Cisco Emergency Responder setup
Cisco Emergency Responder
Verified 2026-09-24 · 87 sources · tier 1–2
For Unified CM administrators at a US site who are adding Emergency Responder to an existing Unified CM cluster.
Cisco Emergency Responder directs emergency calls from Cisco Unified Communications Manager to the public safety answering point (PSAP) serving the caller's location 63. It tracks endpoints across emergency response locations (ERLs) and maps emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) to allow PSAP callbacks 6465.
Before you start
- Cisco states that Cisco Unified Communications Manager must be installed before installing Emergency Responder 25.
- Unified CM must be running Unified CM 15, Unified CM 14 and its SUs, or Unified CM 12.5(x) to be compatible with Emergency Responder 15SU4 66.
- Prepare a virtual machine running on VMware vSphere ESXi, Cisco NFVIS-for-UC, or Nutanix AHV 67.
- Ensure Publisher and Subscriber hostnames contain no underscore 21.
- If DNS is used, register every server running Emergency Responder in DNS prior to installation 12.
- Obtain an external NTP server IP address for the Publisher installation 39.
- Note that a single Emergency Responder group supports a given Unified CM cluster, though one Emergency Responder group can support multiple clusters 68.
- Consult your service provider and local government regarding local E911 requirements, including local limits on ERL area (such as no larger than 7000 square feet) 31.
What changes by situation
Pick your answers to see only your path. Nothing is sent anywhere until you make a plan.
Three questions. One permanent page you can send to your manager.
Step 1 Install the Publisher and Subscriber
Do
- Deploy the Publisher and Subscriber using attended installation, touchless installation, or fresh installation with data import 69.
- Complete the installation and reboot of the Publisher before beginning the Subscriber installation 70.
- In the Publisher interface, navigate to System > Add Subscriber to enter the Subscriber hostname before installing the Subscriber 1.
- During the Subscriber installation, supply the Publisher hostname, IP address, and security password 1.
- Install the identical Emergency Responder version on both the Publisher and Subscriber 71.
Verify
- Open the Subscriber administration page in a supported browser (such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox on 64-bit Windows 11, or Chrome, Firefox, or Safari on macOS 15.5) and verify the message indicating that the Primary Cisco Emergency Responder is active 4351.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete the virtual machine instances and reinstall the nodes.
Step 2 Register licensing
Do
- Calculate the required licenses by counting every endpoint capable of making an emergency call, including IP phones, analog phones, video endpoints, and clients; each requires 1 Emergency Responder User License 30.
- In Cisco ER Administration, navigate to System > License Manager to obtain a product instance registration token, configure transport settings, and register the system with Cisco Smart Software Manager 29.
- On Release 15SU2 and later, use Smart Transport (direct connection by default, or via an HTTP/HTTPS proxy or on-premises satellite) rather than Call Home, which is deprecated 48.
- On secure networks, configure Specific License Reservation instead 47.
Verify
- Verify under System > License Manager that the product registers before the 90-day evaluation period expires, as expiration stops the Phone Tracking Engine until registration is completed 1718.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Deregister the license token from the licensing management page.
Step 3 Build Unified CM partitions and calling search spaces
Do
- In Unified CM, configure a Phones partition and a PhoneCSS calling search space containing the Phones partition, and assign them to endpoints 42.
- Configure an E911 partition and an E911CSS calling search space containing both the E911 partition and the Phones partition 72.
- Order the partitions within E911CSS so that the E911 partition is listed above the Phones partition 13.
Verify
- In E911CSS, the E911 partition must be listed before the Phones partition 13.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove the calling search spaces and partitions from the call processing system and reassign phones to their original settings.
Step 4 Create CTI route points, CTI ports, and the Unified CM group
Do
- Create the primary emergency CTI route point RP911 in the Phones partition, using calling search space E911CSS and directory number 911, with Forward Busy set to 912 44.
- Create the standby CTI route point with directory number 912 in partition E911, using calling search space E911CSS, and set Forward Busy to the route pattern for the default ERL or onsite security 45.
- Create the ELIN callback CTI route point RPELIN913 with directory number 913XXXXXXXXXX in partition E911, using calling search space E911CSS 46.
- Ensure the 911, 912, and 913 route points are unique 46.
- Create CTI ports with consecutive extensions starting from the first port's DN, placed in a device pool configured for a G.711 region, using PhoneCSS and the Phones partition 1073.
- Assign the Emergency Responder device pool to a Unified CM Group whose primary server matches the primary CTI Manager configured in Emergency Responder 8.
