New Training: Cisco Collaboration Edge Devices

In this 7-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Lalo Nunez describes the different Edge devices in the Cisco Collaboration architecture. Watch this new Cisco training.

Learn Cisco with one of these courses:

• Cisco Collaboration Solutions and Architecture

This training includes:

• 7 videos

• 38 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Intro to Collaboration Edge Devices

• Cisco Video Communication Server (VCS)

• Cisco Expressway

• Cisco Expressway Call Flow

• Analog Voice Gateways

• Digital Voice Gateways

• Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE)

Why Should I Understand Cisco Video Communication Server?

The Cisco Video Communication Server is one of the many components that comprise a Cisco Telepresence environment. The VCS is a server and gateway that handles video communications for Telepresence systems, but as of December 2020 it's no longer being sold by Cisco. That places VCS as an EOL (end of life) product. So, why should you understand what VCS is and how it works?

Though VCS can be considered EOL, Cisco is still providing support for this product until the end of 2023. That means the VCS software will still receive security updates and fixes. Since VCS will be supported until 2023, that most likely means that businesses that currently utilize VCS will not quickly migrate to another video conferencing system.

Enterprise environments are slow to adopt new software. Phasing out current VCS deployments may take many years for a business to complete. That means these businesses still need support for this product.

Due to the TCO (total cost of ownership) of Telepresence systems, businesses will likely delay phasing out VCS if possible, as well. There is a good chance that many VCS deployments will still be utilized beyond 2023.

Though VCS may be nearing the end of its days, it will continue to survive for at minimum the next few years. Likewise, any Cisco certified technician needs to understand the foundations of past technologies to better understand what may come.