Testing Unified Messaging Functionality

Testing the UM functionality is a bit trickier than testing other features such as message routing because it involves multiple components in the testing process such as voice, mailbox access, and so on. Only when testing this functionality end-to-end can you make sure it is working as expected. Several tools are available for testing your UM functionality.

UM Troubleshooting Tool

The UM Troubleshooting Tool is available with Exchange 2010 SP1 as a separate download to proactively test the voice mail functionality and identify any issues. The Troubleshooting Tool is able to simulate a call from OCS or IP gateway to your UM server and verifies that the UM communication is working as expected. It verifies that a call can be established, verifies that the audio flow from the UM server works, and prepares quality metrics for recorded audio.

You can install the UM Troubleshooting Tool on a workstation or server. The recommendation is to use an administrative workstation. It is available in x86 and x64 versions and requires the following prerequisites to be installed:

·         Windows PowerShell v2

·         .Net Framework 3.5 SP1

·         Unified Communications Managed API (UCMA) v3.5

The UM Troubleshooting Tool provides you with a shell similar to the EMS and allows you to test UM connectivity with the Test-ExchangeUMCallFlow cmdlet, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Microsoft Exchange UM Troubleshooting Tool

 

If you want to use the UM Troubleshooting Tool to test your UM server, you need to create the following:

·         A UM dial plan with Telephone Extension as the URI type and Unsecured as VoIP security

·         A UM IP gateway that points to the IP address of the workstation you installed the UM Troubleshooting Tool on

·         A UM-enabled mailbox with an extension

After you create the prerequisites, run the Test-ExchangeUMCallFlow -Mode GatewayEmulator -VoIPSecurity Unsecured -NextHopAddress -Diversion cmdlet to verify that the UM server is working correctly.

Note

You can use this tool to run against Exchange 2010 UM SP1 servers only!

Exchange UM Test Phone

The Microsoft Exchange UM Test Phone is a software phone that you can use to connect to your UM server and simulate specific IP gateway settings. It is based on the Exchange Speech Engine and can be used to troubleshoot connectivity.

The UM Test Phone (ExchangeUMTestPhone.exe) is no longer available on the Exchange 2010 DVD, but you can get it from an Exchange 2007 DVD and use it against your Exchange 2010 UM server.

Important

UM uses the Unified Communications Managed API 2.0 Core SDK (UCMA) in Exchange 2010 SP1; the Exchange UM Test Phone cannot connect anymore to run against SP1. You can only use it with Exchange 2010 RTM.

You can install the Exchange UM Test Phone on a workstation or server that includes a microphone and speakers so you can verify that the speech is accurate and correct. Like the Exchange 2007 installation files, it is available in x86 and x64 versions. The UM Test Phone is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Using the UM Test Phone 

Detailed information about how to test your UM server with the UM Test Phone can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997146(EXCHG.80).aspx.