• CUCM selects an audio or video conference bridge from the MRGL of the conference initiator
• Software conference bridge supports single-mode conferences, using the G.711 and wideband codec only (no G.729)
• Some hardware conference bridge supports mixed-mode conferences with participants using different codecs
• Meet-Me Conference
  • Allocate directory number
• Basic Ad hoc
  • Only conference originator can add/remove participants
• Advanced Ad hoc
  • Any participants can add/remove participants
  • Link multiple ad hoc conferences together

<note>Only the conference initiator MRGL need the conference bridge resource. Others don't. This can be used to restrict who can initiate a conference</note>

• Part of Cisco IP Voice Media Streaming Application
• Unicast audio streams only
• Support G.711 a-law, G.711 u-law or wideband audio streams
• Maximum participants per server
  • Standalone server = 128
  • Call Manager Service running = 48

• Impact Secure conferencing
  • Session capacity is reduced by half
  • Number of conferees per session is the same as it was in nonsecure conference

• Using IP phones built-in resource for 3 ways conference supporting only G.711
• Can only be invoked by barge function.

• New in CUCMv7
• If there is one video participant or no video participants, an audio conference bridge from the MRGL is selected
• If a video conference bridges is need but none is available, an audio conference bridge is allocated.
• This is enabled by default but can be changed back to previous behaviour where a video conferencing bridge can selected for audio when it has a higher priority in the MRG.
• Under CallManager Service Parameters, the third option below. Setting this to true will revert to previous behaviour

• The first option, allow a video call to fall back to encrypted audio call if encrypted video call is not supported

• Cisco IOS Enhanced Conference Bridge
• Add bridge name CFG<MAC>. Case sensitive, must matches what's configured on IOS router
• Device Security Mode: must matches what's configured on IOS router

• Configure software and hardware conferencing as above
• Under Call Routing > Meet-Me Number/Pattern

<note tip>Meet-me disallows redirected call e.g. CTI RP routed from originating a conference. It does not however forbid it to join the conference</note>

• Suppress MOH to Conference Bridge
  • Default is true
• Drop Ad Hoc conference
  • Default is never
  • When conference creator leaves
  • When no On-Net parties remain in the conference
• Advanced Ad Hoc conference Enabled
  • Default is False
  • Allow other participants to add/remove participants using conflist softkey
  • Allow this ad hoc conference to be linked to another ad hoc conference
• Non-linear Ad Hoc Conference Link Enabled
  • Default is False
  • More than two ad hoc conference can be linked together.
  • Three or more ad hoc conferences to be linked directly to another ad hoc
• Maximum Ad Hoc Conference
  • Default is 4
  • Maximum participants in an ad hoc
• Maximum Meet Me Conference
  • Default is 4
  • Maximum unicast parameters
  • Maximum participants in a single meet me conference