Verify
- Confirm in Unified CM Administration that the CTI route points have unique directory numbers and that the CTI port extensions are sequential without numbering gaps 4610.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete the CTI ports, the group assignment, and the CTI route points.
Step 5 Route dialed emergency digits to the route point
Yes, users dial 9 for an outside line
Do
- In Unified CM, create translation patterns 911 and 9.911 in the Phones partition using calling search space E911CSS, and select Provide Outside Dial Tone on both 32.
- Configure pattern 9.911 to discard PreDot digits 32.
- Place the 911, 912, and 913 route points in the E911 partition 32.
- WarmTransfer's reading of the sources is that the 9.911 pattern has to be added alongside a working bare 911 because federal MLTS regulations forbid requiring an access prefix or extra digit to reach 911 522.
Verify
- Cisco recommends translation patterns that send 9 plus 911 to the single 911 pattern to avoid interfering with secondary dial-tone timing 74.
- Suggested check: Dial the emergency digits from a test phone to verify calls reach the emergency route point without secondary dial-tone delay.
Rollback
No, users dial external numbers without an access code
Do
- Assign the 911 CTI route point to the Phones partition using calling search space E911CSS 44.
- Ensure users can initiate a call to 911 directly without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or suffix 5.
Verify
- Suggested check: Dial the emergency number from an endpoint using the phone calling search space and verify the call reaches the emergency route point directly.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove the partition assignment from the emergency CTI route point or delete the route point.
Step 6 Configure emergency call routing and PSAP callback paths
Through our own gateway with ELINs from the local carrier
Do
- Acquire ELIN DID numbers from the service provider, assigning multiple ELINs to busy ERLs to prevent ELIN reuse where calls outnumber available numbers 7514.
- In Unified CM, configure a route pattern for each ERL (such as 10.911) in the E911 partition, set PreDot discard, select Use Calling Party's External Phone Number Mask, and point the pattern to the PSAP gateway 16.
- For PSAP callbacks, create a translation pattern matching the ELIN DIDs (such as 5555551XXX) in partition E911 with calling search space E911CSS and prefix digits that send the call to the PSAP callback route point 15.
- Assign calling search space E911CSS to the CAMA or PRI gateway connecting to the PSTN 19.
- On the trunk configuration (Device > Trunk Configuration), set Calling Party Selection to Originator 55.
Verify
- Suggested check: Perform a dialed number analysis from the gateway's calling search space and confirm that incoming ELIN digits translate to the callback route point.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove the ERL route patterns and the ELIN translation pattern, and restore the original calling search space on the gateway.
Through a National E911 Service Provider (RedSky or Intrado)
Do
- In Unified CM, configure route patterns that direct emergency calls to the national provider route lists and route groups 76.
- Use route lists and route groups to supply path redundancy rather than creating duplicate provider route patterns 76.
- Note that Emergency Responder transmits ERL and ELIN information to the provider for on-premises phones 77.
Verify
- Suggested check: Test the dial plan configuration in Unified CM to confirm the provider route pattern resolves to the appropriate provider route list.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete the provider route patterns, route lists, and route groups from Unified CM.
Step 7 Create the Emergency Responder application user and start SNMP
Do
- In Unified CM under User Management > Application User, create an application user for Emergency Responder 3.
- Add all Emergency Responder CTI ports and the 911, 912, and ELIN route points to the application user's Controlled Devices list 378.
- Assign the application user to the Standard CTI Enabled and Standard CTI Allow Calling Number Modification user groups 3.
- In Cisco Unified Serviceability under Tools > Control Center - Feature Services, activate and start the Cisco CallManager SNMP Service 49.
Verify
- Check the application user in Unified CM to verify every CTI port and route point appears under Controlled Devices, and verify in Control Center that Cisco CallManager SNMP Service shows an active status 349.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove device associations and permissions from the application user and stop the SNMP service if it is not required by other applications.
Step 8 Configure Emergency Responder server group and telephony settings
Do
- In Cisco ER Administration, configure the server group name, the SMTP mail server, the source email account used for alert delivery, and an optional Syslog server 20.
- Under System > Telephony Settings, enter the route points for the primary and standby Emergency Responder servers, the PSAP Callback Route Point Pattern, the ELIN Digit Strip Pattern, and the first UDP port 53.
- Check the Calling Party Modification flag in Emergency Responder; it must be set if Calling Party Modification was enabled when Emergency Responder was created as a Unified CM user 4.
Verify
- In Cisco ER Administration, the ELIN Digit Strip Pattern represents the digits stripped from the callback route point to reveal the ELIN 53.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Clear the telephony route point values and disable the Calling Party Modification setting in server group settings.
