & Proxy role as well
- Verba Media Collector & Proxy: The Media Collector component sends collected traffic to recording servers. The Proxy component relays calls, so they can be captured at a single point.
Supported platforms
Verba supports all Cisco Unified Communication Manger, Unified Communication Express and IM & Presence versions.
All software and physical Cisco compatible endpoints are supported.
Deployment models
Depending on recording requirements different deployment models are recommended. In the Verba solution, these models can be mixed within one recording system deployment.
The following table summarizes the different ways the Verba Recording Servers components can be deployed.
|  | Verba Network-based | Passive / Monitor Port Based Recording | Verba Proxy-based Recording*** |
No need for monitor port | YES | Â | YES |
Call path untouched | YES | YES | Â |
Internal Audio Calls | YES6 | YES1 | YES* |
| Inbound / Outbound Audio Calls | YES | YES2 | YES* |
Video Calls | Â | YES | YES |
| Encrypted Video Calls | Â | Â | YES |
| Presentation Sharing | Â | YES1 | YES |
External / Federated calls | YES7 | YES3 | YES |
Recording Announcements for incoming PSTN calls | YES | YES | YES |
| Block Calls on recording failure | Â | Â | YES |
| Load balancing | YES | Â | YES |
Mid-call failover | YES | Â | YES |
| 2N recording | 5 | YES4 | YES |
| N+1 recording | YES | Â | YES |
JTAPI Integration | YES | Â | Â |
| CDR reconciliation | YES | Â | Â |
*** Verba Proxy-based Recording is recommended only in specific cases since it requires a complex custom call routing setup in the UCM!
1 Requires endpoint level monitor port configuration
2 Requires gateway port monitoring
3 Calls can be recorded by monitoring the internal ExpressWay port(s)
4 Requires multiple monitor ports
5 Can be achieved by combining with port monitoring
6 Only with Built-in Bridge-based (Phone Preferred) recording mode. With Gateway based recording, only inbound and outbound PSTN calls can be recorded.
7Â Requires ExpressWay version 8.11 or later.
* Limitations at parking scenariosÂ
Verba Network-Based Recording
Possible deployment models of Network Based recording:
- Single server solution:Â All Verba roles (Media Repository, Recorder, Proxy) are on one server.
For the installation guide see:Â Installing a Verba Single Server solution - Single server solution + Recording server(s):Â All Verba roles (Media Repository, Recorder) are on one server. Additional Recording Server(s) deployed for recording high availability.
For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Single Server solution and Installing a Verba Recording Server - Media Repository + Recording server(s): The Verba Media Repository and the Recording server is deployed separately. For recording high availability additional Recorder Servers can be installed. For Web Application high availability additional Media Repositories can be deployed.
For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Media Repository and Installing a Verba Recording Server
Verba Proxy-Based Recording
Possible deployment models of Proxy-Based recording:
- Single server solution:Â All Verba roles (Media Repository, Recorder, Proxy) are on one server.
For the installation guide see:Â Installing a Verba Single Server solution - Deploy every role separately:Â Best performance for proxy based recording. For high availability, multiple Recording Servers and multiple Proxy Servers can be installed.
For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Media Repository, Installing a Verba Recording Server and Installing the Verba Media Collector and Proxy component - Co-locate certain roles: Verba Roles can be selectively co-located for mid-size deployments. The possible co-locations are as follows:
- Media Repository and Recording Server: This server is performing the functions of both the Media Repository and the Recording Server. For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Single Server solution
- Recording Server and Proxy Server: This server is able to relay and record calls. The communication taking place between 2 services on the same machine will reduce the network bandwidth requirements. For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Recording Server
The Proxy Server role is always installed when a Recording Server role is installed. After the deployment, it can optionally be turned on or off.
Passive / Monitor Port-Based Recording
The Monitor Port based recording requires network side configuration:
Possible deployment models of Monitor Port based recording:
- Single server solution:Â All Verba roles (Media Repository, Recorder, Proxy) are on one server.
For the installation guide see:Â Installing a Verba Single Server solution - Single server solution + Recording server(s):Â All Verba roles (Media Repository, Recorder) are on one server. Additional Recording Server(s) deployed for recording high availability.
For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Single Server solution and Installing a Verba Recording Server - Media Repository + Recording server(s): The Verba Media Repository and the Recording server is deployed separately. For recording high availability additional Recorder Servers can be installed. For Web Application high availability additional Media Repositories can be deployed.
For the installation guide see: Installing a Verba Media Repository and Installing a Verba Recording Server
For more information about the deployment models see Select a deployment architecture