Virtual CUBE

The Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) feature set has traditionally been delivered with hardware router platforms, such as the Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR) series. A subset of CUBE features (vCUBE) may be used in virtualized environments with the Cisco CSR 1000v Series Cloud Services Router or Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software (Catalyst 8000V).


Note

When upgrading to Catalyst 8000V software from a CSR1000V release, an existing throughput configuration will be reset to a maximum of 250 Mbps. Install an HSEC authorization code, which you can obtain from your Smart License account, before reconfiguring your required throughput level.

Feature Information for Virtual CUBE

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to https://cfnng.cisco.com/. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
Table 1. Feature Information for Virtual CUBE Support

Feature Name

Releases

Feature Information

Virtual CUBE in Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software (Catalyst 8000V)

Cisco IOS XE Bengaluru 17.4.1a

 Virtual CUBE introduced for Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software (Catalyst 8000V) in VMware ESXi and AWS environments.

vCUBE in Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Cisco IOS XE Gibraltar 16.12.4a

vCUBE offer introduced in AWS for Cisco CSR 1000v Series Cloud Services Router.

Virtual CUBE

Cisco IOS XE 3.15S

Virtual CUBE introduced for Cisco CSR 1000v Series Cloud Services Router in VMware ESXi environments.

Prerequisites for Virtual CUBE

Hardware


Note

  • The CSR1000V and Catalyst 8000V product may be used in several different public and private cloud environments. However, vCUBE is only supported when deployed on VMware ESXi and AWS platforms currently.

  • When you use a consolidated (.bin) image to upgrade a CSR 1000V medium configuration (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) to Catalyst 8000V, you must change the virtual machine vRAM allocation to at least 5 GB to ensure advertised performance. Alternatively and when deploying in AWS environments, boot the router using individual packages rather than a consolidated image without the need for additional memory. Refer to Installing Subpackages from a Consolidated Package for details.

Features Supported with Virtual CUBE

vCUBE supports most of the CUBE features available in IOS XE releases. vCUBE does not support the following:

  • DSP-based features

    • Codec Transcoding, Transrating

    • Raw Inband to RTP-NTE DTMF Interworking

    • Call progress Analysis (CPA)

    • Noise Reduction (NR), Acoustic Shock Protection (ASP), and Audio Gain

  • H.323 Interworking

  • IOS-based Hardware Media Termination Point (MTP)


Note

CUBE high availability is not currently supported on vCUBE when deployed in AWS.

Restrictions

  • Software MTP is not supported.

  • CSR1000V used as MTP/TRP for CUCM is not supported.


Note

All caveats, restrictions, and limitations of Cisco ASR IOS-XE 3.15 and later releases are applicable to virtual CUBE.

Information about Virtual CUBE

Media

vCUBE media performance depends on the underlying host platform consistently providing packet switching latency of less than 5 milliseconds. The recommended hardware and virtual machine configurations ensure this performance when followed closely.

For more information on how to monitor media performance, see Voice Quality Monitoring.

Virtual CUBE Licensing Requirements

For information about licensing of virtual CUBE with CSR1000V and C8000V, refer to CUBE Smart Licensing.

Virtual CUBE with CSR1000V

vCUBE is enabled for the CSR1000V with the APPX and AX platform licenses. vCUBE processes and CLI commands are enabled when either of these licenses are enabled. Secure call features require the AX license. In common with all CUBE instances, L-CUBE Smart License options are required for each active session.

The following table details the license requirements for Virtual CUBE on the CSR1000V.

Virtual CUBE Session License

Platform License

Features

Throughput License

L-CUBE Smart License options

APPX

No TLS / SRTP support

Session count * (signaling + bidirectional media bandwidth)

AX

All vCUBE features

For detailed information about licensing, see Cisco CSR 1000v Software Configuration Guide.

Virtual CUBE with Catalyst 8000V

vCUBE is enabled for the Catalyst 8000V with the DNA Network Essentials license.

Virtual CUBE Session License

DNA Subscription

Features

DNA Bandwidth License

L-CUBE Smart License options

Essentials or above

All vCUBE features

Session count * (signaling + bidirectional media bandwidth)/2

For detailed information on licensing, see Licensing.

Install Virtual CUBE on ESXi

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Use the CSR1000V or the Catalyst 8000V OVA application file (available from software.cisco.com) to deploy a new virtual instance directly in VMware ESXi.

DETAILED STEPS

Command or Action Purpose

Use the CSR1000V or the Catalyst 8000V OVA application file (available from software.cisco.com) to deploy a new virtual instance directly in VMware ESXi.

Note

 
Select the required instance size during the OVA deployment.

For further details on how to perform the deployment, see Cisco CSR 1000V Series Cloud Services Router Software Configuration Guide or Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software Installation And Configuration Guide.

How to Enable Virtual CUBE

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. Power on the virtual machine.
  2. Enable platform and throughput licenses and register to a Cisco licensing server.
  3. Enable virtual CUBE using the steps in Enabling the CUBE Application on a Device.

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

Power on the virtual machine.

Powers on the vCUBE.

Step 2

Enable platform and throughput licenses and register to a Cisco licensing server.

Enables platform and throughput licenses and registers that virtual CUBE to a licensing server.

Step 3

Enable virtual CUBE using the steps in Enabling the CUBE Application on a Device.

Enables vCUBE on a device.