Step 9 Register the Unified CM cluster in Emergency Responder
Do
- In Cisco ER Administration under Phone Tracking > Cisco Unified Communications Manager Details, configure the Unified CM server address, CTI Manager credentials, application user credentials, up to 2 backup CTI Managers, the telephony port begin address, the port count, and the AXL username and password 58.
- Define exactly 1 Unified CM server entry for the cluster 40.
- Check the SNMP Settings check box on this page only if SNMPv3 is enabled on Unified CM 59.
Verify
- Check Unified CM Administration and verify that the CTI route points and CTI ports register successfully 62.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete the cluster definition under the communications manager details page to trigger device unregistration.
Step 10 Configure onsite security alerts
Do
- In Cisco ER Administration under ERL > Onsite Alert Settings, add onsite security personnel with a unique ID, name, phone number, and email address 41.
- Note that Emergency Responder provides notifications by phone call, web alert, email, and text 79.
- Federal rules mandate MLTS notification to a location where someone is likely to see or hear it, initiated contemporaneously without delaying the emergency call, but only where the system can be configured to do so without an improvement to its hardware or software 780.
Verify
- Verify that configured security personnel appear in the Onsite Alert list and that their contact telephone numbers match dialable destinations reachable through PhoneCSS 4110.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove configured security personnel entries from Onsite Alert Settings.
Step 11 Create ERLs and provide location data
Through our own gateway with ELINs from the local carrier
Do
- Navigate to ERL > Conventional ERL and click Add New ERL 9.
- Assign route pattern and ELIN pairs and select onsite alert contacts for each ERL 9.
- Enter ALI details for each ERL by clicking Add ALI 9.
- Configure the default ERL, ensuring it is not assigned to switch ports, unlocated phones, manually configured phones, or IP subnets 11.
- Export ALI data in NENA format and deliver the file to your service provider to update the Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) 812.
Verify
- Confirm that every conventional ERL has associated ALI data and ELIN pairings, and obtain confirmation from the carrier that exported NENA records are loaded into the MSAG 92.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove configured conventional ERLs and request that the provider remove submitted ALI records.
Through a National E911 Service Provider (RedSky or Intrado)
Do
- Obtain account credentials and a provider certificate in BCFKS format from the provider (RedSky or Intrado) 348283.
- In Cisco ER Administration under System > National E911 Service Provider VUI Settings, upload the BCFKS certificate, supply the certificate password and VUI URL, click Test and Validate, enter the account details, and click Test Connectivity 38.
- Under System > Telephony Settings, configure the provider route or translation patterns before creating provider ERLs 35.
- Under ERL > National E911 Service Provider ERL, add ERLs with ALI details, keeping the ALI Location string under 20 characters 33.
- Do not assign the default ERL to switch ports, subnets, or unlocated devices 11.
- Submit ALI data through the provider VUI as a TN Update, and configure the ALI Update and Secondary Status Update schedules under National E911 Service Provider Schedule 3736.
- Note that RedSky does not support provider queries or level of service 84.
Verify
- Verify that Test Connectivity in the VUI settings returns a 200 OK response, and confirm that the TN Update was received before attempting test calls 3837.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Disable provider update schedules, delete provider ERLs, and clear provider route patterns in Telephony Settings.
Step 12 Assign phones to ERLs
By the switch port the phone is plugged into (SNMP to access switches)
Do
- Under Phone Tracking > SNMP Settings, configure switch SNMP credentials (enter the read community string for SNMPv2) 50.
- Under Phone Tracking > LAN Switch Details, add the access switches, define the switch-port and phone tracking schedule, and execute a manual update 28.
- Assign discovered switch ports to their respective ERLs under ERL Membership > Switch Ports 52.
Verify
- Verify that phones connected to configured switches are discovered and appear under the correct ERL 62.
- Open Identify Unlocated Phones and confirm that all connected phones are mapped 60.
- If discovery fails, check the SNMP settings on Emergency Responder, switch SNMP configurations, and switch definitions 57.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Remove switch-port mappings from ERL Membership and delete switch IP entries from LAN Switch Details.
By the phone's IP subnet
Do
- Under ERL Membership > IP subnets, click Add New Subnet, enter the subnet IP address and subnet mask, and choose the target ERL 27.
- Do not assign the default ERL to any IP subnet 11.
Verify
- Open Identify Unlocated Phones and confirm that endpoints in the assigned subnets resolve to their ERL 60.
- Verify that no subnet is assigned to the default ERL 11.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete configured subnet definitions under ERL Membership > IP subnets.
