308 Upgrade

[fonedude]

I have a partner ACS 308 version 1 in a 5 slot carrier. Why can't I add a 308 expansion board? When I power up the green light comes on for a second then goes off.

 

[pjolly]

Did you put the new 308 card in the number one slot, with the ACS processor in the number three (middle) slot?

 

[fonedude]

Yes, that's what I did. Do you need a certain software version?

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Yup, you need a release 2 to use a 308 instead of a 206. And you need a release 1.1 instead of a 1.0 to be able to flash upgrade the processor. Press FEATURE 59 at any display set to determine your release level.

 

[fonedude]

How is the flash upgrade of the processor accomplished? Do I use an upgrade PCMCIA card? Will it default the rest of the processor? Thanks in advance.

 

[salo0920]

Touch Tone,

Is there any way then to upgrade an ACS 1.0 processor?

 

[TouchToneTommy]

You back up, power down, insert the new upgrade/memory card, then power up. The LED will flash red/green for about 10 seconds, then the system will restart. The progrmming will be automatically converted and compatible with the new release. Back it up to the new card, and leave the new card in place. Throw the old card away, or save it for reprogramming if you are an Avaya Business Partner.

On a 1.0, you have to replace the whole ACS! Just got done with one where the salesman sold an R5 upgrade card and a PC Card VoiceMail, without checking on the release first. Found out it was an R1, couldn't upgrade, customer had to buy a new R5 ACS to get the V.M.

 

[drewmich]

Tommy,


I don't mean to be contrary ... but we have flash upgraded hundreds of ACS 308 R1.0 processors to R3.0 - R4.0 & R5.0 - successfully. Maybe the problem you have had centers around a defective ACS PCMCIA slot which does occur in some of the older ACS R1.0 processors - intermittently!

I just did one for an interconnect customer of mine in NY that I had sold a R5.0 Remote Access/Upgrade/Backup & Restore PC Card loaded with the one-time ACS R5.0 upgrade. I shipped it to him last week and he was planning on upgrading a customer's ACS R1.0 (verified the version thru FEATURE 59) and read this series of posts today and was very concerned and ended up calling me. I told him it would work and he called me after he flashed the ACS R1.0 to ACS R5.0 - It worked perfectly.

I have heard from other techs and dealers that this is the official position from Lucent over the years, but we have never had a problem flash upgrading the original 308 Processors with R1.0 software release. I think they just want to sell new ACS processors which happened to Tommy's customer.

The 308EC R1.0 line mods will cause the first 4 lines on your phone system to ring for 10 seconds or so when you install it with 308EC R3.0 line mods with a ACS R4.0 or R5.0 processor, but they work fine after the initial irrating line flash.

If someone knows differently as to why this upgrade doesn't work .... let me know as we haven't had any problems. We're always open to learn new tricks!

If anyone has any ACS R1.0 processors or other releases that they want to THROW AWAY or are defective .... call me and we will take them off your hands! Andrew Roach
President
Drew Communications
Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail and Component Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
616-498-9213

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Andrew, no you're not being contrary. Maybe there is a 1.0.1 as opposed to a 1.0.0. All I know is we were unable to upgrade this very old ACS last week, and it turned out to be a 1.0 (also had no ground screw - did your 1.0's have one?). I do appreciate your insights on this fourm!

 

[drewmich]

Tommy,

Yes - they don't have the ground screw on any of the original ACS processors that have the first label that Lucent printed for their ACS processors - ACS 308 R1.0. Any of the R1.0 and the following R1.0.XX revisions have been successfully upgraded in our experience.

Call me and we would like to get the ACS R1.0 that you had trouble with so we can do research on it. Did you customer really throw it away?

Let me know. Andrew Roach
President
Drew Communications
Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail and Component Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
616-498-9213

 

[TouchToneTommy]

No, they still have it sitting in the phone room. Don't know what they intend to do with it. Actually, I need to go back tomorrow, beacuse after putting in the new ACS, the card mail would answer, but not speak! Received a replacement card mail today.