Implementing Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (CLCOR)

Course Overview

• This comprehensive course, “Implementing Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (CLCOR)”, serves as the cornerstone for professionals aiming to master Cisco’s unified communications solutions. It meticulously covers the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to implement, operate, and troubleshoot core collaboration infrastructure. Students will delve into the intricacies of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), exploring its architecture, call processing capabilities, and advanced features. The curriculum extensively details the deployment and configuration of voice gateways, Session Border Controllers (CUBE), and various endpoints, ensuring a robust understanding of voice and video communication paths. Furthermore, the course emphasizes Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms essential for real-time media, security protocols to protect collaboration environments, and high availability strategies to ensure continuous service. Designed to directly prepare candidates for the Cisco 350-801 CLCOR exam, this training provides a deep dive into the technologies that underpin modern enterprise collaboration, empowering learners to build and maintain sophisticated Cisco collaboration networks.

Requirements / Prerequisites

• Foundational Networking Knowledge: A solid understanding of basic networking concepts, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, subnetting, and VLANs.
• Voice and Video Communication Principles: Familiarity with the fundamentals of voice and video communications, codecs, and media streams.
• Cisco IOS CLI Exposure: Basic experience navigating and configuring Cisco IOS devices via the command-line interface.
• Virtualization Comfort: An understanding of virtualized environments, such as VMware ESXi or VirtualBox, as lab setups often utilize virtual machines.
• Conceptual Understanding of IP Telephony: While not strictly mandatory, prior exposure to IP telephony concepts or any Unified Communications Manager (e.g., Cisco CUCM or Avaya Aura) is beneficial for quicker assimilation.

Skills Covered / Tools Used

• Skills Covered:
  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) Configuration: Mastering the setup of CUCM for call routing, dial plans, codec negotiation, class of control, and device pools.
  • Endpoint Management: Provisioning and managing various Cisco IP Phones (SIP and SCCP), soft clients like Cisco Jabber, and video endpoints.
  • Voice Gateway Implementation: Configuring Cisco IOS gateways for MGCP, H.323, and SIP protocols, including understanding and deploying Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) for secure external connectivity.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) Application: Designing and implementing QoS policies to prioritize voice and video traffic across the network for optimal performance.
  • Media Resource Configuration: Setting up and managing media resources such as conference bridges, transcoders, and Music On Hold (MOH) servers.
  • Mobile Remote Access (MRA): Implementing and troubleshooting Mobile Remote Access via Cisco Expressway-C and Expressway-E for secure off-premises collaboration.
  • High Availability and Redundancy: Configuring CUCM clusters for redundancy, database replication, and Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for branch office resilience.
  • LDAP Integration: Synchronizing user directories with CUCM using LDAP integration for streamlined user management.
  • Collaboration Security: Implementing secure signaling and media using various security features available in Cisco collaboration products.
  • Troubleshooting Methodologies: Developing systematic approaches to diagnose and resolve common issues in Cisco collaboration environments, including analyzing call traces and logs.
• Tools Used:
  • Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM): Administration, OS Administration, and Disaster Recovery System interfaces.
  • Cisco IOS Routers/Gateways: Command-line interface for configuring voice gateways and CUBE.
  • Cisco Expressway-C and Expressway-E: Web-based administration interfaces for MRA and B2B calling.
  • Cisco IP Phones: Various models of Cisco IP Phones (e.g., 7800/8800 series) and Cisco Jabber soft clients.
  • Cisco Unified CM IM and Presence Service: For instant messaging and presence functionality.
  • Wireshark: For packet capture and analysis during troubleshooting.
  • Virtualization Platforms: VMware ESXi, VirtualBox, or similar for deploying lab environments.
  • Network Emulators/Simulators: Cisco Modeling Labs (CML), EVE-NG, or GNS3 for hands-on practice.

Benefits / Outcomes

• CCNP Collaboration Certification Path: Successfully complete a crucial step towards achieving the coveted Cisco CCNP Collaboration certification by passing the CLCOR 350-801 exam.
• Expertise in Core UC Solutions: Gain deep, actionable knowledge in implementing and managing the core components of Cisco’s Unified Communications architecture.
• Enhanced Career Opportunities: Elevate your career prospects as a skilled Collaboration Engineer, Voice Engineer, or UC Administrator, roles highly sought after in diverse industries.
• Real-World Problem-Solving: Develop practical troubleshooting skills to efficiently diagnose and resolve complex issues within Cisco collaboration ecosystems.
• Network Optimization for Real-Time Media: Learn to design and implement networks optimized for high-quality voice and video, ensuring superior user experience.
• Confidence in Deployment: Acquire the confidence to independently deploy and configure enterprise-grade Cisco collaboration solutions from the ground up.
• Understanding of Industry Protocols: Solidify your understanding of key protocols like SIP, H.323, and MGCP in the context of Cisco’s collaboration offerings.
• Stay Current with Technology: Leverage an updated curriculum that reflects the latest advancements and best practices in Cisco Collaboration technologies.

PROS

• Comprehensive Coverage: Offers an in-depth exploration of all essential core Cisco Collaboration technologies.
• Certification Alignment: Directly prepares for the industry-recognized Cisco 350-801 CLCOR exam.
• High Demand Skills: Teaches highly valuable and in-demand skills for the modern IT infrastructure.
• Practical Focus: Emphasizes hands-on configuration and troubleshooting, bridging theory with real-world application.
• Career Advancement: Opens doors to specialized roles and career growth within the unified communications domain.
• Robust Foundation: Provides an excellent foundation for pursuing advanced Cisco Collaboration certifications like CCIE Collaboration.
• Confidence Building: The included high-quality practice exams are instrumental in identifying weak areas and boosting confidence for the actual test.
• Up-to-Date Content: The October 2025 update mentioned suggests the course content is current and relevant.

CONS

• Resource Intensive: Requires significant time commitment and potentially access to substantial lab resources for effective hands-on practice.