Step 13 Test emergency call routing and PSAP callback
Do
- Place a test emergency call from a phone associated with an ERL 62.
- Place a callback from an outside line to the ELIN presented during the test call 62.
Verify
- Suggested check: Contact the PSAP or routing provider in advance to schedule testing.
- Confirm that the emergency call reaches the expected PSAP or test center with the correct ELIN and ALI information 62.
- Confirm that dialing the ELIN rings back to the endpoint that originated the test call 62.
- Verify that onsite alert security personnel receive the test notification 79.
- If the ELIN does not display at the PSAP, confirm under System > Cisco ER Group Settings that Calling Party Modification is enabled 56.
Rollback
- Suggested rollback: Delete test configurations upon completing validation.
Applicability
Applies to: Cisco Emergency Responder, Cisco Unified Communications Manager, multi-line telephone systems, Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance, and Federal Communications Commission multi-line telephone systems. Deployments: on-premises, multi-tenant, and dedicated instance. Sources checked 2026-09-24. Emergency Responder 15SU4 compatibility covers Unified CM 15, Unified CM 14 and its SUs, and Unified CM 12.5(x) 66. Release 15SU4 adds support for Cisco NFVIS-for-UC 4.18.2a, Nutanix Acropolis 10.0 / AOS 7.0, and VMware ESXi 8.0, while ESXi 7.0 and earlier have reached end of support 85. National E911 Service Provider integrations using BCFKS certificates apply to Release 14SU2 and later 82. In Webex Calling Dedicated Instance, Cisco Emergency Responder is available only in the Americas region 86.
What remains uncertain
The capacity limits of an Emergency Responder server group are not published in the administration guide and must be obtained from current release notes 87. WarmTransfer's reading of the sources is that whether a given alert setup satisfies the notification requirement depends on where alerts are seen, which Cisco's guide does not assess 23. Specific uninstall steps for a decommissioned node and procedures for deregistering Smart Licensing tokens without reinstalling are not covered by the sources below. PSAP operational coordination requirements prior to live test calls are not covered by the sources below.
See also
Applies
- Cisco Emergency Responder — Guide topic that walks through installing and configuring Emergency Responder with Unified CM; the reference topic cucm-emergency-responder holds the concepts (ERL; ELIN; tracking precedence; redundant pair) this guide cites.
Sources
- 1Before installing the Subscriber, the Subscriber's hostname is added on the Publisher under System > Add Subscriber, and the Subscriber install asks for the Publisher hostname, IP address and security password.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > Subscriber installation · Checked 2026-09-24
- 2In a conventional deployment the administrator exports ALI definitions from Emergency Responder and sends them to the service provider, who ensures the MSAG is updated.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > E911 and Emergency Responder overview (ALI) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 3The Emergency Responder application user in Unified CM (User Management > Application User) controls all CTI ports and the 911, 912 and ELIN route points, and belongs to the Standard CTI Enabled and Standard CTI Allow Calling Number Modification groups.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create Emergency Responder Cisco Unified Communications Manager User · Checked 2026-09-24
- 4The Calling Party Modification flag in Emergency Responder must be set if Calling Party Modification was enabled when Emergency Responder was created as a Unified CM user.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > group / telephony settings field descriptions · Checked 2026-09-24
- 547 CFR 9.16(b)(1) requires that an MLTS user be able to call 911 directly without dialing any extra digit, code, prefix or suffix.47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication) · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(1) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 647 CFR 9.16(b)(3) required automated dispatchable location for on-premises fixed telephones by 2021-01-06 and for on-premises non-fixed and off-premises devices by 2022-01-06.47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication) · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(3) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 747 CFR 9.16(b)(2) requires MLTS notification of a 911 call to a central location or other person, sent at the same time as the call where feasible, without delaying the call, and to a place where someone is likely to see or hear it.47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication) · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(2) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 8The primary Unified CM in the Unified CM Group assigned to the Emergency Responder device pool must also be the primary CTI Manager configured in Emergency Responder.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create Cisco Unified Communications Manager Group for Emergency Responder · Checked 2026-09-24
- 9Conventional ERLs are created under ERL > Conventional ERL with Add New ERL, and the ERL's ALI data is entered through the Add ALI button.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Set Up Individual ERL and Automatic Location Information (ALI) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 10Emergency Responder CTI ports must use a device pool in a G.711 region, use PhoneCSS and the Phones partition in Cisco's example, and have consecutive extension numbers starting from the first port's DN.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create required CTI ports · Checked 2026-09-24
- 11Emergency Responder does not automatically put new switch ports or unlocated phones in the default ERL; the default ERL must not be assigned to switch ports, unlocated phones, manually configured phones or IP subnets, and it cannot be deleted.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > default ERL notes · Checked 2026-09-24
