How do I know what ports to put into Group 7 if I have a PMVS (Partner Mail VS) vs a PMR1-7 (Partner Messaging Release 1-7) Module?

The key to figuring this out is to remember that both the PMVS and the PMR1-7 are both equivalent to a 206 module in the aspect of counting extension ports. They are both worth 6 ports, activated or not. The major difference between them in how the ports are activated by their respective port license cards.

A couple of items of note:

1. Most PMVS modules have 2 ports active out of the box, no port license card required.

2. PMR1-7's REQUIRE a port license card in order to work in production. If there is no port license card in a PMR1-7 the system will report "Welcome to Partner Messaging. This unit is in test mode" only. It will not answer calls the way that I am sure you want it to! A PMR1-7 will report this if the port license card is not seated properly and/or if the card has gone bad as well.

So, on to determining what ports to add to Group 7 in your Partner System.

As an example, let's say that you have a 5 card carrier and in it you have an ACS, 2 206 Modules, and a 2-port Partner Voicemail Solution. That would look something like this:

206|206|ACS|PVM (2 port)

18 | 24 | 10 | 30 <-OK for PM
19 | 25 | 11 | 31 <-OK for PM
20 | 26 | 12 | 32
21 | 27 | 13 | 33
22 | 28 | 14 | 34 <-OK for PMVS
23 | 29 | 15 | 35 <-OK for PMVS
| 16
| 17

So what is comes down to is the Partner Voicemail Solution has extension ports 30-35 at its disposal.

But which ones go in Group 7???

That's easy!

Do you have a PMVS? If yes, count up from the bottom. For this example you'd put extensions 34 & 35 in Group 7.

Do you have a PMR1-7? If yes, count down from the top. For this example you'd put extensions 30 & 31 in Group 7.