Webex Edge for Devices

In addition to enabling you to keep your devices on-premises registered, Webex Edge for Devices allows you to access cloud-only features while keeping your devices on-premises. Moreover, the Webex Control Hub provides you with access to your devices so that you can monitor and manage them.

If you have on-premise devices that you want to connect to the Cisco Webex cloud service, you can use Webex Edge for Devices. The advantage of this is that it allows you to use some cloud-based features while your registration, device management, telephony, and media services remain on-premises. Cloud services can be managed in the Control Hub, where you will be able to get diagnostics from them as well as manage cloud services.

There are currently the following features and functionality available in Webex Edge for on-premises devices:

• In the Control Hub, you can check the status of your connection: online, online with issues, or unavailable

• Admin alerts can be set to alert the administrator when a device needs to be diagnosed

• Control Hub provides direct access to device historical analytics

• Access to the Cloud API

• The Control Hub allows you to access and modify the configuration of your devices

• Support for proxy servers

• Through the use of APIs, the full cloud can be migrated

• Whether you are joining a Webex call or not, you can see your media metrics in real-time

• Logs can be managed from the Control Hub by using the Log Manager

• Integrate Cisco Webex Video into Microsoft Teams using WebRTC and Microsoft Teams supports WebRTC

It is also possible for you to enable:

• Software upgrades are managed by the cloud

• Experience optimized for Webex

• With the help of the Webex Control Hub, you can create a hybrid calendar

• Assistant for Webex

• Branding across the entire organization through the Control Hub

• Working from a hot desk

Read the Webex Edge for Devices Security Paper if you are interested in learning more about the security implications of Webex Edge for Devices.

Prerequisites and limitations

Prerequisites

• Version 9.15 of the software or later is required

• There is a requirement for CE software that supports strong encryption.

  • SX and MX Series: There are countries in which Cisco is not permitted to export encryption keys, so an encryption key can be issued upon request. If you would like to obtain a Cisco licensing key, you should contact your Cisco licensing representative.

  • Board, Desk, and Room Series: There is no way to add an encryption key after it has been installed pre-shipment.

  • DX70 and DX80: As a default, you have access to the encryption key.

• The registration of an expressway or a unified CM

• Version 11.5(1) SU3 or later of the Unified CM should be used. You will need to use the method described in this article if you have version 12.0(1) of Expressway registered devices on your computer.

• In order to use the Device Connector tool with Expressway, your devices must be connected using HTTPS.

• Admin access to the Control Hub

• The Cisco Flex Plan is a flexible solution for Cisco Collaboration

• Device Connector for Cisco Webex

• Identrust.com must be allowed for certificate verification as part of the domain management process.

The same firewall configurations that apply to devices that are fully cloud-registered need to be applied even when the media isn’t going through the Webex cloud (unless you have enabled Webex optimized experience). Check out our article on Network Requirements for Webex Services if you would like to learn more about the media and network requirements.

Limitations

• It’s important to remember that when you enable Hybrid Calendar on a Webex Edge for Device device, you disable the TMS calendar on that device. This is due to the fact that only one calendar source can be connected to the device.

• The first time you link your devices to Webex Edge for Devices for the first time, these devices are registered as shared mode devices. When the devices are linked, a user may be able to associate the device with the user after it is linked.

Software upgrade requirement

In order to maintain Webex connectivity on devices, Webex Edge for Devices requires the latest software.

Cisco Webex will be transitioning its certification authority from IdenTrust Commercial Root CA 1 to IdenTrust Commercial Root CA 2 starting in March 2021. It has been decided that those customers who are installing their device software updates manually must upgrade their devices as soon as possible to the latest CE 9.14.5 version at the earliest possible time so that Webex Edge for Devices can continue to support them.

If you fail to perform the upgrade, the devices will be unable to connect to the cloud and will lose all functionality related to it. There are a number of features built into this system, such as Control Hub Management, Analytics, and Hybrid Calendaring, among others. The use of your existing on-premises SIP infrastructure will not be affected by this change. Also, devices running a version that is not supported will be unable to use the Webex Device Connector to link to a Webex cloud account if they are running an unsupported version.