- 12If DNS is used, every server that will run Emergency Responder must be properly registered in DNS before installation.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > pre-installation requirements · Checked 2026-09-24
- 13In the E911CSS calling search space the E911 partition must be listed before the Phones partition, so that a 911 call matches the Emergency Responder route point.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Set Up Cisco Unified Communications Manager for Emergency Responder > Create Emergency Responder calling search space · Checked 2026-09-24
- 14Emergency Responder reuses an ERL's ELINs when calls outnumber them: with two ELINs and three emergency calls in three hours, the first ELIN is used twice, so a PSAP callback can reach the wrong caller.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > ELINs / PSAP callback · Checked 2026-09-24
- 15For PSAP callbacks, a translation pattern matching the ELIN DIDs (for example 5555551XXX) is created in the E911 partition with E911CSS and prefix digits that send the call to the PSAP callback route point.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > ELIN Numbers Emergency Calls and PSAP Callbacks > translation patterns for ELINs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 16Each ERL route pattern is a prefix, a dot and the emergency number (for example 10.911) in the E911 partition, discarding PreDot digits, with Use Calling Party's External Phone Number Mask selected and the gateway to the local PSAP chosen.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > ELIN Numbers Emergency Calls and PSAP Callbacks > route patterns for ERLs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 17After installation, Emergency Responder runs in a 90-day Smart Licensing evaluation period with all features available.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Smart Software Licensing · Checked 2026-09-24
- 18When the evaluation period expires, the Emergency Responder Phone Tracking Engine stops until the product registers with Cisco Smart Software Manager or a Smart Software Manager satellite.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Smart Software Licensing · Checked 2026-09-24
- 19The gateway that connects to the emergency network or PSTN over CAMA or PRI is assigned the E911CSS calling search space so PSAP callbacks can reach the ELIN translation patterns.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Set Up Calling Search Space for Gateway and PSAP Connection · Checked 2026-09-24
- 20The Emergency Responder server group settings hold the group name, the SMTP mail server and source account used for email alerts, and an optional Syslog server.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Set Up a Server Group · Checked 2026-09-24
- 21The hostnames of the Emergency Responder Publisher and Subscriber must not contain an underscore.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > pre-installation requirements · Checked 2026-09-24
- 22Inference: at a US site that uses 9 as the outside code, the 9.911 pattern has to be added alongside a working bare 911, not instead of it, because 9.16(b)(1) forbids requiring a prefix; Cisco's example keeps both 911 and 9.911 translation patterns.inferred47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication) · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(1), read with Cisco CER 15 admin guide translation patterns for 9.911 · Checked 2026-09-24
- 23Inference: Emergency Responder onsite alerts (phone, web, email) are the built-in mechanism a CER deployment can use toward the 9.16(b)(2) notification requirement; whether a given alert setup satisfies the rule depends on where alerts are seen, which Cisco's guide does not assess.inferred47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication) · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(2), read with registry claim cucm-emergency-responder-onsite-alerts · Checked 2026-09-24
- 24Inference: the TAC integration note is written for 11.5, but its Unified CM object list (partitions, CSSs, 911/912/913 route points, CTI ports, route and translation patterns, CTI user, SNMP) matches the Release 15 guide's, so its verification checks are reasonable to reuse on 15; its menu labels should be checked against 15.inferredIntegrate Emergency Responder with CUCM · Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM > Configure and Verify, compared with CER 15 Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager chapter · Checked 2026-09-24
- 25Cisco's Release 15 installation chapter lists installing Cisco Unified Communications Manager as a step before installing Emergency Responder.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > installation sequence / prerequisites · Checked 2026-09-24
- 26Where several Emergency Responder groups exist, each gets an inter-group route pattern (for example 1000.911, PreDot discard, over the intercluster trunk) in Unified CM, and the same pattern must be defined in every other Emergency Responder group under System > Telephony Settings.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create Route Patterns for Inter-Cisco Emergency Responder Group Communications · Checked 2026-09-24
- 27IP subnet-based ERL membership is configured under ERL Membership > IP subnets by entering a subnet ID and mask and choosing the ERL.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Set Up IP Subnet-based ERLs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 28The switches that phones connect to are identified to Emergency Responder on the LAN Switch Details page, and a schedule is defined for the switch-port and phone update; the update can also be run manually.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Emergency Responder Switch Configuration; Manually Run the Switch-Port and Phone Update Process · Checked 2026-09-24
- 29Smart Licensing registration is done from Cisco ER Administration at System > License Manager, following the task flow: obtain a product instance registration token, configure transport settings, register with Cisco Smart Software Manager.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Smart Software Licensing task flow · Checked 2026-09-24
