CUCM Dial Plan & Call Routing
CUCM's dial plan model (partitions, calling search spaces, route patterns) reads like abstract theory until you've actually placed a call through it. This lab gives you a real CUCM cluster with registered phones, so you build and test the dial plan against real call flows.
The problem
An internal extension dials another internal extension and gets reorder tone instead of ringing, even though both phones are registered and the destination's route pattern clearly exists.
What you'll practice
- Configure partitions and calling search spaces
- Build route patterns to control internal and external call routing
- Register endpoints and place calls across the dial plan
- Configure a SIP trunk between CUCM and an external gateway
- Diagnose a call that fails to route or reaches the wrong destination
The topology
A CUCM cluster registers two IP phone endpoints and a SIP trunk to an external gateway, enough of a real call-routing path to build and test partitions, CSS and route patterns against actual calls.
Topology diagram
Frequently asked
Do I need my own CUCM licensing or phone hardware?
No. The CUCM cluster is already licensed with software endpoints registered. You build the dial plan, not the cluster.
Is this relevant to CCNP Collaboration (CLCOR)?
Yes. Partitions, calling search spaces and route patterns are core CLCOR dial-plan topics, covered hands-on here.
Ready to run this lab yourself?
No setup, no image sourcing. Book a session or ask for a live demo.