We generally support a specific piece of cloud connected software for up to 6 months after it has been released from the date it was initially released. In order to enable automatic cloud upgrades through the Webex Control Hub, we recommend that customers configure their devices after upgrading.

Link Unified CM registered devices

• In the customer view of https://admin.webex.com, you will find the Device Connector tool on the Resources page; it can be accessed from the Devices menu of the admin view. The Cisco Webex Device Connector article provides more information on the tool and what it can do for you.
• In order to link your devices registered with Cisco Unified Communications Manager with your on-premises devices, you need to select I want cloud features for my devices registered on-premises, and then click the Link devices registered with Cisco Unified Communications Manager button.
• Please enter the host, userid, and password associated with your Unified CM (Standard AXL API Access username and password) and click the Connect button. You must verify the validity of the certificates provided by Unified CM if you have unsigned certificates or click Proceed without validating the certificates if you have unsigned certificates.

With the Device Connector, you can retrieve information about the configuration of Unified CM devices, including their names and descriptions. It is at this point that a device is connected to a Workspace that has a name derived from the Contact Info Name. The MAC address or System Unit Name of the device will be used if no Contact Info Name has been set.

In Unified CM, you have the option of changing the name of the device if you wish to do so.

• To link all the devices listed, click the Link All button. By clicking the Link button next to an individual device, you will be able to link it to the network.

It is the Webex Identity Service that creates the activation codes for the devices for your Webex organization once you have uploaded the device information to your Webex organization’s Device Connector. As soon as the activation code is applied to the device, it is linked to your Webex organization through Unified CM.

You will be able to open the device’s page in the Control Hub directly by clicking the device name if your device is linked to Cisco Webex cloud services.

It is possible that the device may not be linked yet if it says Link Pending. It is the Unified CM’s responsibility to provide the activation code for the device. The system attempts to link to the device for a period of seven days before the activation code expires. There is a chance that the device will get linked during that period if it is available.

Link Expressway registered devices

• In the customer view of https://admin.webex.com, you will find the Device Connector tool on the Resources page; it can be accessed from the Devices menu of the admin view. The Cisco Webex Device Connector article provides more information on the tool and what it can do for you.
• If you’d like to enable cloud features for your on-premises registered devices, then select the appropriate option and then click on the link devices using CSV or Cisco TMS Overview Export files button after installing the Device Connector tool.
• Go to your computer’s hard drive and open the file that you just downloaded.

When exporting a System Overview report from TMS, make sure that only the Network Settings > Hostname parameter is selected in the System Parameter section. The Username and Password columns need to be manually added to the table.

The CSV file must have three columns for the user name, the password, and the address.

For the Workspace name, the tool uses the Contact Info Name provided in the Contact Info. When a MAC address cannot be found or the name of the system unit cannot be found, the System Unit Name will be used. You can enter a name for the device if one has not yet been found in the name field.

• To link all the devices listed, click the Link All button. By clicking the Link button next to an individual device, you will be able to link it to the network.

In terms of the Webex Identity Service, it is responsible for creating activation codes for all devices that are connected to the Device Connector and transfer to your Webex organization. It is the API that is used to send the activation codes to the devices. This can only be done if HTTPS is enabled on your computer.

You will be able to open the device’s page in the Control Hub directly by clicking the device name if your device is linked to Cisco Webex cloud services.

Cloud-managed software upgrade for Webex Edge for Devices

With the cloud-managed software upgrades, when there is a new RoomOS software version available, the Webex Edge for Devices linked devices are automatically upgraded.

When a device with cloud-managed software upgrades enabled receives a stable build, it will receive a beta build once a week, and a stable build once every other week. Whenever the channel becomes available, it will be the same as the channel that is available to those who register their devices to the cloud. Releases are updated at the same time.