- 30Emergency Responder uses a single user license type, and every endpoint capable of making an emergency call (IP phones, analog phones, video endpoints and clients) needs one Emergency Responder User License.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Smart Software Licensing > license types · Checked 2026-09-24
- 31Cisco tells administrators to work with their service provider and local government to find the exact E911 requirements in their area, noting that localities may limit ERL size (its example is no larger than 7000 square feet).Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > understand E911 requirements · Checked 2026-09-24
- 32Where 9 is the outside access code, Cisco's example creates translation patterns 911 and 9.911 in the Phones partition with E911CSS and Provide Outside Dial Tone checked, 9.911 discarding PreDot, and places the 911, 912 and 913 route points in the E911 partition.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > translation patterns for 9.911; route points for 9.911 · Checked 2026-09-24
- 33On-premises National E911 Service Provider ERLs are added under ERL > National E911 Service Provider ERL with ALI details, and the ALI Location field must be under 20 characters.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > Create on-premises National E911 Service Provider ERLs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 34Before configuring a National E911 Service Provider, the administrator needs the account information and a certificate from the provider.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > Configure National E911 Service Provider VUI Settings (before you begin) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 35National E911 Service Provider route or translation patterns must be entered in Emergency Responder (System > Telephony Settings) before any National E911 Service Provider ERL can be added, and matching patterns are configured in Unified CM.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > Configure route patterns · Checked 2026-09-24
- 36ALI Update and Secondary Status Update schedules between Emergency Responder and the National E911 Service Provider are set under ERL > National E911 Service Provider ERL > National E911 Service Provider Schedule, with Enable Schedule checked.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > schedule ALI and Secondary Status updates · Checked 2026-09-24
- 37ALI data must be submitted to the National E911 Service Provider as a TN Update through the provider VUI before an emergency call can be routed successfully.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > Create on-premises National E911 Service Provider ERLs (note) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 38Under System > National E911 Service Provider VUI Settings the administrator uploads the provider certificate with its password and the VUI URL, clicks Test and Validate, enters the account information, and uses Test Connectivity, where a 200 OK result means Emergency Responder reached the provider's location update service securely.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > Configure National E911 Service Provider VUI Settings · Checked 2026-09-24
- 39Installing the Emergency Responder Publisher requires the IP address of an external NTP server.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > pre-installation requirements · Checked 2026-09-24
- 40Emergency Responder must not have more than one Unified CM server defined for the same Unified CM cluster.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Identify Cisco Unified Communications Manager Clusters (note) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 42Cisco's example Unified CM setup creates a Phones partition and a PhoneCSS calling search space containing it, and assigns both to the phones.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Set Up Phone Route Plans · Checked 2026-09-24
- 43The 15SU4 release notes list Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox on Windows 11 (64-bit), and Chrome, Firefox and Safari on macOS 15.5, as supported browsers.Cisco Emergency Responder Version 15SU4 Release Notes · Release Notes 15SU4 > supported browsers · Checked 2026-09-24
- 44The primary emergency CTI route point in Cisco's example is RP911 with directory number 911 in the Phones partition, calling search space E911CSS, and Forward Busy to 912.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create emergency call route points · Checked 2026-09-24
- 45The standby route point (912, E911 partition, E911CSS) forwards on busy to the route pattern for the default ERL or to onsite security, so calls still reach the default PSAP or security if the standby server cannot take them.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create emergency call route points; call-forwarding note · Checked 2026-09-24
- 46The ELIN route point (example RPELIN913, directory number 913XXXXXXXXXX, E911 partition, E911CSS) is the destination of all incoming PSAP callbacks, and the 911, 912 and 913 route points must be unique.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Create emergency call route points · Checked 2026-09-24
- 47Emergency Responder supports Specific License Reservation, which licenses the product instance without sending usage information, for secure networks.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Specific License Reservation · Checked 2026-09-24
- 48From Release 15SU2, Call Home is deprecated as a Smart Licensing transport and Smart Transport is the transport mode; direct connection is the default, with HTTP/HTTPS proxy and on-premises satellite as alternatives.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Smart Software Licensing > transport settings · Checked 2026-09-24
- 49Cisco's integration note has the Cisco CallManager SNMP Service activated and started on the Unified CM servers under Cisco Unified Serviceability > Tools > Control Center - Feature Services.Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM · Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM > Configure > Configure SNMP; Troubleshoot · Checked 2026-09-24