It is possible to get the latest software updates and bug fixes faster when you install cloud software upgrades, since you don’t have to manually upgrade your device. Upgrades to the cloud software are required for Webex to be optimized for the web browser.

It is set to be off by default, so you cannot use this feature. Using the Workspace’s channel selection menu, you can choose a software channel from the Workspace’s menu if you have enabled cloud-managed software upgrade. Stable channel is the default channel used by devices by default.

TAC only supports the latest Stable version of RoomOS software.

• When you are on http://admin.webex.com, and you are in the customer view, go to Devices, and pick out the device or devices you want to configure from the list.
• The configuration for the Webex CloudUpgrades Mode needs to be set to On in the webex configuration.

You can set the software channel from the Workspaces menu. Select the workspace and then click the cogwheel in the Device section of Workspaces so that it turns green. There is a drop-down menu that allows you to select a software channel. It defaults to Stable if there is no channel selected.

Having enabled cloud-managed software upgrades on a CE9.14 device requires a reboot in order for the upgrade to take effect. It is most likely that the changes will be applied to devices running CE9.15 or later when they go into standby or when they reboot.

Webex optimized experience for Webex Edge for Devices

A Webex Edge for Devices device that connects to a Webex Meeting will be able to take full advantage of all the features of Webex Meetings when connected to the meeting. In order to connect with external services and to make internal calls, the devices continue to use SIP.

What’s available when Webex optimized experience is enabled

• In Webex Meetings, you can whiteboard in two directions at the same time

• Media can be accessed through the Webex Video Platform 2.0, which includes nodes that support Hybrid Video

• Advanced Mute

  • Mute on entry

  • Unmute all

  • Allow attendees to unmute

• Cohost

  • Whenever a paired device joins a network, the device becomes a cohost

  • It is possible to perform certain actions on the host

• The host is transferred and the host leaves the hotel

• Lock Meeting

  • During the course of the meeting or in the Personal Room, the host can lock it

• An integrated system that offers notifications when attendees are in the lobby and allows for admission to meetings from the device to let them in

• Record a meeting

• Reactions can be sent by gestures or by using call controls as part of a meeting

• Using the Webex Assistant on mobile devices

  • Webex Assistant can be enabled or disabled in a meeting by the host

• Face Recognition

Call routing

As a result, Webex optimizes the routing of calls for meetings in the following cases. If the device is used in any other situation, it will use the SIP protocol to route calls.

• When the button Join Webex is clicked in order to join a meeting. Whenever the configuration is made to use Webex Meetings JoinProtocol as the join protocol, it will always use Webex.

• Using Webex Assistant, one can join a meeting in a Personal Room. In a similar way to the Join Webex button, this button always uses Webex as the connection method.

• In this case, the device automatically detects Webex meetings from the SIP URI provided in the Call menu and connects to the meetings natively when a meeting is joined from the Call menu with a Webex SIP URI.

• This error occurs when the Number parameter is set to a Webex site when a call is initiated using xCommand Dial. It is possible to automatically detect Webex meetings on the device by examining the number of the meeting, if the configuration for the Webex Meetings JoinProtocol has been set to Webex, and to connect to them natively if they are configured. Regardless of the format of the number, the Protocol field will be used if it is specified.

• Depending on which meeting type is kicked off or joined, Cisco Proximity and Webex apps route calls accordingly. (On-premises connectivity is required.)

Recommendations

• Recommendations for bandwidth

• Architecture for managing bandwidth

Requirements

The device must meet the following requirements to enable Webex optimization:

• Devices are linked to Webex Edge

• The ability to upgrade software from the cloud is enabled

• For Webex Edge for Devices, Configuration Management is enabled via the Control Hub

Additionally, you must configure your firewalls to match those that apply to fully cloud-registered devices. The article Network Requirements for Webex Services provides more information on media and network requirements.

Limitations

• You cannot make direct calls from Webex apps to devices.

• Auto should be set for Multipoint Mode. The device can be configured with either Cisco Unified CM ad-hoc conferencing or MultiSite in Multipoint mode with Webex as the Join protocol on RoomOS version 10.9.1.1 and later. The same steps apply to adding cloud-registered devices as they do for adding participants.

• When a stroke is made on the whiteboard out-of-call, it is treated the same way as if it were made on a Webex device registered in the session. There are certain strokes that are sent to the Cisco Webex cloud board service in which some of the stroke information is sent.

• The Room Panorama device is not currently supported by Room Panorama.

Enable Webex optimized experience

• When you are on http://admin.webex.com, and you are in the customer view, go to Devices, and pick out the device or devices you want to configure from the list.
• Set the following configurations under All Configurations by selecting All Configurations:

• It is possible to join a Webex meeting using the following protocol: Webex

The Cisco Unified CM ad-hoc conferencing and MultiSite features should be disabled if the device is running an earlier version of the software than RoomOS 10.9.1.1.

As soon as the device goes into standby or reboots, the configurations are applied to the device. By using the xCommand SystemUnit Boot command, you will be able to reboot a device.

Change linked devices to personal mode

With the Webex Edge for Devices Personal mode, you can assign Webex devices (Webex Room, Desk, and Board series devices), which are registered on Unified CM with a particular user through the Control Hub, to be used with their account.

As a result, the user is able to reap a number of benefits, including:

• The personal meetings of a user are displayed in an approximation of. Within five minutes of the meeting, users will be able to tap the start or join buttons, or they can ask the Webex Assistant for Devices to start the meeting for them.

• From your device, you can start a meeting in the Webex Personal room.

• The whiteboarding and sharing of ideas in a Webex space is only available for Webex Desks, Desk Pros, Desk Minis, and Webex Boards.

There is a shared line assigned to each end user account in Unified Cloud Manager where all the devices registered with Personal mode for Webex Edge for Devices are registered.

A device that has been assigned to an end user through Control Hub will effectively be personalized and assigned to that end user if Personal mode is set up as part of Webex Edge for Devices

As a result of this personalization process, you will be able to:

• It is required to use Webex APIs for the implementation of this feature

• An end user should be assigned the Webex device

• Put the Webex device in the Personal mode after moving it from the Workspace mode. This will automatically hide the existing Workspace that was set up as part of the linking process and will no longer be accessible to you!

In Control Hub, devices that are in Personal mode do not have a visible workspace when they are in Personal mode. Management > Users > [select user from list] > Devices is now the place from which the software channel for the device can be managed: Management > Users > [select user from list] > Devices. The Software Upgrade Channel selection can be found under the Room and Desk Device Settings. Stable (the default setting) and Preview are the two options that you can choose from.

Before you begin

• Control Hub must be configured in order to allow it to manage configurations of the devices that are registered on it. As a default, this setting is set to Off. This feature can be turned on by following the steps below:

  • Ensure that you are logged in as the administrator of Control Hub and go to Devices > Settings in the Management menu.

  • Make sure that the Allow Control Hub to manage configurations for Webex Edge for Devices section is turned on by scrolling down the page.

• Go to the customer view on https://admin.webex.com and select Devices, then select the device that you would like to configure from the Devices list.
• Set the following settings in the All Configurations section:

• You can change the mode of Webex by going to Webex > CloudUpgrades. By default, the setting is set to Off. In the drop-down menu, click the On option and then click the Save button.

• There is a mode option for Webex under CloudProximity. It is set to Off by default. You can change the status from On to Off using the drop-down menu.

• JoinProtocol can be found under the Meetings tab in Webex. By default, the following default() will be displayed as the default. As soon as this is displayed, the joining protocol is set to SIP by default. Then you will need to select Webex from the drop-down menu and then you will need to click Save and Close. There is no requirement for this configuration, but it is strongly recommended that it be set up.

You must disable the proactive meeting join notification for the device that supports Webex Assistant for Devices (RoomOS 10 devices). Webex registered Personal mode devices do not have access to this feature as well.