- 50For switch-port tracking, Emergency Responder talks to switches over SNMPv2 or SNMPv3; for SNMPv2 the administrator enters the switches' read community string under Phone Tracking > SNMP Settings.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Emergency Responder Switch Configuration > Set Up SNMPv2 / Set Up SNMPv3 · Checked 2026-09-24
- 51After Subscriber installation, its administration page showing the message that the Primary Cisco Emergency Responder is active indicates the Subscriber installed successfully.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > post-installation / verify Subscriber · Checked 2026-09-24
- 52Discovered switch ports are assigned to ERLs under ERL Membership > Switch Ports.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > switch port ERL assignment · Checked 2026-09-24
- 53Under System > Telephony Settings the administrator enters the route points for the primary and standby Emergency Responder servers, the PSAP Callback Route Point Pattern, the ELIN Digit Strip Pattern (digits stripped from the callback route point to reveal the ELIN) and the first UDP port.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Set Up Group Telephony Settings for Server · Checked 2026-09-24
- 54The Release 15 guide has a Set Up Test ERLs procedure for defining ERLs used for testing; it starts from ERL > Conventional ERL.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Set Up Test ERLs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 55Cisco's Unified CM chapter says the Calling Party Selection option on the trunk (Device > Trunk Configuration) should be set to Originator.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > special configuration notes (trunk calling party selection) · Checked 2026-09-24
- 56If the PSAP does not see the ELIN, Cisco's note says to confirm the Calling Party Modification value is enabled under System > Cisco ER Group Settings.Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM · Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM > Troubleshoot · Checked 2026-09-24
- 57If switch-port discovery fails, Cisco's note says to check the SNMP configuration on Emergency Responder, the SNMP configuration on the switches, and that the switches are configured in Emergency Responder.Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM · Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM > Troubleshoot · Checked 2026-09-24
- 58Unified CM clusters are identified in Emergency Responder under Phone Tracking > Cisco Unified Communications Manager Details, with the Unified CM server, CTI Manager and its user and password, up to two backup CTI Managers, the telephony port begin address, the number of telephony ports and the AXL username and password.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Identify Cisco Unified Communications Manager Clusters · Checked 2026-09-24
- 59The SNMP Settings check box on the Unified CM details page is selected only if Unified CM has SNMPv3 enabled.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Identify Cisco Unified Communications Manager Clusters · Checked 2026-09-24
- 60The Release 15 guide provides an Identify Unlocated Phones procedure for finding phones Emergency Responder could not place in an ERL.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder · Configure Cisco Emergency Responder > Identify Unlocated Phones · Checked 2026-09-24
- 61When both are upgraded, Emergency Responder must be upgraded before Unified CM, and the target Emergency Responder version must be compatible with the existing Unified CM version.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > upgrade · Checked 2026-09-24
- 62Cisco's integration note gives, as its verification, that the CTI route points and CTI ports register in Unified CM, that phones on configured switches are auto-discovered, and that a PSAP callback reaches the last phone that called the PSAP.Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM · Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM > Verify · Checked 2026-09-24
- 63Emergency Responder's purpose is to make Unified CM send each emergency call to the PSAP that serves the caller's location.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > overview · Checked 2026-09-24
- 64In Cisco Emergency Responder an emergency response location (ERL) defines the area in which an emergency call is made, and Emergency Responder assigns phone locations to ERLs.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > emergency response locations · Checked 2026-09-24
- 65An emergency location identification number (ELIN) is a phone number that routes the emergency call to the local PSAP and that the PSAP can use to call the emergency caller back.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > ELIN definition · Checked 2026-09-24
- 66Emergency Responder 15SU4 is compatible with Unified CM 15, Unified CM 14 and its SUs, and Unified CM 12.5(x).Cisco Emergency Responder Version 15SU4 Release Notes · Supported Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions · Checked 2026-09-24
- 67Emergency Responder 15 runs only as a virtual machine; supported platforms are VMware vSphere ESXi, Cisco NFVIS-for-UC and Nutanix AHV.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > virtualization · Checked 2026-09-24
- 68Only one Emergency Responder group can support a given Unified CM cluster, but one Emergency Responder group can support more than one Unified CM cluster.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Emergency Responder group capacity · Checked 2026-09-24
- 69The Release 15 guide documents three installation methods: attended installation, touchless installation, and fresh installation with data import.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > installation methods · Checked 2026-09-24
- 70The Emergency Responder Subscriber must be installed only after the Publisher installation, including its reboot, has completed.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > install Subscriber · Checked 2026-09-24