The Webex Assistant for Devices is enabled by default within Control Hub if the Webex Assistant for Devices feature has been turned on within the UserInterface > Assistant > ProactiveMeetingJoin configuration option. When the drop-down menu appears, select False from the list and then click Save and Close.

With xAPI, it’s also possible to perform the above actions in a similar way

xConfiguration Webex CloudUpgrades Mode: On

xConfiguration Webex CloudProximity Mode: ON

xConfiguration Webex Meeting JoinProtocol: Webex

xConfiguration UserInterface Assistant ProactiveMeetingJoin: False

Both of the above options have been set up to take advantage of Webex Optimized Meetings. There is no need to do this step, however it is recommended. The Webex Optimized Experience section of this document will provide you with more details about this.

• Due to the fact that the device software is now managed by Control Hub, the target device at this point may prompt for a software update. Ensure that the upgrade of the software is completed.
• Click on Login on the developer.webex.com website and enter your credentials. If you are an administrator of Control Hub, please log in with your administrator credentials. Once you’re logged in, you’ll want to go to the Documentation tab, then go to Full API Reference, and then Workspaces.
• The device that you wish to move to Personal mode can be located under Workspaces and clicked on the GET command List Workspaces to obtain the Workspace ID assigned to it by the Workspace.

In order to be able to personalize a device, you will need to obtain the workspaceID. A list of Query Parameters is displayed in List Workspaces, which can be used to search for workspaces. There is usually a query parameter called displayName that can be used to achieve this. In the displayName field of the workspace window, you will have to type the name of the workspace as it appears on the device, scroll to the bottom, and click the Run button.

Upon successful completion of the request, you should see a 200/OK response at the bottom of the screen, with information such as the ID, the display name, and the org ID displayed. Copy and paste the data between the “..” next to the “id” into a clipboard in between the “… “. Make sure not to copy the data associated with the “orgId”.

• Select Workspace Personalization from the Workspace menu. The Workspace is associated with and personalized by the user through this POST API.

In the dialogue box which appears, simply click on the drop-down arrow to change the text in the field to the “id” you gathered in the previous step. In the next step of the process, you will be required to enter the email address that has been previously used in Control Hub in order to link the device to the user. Run the program by clicking on the Run button.

You should see a response of 202/Accepted in your browser.

• With the Webex device now in Personal mode, the name of the user will be shown instead of the name of the workspace on the device.

If a device needs to be rebooted, you can either do so from its user interface, through Control Hub, or via its local web interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Webex work with Microsoft Edge?

With Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (77.0.235.20 and later), you can stream audio using your computer. You can connect your phone to audio through all supported browsers. When you join a meeting for the first time, you can set audio and video connection types.

What is Webex edge?

In Webex Edge for Devices, your devices can be registered on-premises while you get access to features only available in the cloud. The Webex Control Hub also gives you access to the device monitoring and administration tools that are available to you. With Webex Edge for Devices, you can connect your on-premises devices to Cisco Webex’s cloud service so you can extend the reach of your webex service.

How do I add Webex to edge?

It is important to know that you need to use Edge as a tool to communicate with customers via the WebEx extension. Click on the Cisco Webex Extension link under the Edge Add-ons section. Then, click Get and Add Extension. Wait a moment for the Audio/Video preview window to load. Use the computer audio option in the audio/video preview window, then select “Test Speaker.

What is Webex edge audio?

Various deployment options are available for Cisco Webex Edge Audio. Webex Edge Connect, also known as Webex Edge Audio, is a solution that allows you to make outbound calls from within your company network, over the Internet, and into the Webex cloud by routing them through your company network. Additionally, calls initiated during a meeting from Webex will leverage any audio routing that you have set up on-premises.

How do I connect my device to Webex?

In the Devices section of your profile, tap on your profile picture, and then click on the Manual Connection Option. Select Connect to a Device from the Spaces list to be taken to a list of nearby devices in which you can select the device you wish to use from the list that appears.

All images and contents credit goes to help.webex.com