- 71The primary and standby Emergency Responder servers must run the same Emergency Responder version.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade · Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade > requirements · Checked 2026-09-24
- 72The example Unified CM configuration uses an E911 partition for Emergency Responder objects and an E911CSS calling search space that contains the E911 and Phones partitions.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > partitions and calling search spaces · Checked 2026-09-24
- 73Emergency Responder uses Unified CM CTI ports, configured with consecutive extensions, to call onsite alert (security) personnel when an emergency call is made.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > CTI ports · Checked 2026-09-24
- 74Where the external access code is 9, Cisco warns that a 911 or 9.911 CTI route point can interfere with secondary dial-tone timing, and recommends translation patterns that send 9 plus 911 to the single 911 pattern.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > 9.911 translation patterns · Checked 2026-09-24
- 75In the traditional ELIN deployment, one Unified CM route pattern is created for every ERL, and the ELINs are DID numbers obtained from the service provider.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > route patterns for ERLs · Checked 2026-09-24
- 76For National E911 Service Provider calls, connection redundancy comes from Unified CM route lists and route groups, so extra provider route patterns are not required.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > route patterns · Checked 2026-09-24
- 77With a National E911 Service Provider, Emergency Responder sends ERL and ELIN information for on-premises phones; for off-premises users the calling party number is the user's own number, which the provider uses to identify the caller and location.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > call completion · Checked 2026-09-24
- 78Emergency Responder must be added as a Unified CM application user that controls its CTI ports, CTI route points and ELIN route points.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager · Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager > Emergency Responder user · Checked 2026-09-24
- 79Emergency Responder can notify configured onsite security users about an emergency call, by phone call, web alert, email and text.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > onsite security users · Checked 2026-09-24
- 8047 CFR 9.16(b)(2) requires a multi-line telephone system to be configured to provide notification to a central location at the facility or to another person or organisation regardless of location, only where the system can be configured to do so without an improvement to its hardware or software, and imposes 3 conditions: the notification must be initiated contemporaneously with the 911 call where technically feasible, must not delay the call to 911, and must be sent to a location where someone is likely to see or hear it.47 CFR part 9 — 911 Requirements · 47 CFR 9.16(b)(2) · Checked 2026-09-16
- 81Emergency Responder exports ALI data files in NENA formats.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > ALI data · Checked 2026-09-24
- 82From Release 14SU2 onward, the provider-issued certificate that Emergency Responder uses for the National E911 Service Provider connection must be in BCFKS format.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > prerequisites · Checked 2026-09-24
- 83Emergency Responder integrates with two approved National E911 Service Providers, RedSky and Intrado, to automate location conveyance and call completion.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > overview · Checked 2026-09-24
- 84With RedSky as the National E911 Service Provider, Emergency Responder supports neither queries from the provider nor level of service.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider · Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider > limitations · Checked 2026-09-24
- 85Emergency Responder 15SU4 adds support for Cisco NFVIS-for-UC (minimum 4.18.2a), Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix (Acropolis 10.0 / AOS 7.0) and VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0; ESXi 7.0 and earlier have reached end of support.Cisco Emergency Responder Version 15SU4 Release Notes · New and Changed Features > New hypervisor support · Checked 2026-09-24
- 86In Webex Calling Dedicated Instance, Cisco Emergency Responder is offered for the Americas region only.Introduction to Dedicated Instance · Introduction to Dedicated Instance > list of Dedicated Instance applications · Checked 2026-09-24
- 87The Release 15 administration guide does not state the capacity of an Emergency Responder group itself; it sends readers to the current release notes.Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder · Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder > Emergency Responder group capacity · Checked 2026-09-24
Documents
47 CFR § 9.16 - General obligations for MLTS (Cornell LII republication)
47 CFR part 9 — 911 Requirements
Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Cisco Emergency Responder Installation and Upgrade
Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Emergency Responder
Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager
Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Configure Emergency Responder and National E911 Service Provider
Cisco Emergency Responder Administration Guide, Release 15 and SUs - Plan for Cisco Emergency Responder
Cisco Emergency Responder Version 15SU4 Release Notes
Integrate Emergency Responder with CUCM
Introduction to Dedicated Instance
Cite this page
APA
WarmTransfer. (2026, September 24). Cisco Emergency Responder setup. WarmTransfer. https://warmtransfer.net/guides/cisco-emergency-responder-setup
BibTeX
@misc{warmtransfer-cisco-emergency-responder-setup,
title = {Cisco Emergency Responder setup},
author = {{WarmTransfer}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://warmtransfer.net/guides/cisco-emergency-responder-setup},
note = {Verified 2026-09-24}
}