Avaya At&T Merlin Mail Version 3 console cable?

[jgillman]

Hello,

I hope I'm not asking a question that had been asked a bunch of times, but I kind of got stuck at work supporting a very old phone system. There's a box that looks to be the controller, but I can't seem to find any documentation that is specific for this unit. It appears that there are six lines that go into the merlin mail unit that come from a 408-GS/LS-MLX wall NIU? This merlin mail controller box also has two cards in it. One card seems to have a 9 pin serial male port, and the other card has a 9 pin and a serial 25 mail on it. There is one master phone, set to extention 10. The master phone is a bit larger than the other phones, and has four named buttons, on left menu/home and right more and inspect. I can get into various menus, but I can't seem to get into anything that shows me the current extentsions in use or how to modify those.

I have been reading that there are some ways to hook a computer up to the merlin controller unit and access the interface that way. Unfortunately, I can't find what kind of cable/settings/software.

We have no support on this unit, and even though it is up and functional, some of the sales people have me up against the wall, because they want a general box set up for call over flow and their own personal extentions/voicemail. I spent seven hours going through menus getting no where yesterday and would very much appreciate any help that I could get.

The box is a at&t merlin mail version 3, most of the phones are mlx-10d models, and the main phone unit is a lucent mlx-20l.

Thanks,
Jarrod

 

[392]

The programming port on that system may, or may not be, the first or 5th port on the three first 408 MLX modules in the system. If you find the programming port, pressing the Menu key on the 20L will display options for system programming or extension programming. That is the first step.

Once you get access, you need to add coverage to stations, build mailboxes (with a correct class of service), build a calling group with coverage and lots of other things that will not come naturally without seeing it happen first.

There is a GUI maintenance program that can be used, WinSPM, but you'll need guidance on what to do before you connect. The interface is not user friendly in the case of learners and recent adopters.

I heartily suggest you employ the services of a local Legend/Magix technician for 2-3 hours to get through the initial setup and familiarization, as you could bring the system to a halt with a wrong move. Money well spent, and a support source for future major evolutions.

 

[jgillman]

Thanks

Unfortunately, it's already hosed. I can get into the system menu from the mlx-20l by clicking the menu button, then system program, then system. I tried setting the mode to behind switch in here. It restarted the system, and everything is messed up. I can get dial tone, but can't complete any calls, just get a message, you call cannot be completed as dialed. Any idea on what type of cable I need if I hook up directly to the merlin mail box and try to run winspm?

Thank you

 

[1043]

WinSpm is for the phone system programming not the voicemail. Why did you change the mode to behind switch????

I strongly support 392 recomendation to find a local tech.

 

[Skyrunner01]

Your gonna need a Cat3 / Cat 5 Cable and a set of 355a connectors. Theres a pin out specification to make one in the forums here. Your gonna need to get from the 355 to your serial port on the computer as well so a 9 pin to 25 Pin adapter as well.

The Problem being here is if your not acquainted with the programing procedures of the switch, WINSPM isnt going to help you. It basically emulates the 20L phone on your computer. And since you have allready rebooted the switch after changing it to a behind the switch profile, You just took a rather simple job for a Certified Tech. to a possiably several hour reprogram for that same tech.

 

[jgillman]

Thanks for the reply,

The local manager unplugged the system while cleaning out the telco closet to days ago, which is when the system orignially went down. We were called to help set up an extention after that, but the phones were already not working properly. No one has any contact information for any avaya programmers for this system, since the building was accquired from another company, and it just kind of "worked", but has not been administrated in years. Myself, I'm not a switch tech or do I specialize in telco. I mainly work on programming cisco routers, gsrs, switches and cmts units, which is about a thousand times easier than this mess. There is absolutely no documentation for this unit that matches what is here. I'm not sure why I cannot do some programming from this mlx-20l since I can access programming menus on it. My hats off to any of you that can program systems like this, because it seems like a mess to me. I know what the outside line number is. I also know what extentions and phones are working in this building.

I just figured out if I hit line 1, even though there is a dial tone, I can hit 9, get dial tone again, and dial out. I verified that is working. So, we can dial out, just need to hit 9 again. There is a button on the mlx-20l that is labeld "intercom ring" and I can actually dial an extentention.

I need to be able to program the phones here with extentions, program the voicemail, and a general mail box for when people call the host number, also to have the system to give customers an option to dial extention when calling in this main number. Seems like pretty simple tasks, but no docs. I have the admin voicmail box number 997, and the password. There is another password that is labled "admin opt" and I have the password for that as well.

Sorry to keep bugging you guys, but I'm at my witt's end, and if I had a local programmer to call, I definitely would. It will take days awhile to get a po cut for support, and most likely they will have to fly someone out to this area. We are in Owosso Michigan, and it's fairly remote. The closest metro area is Detroit, which is 2+ hours away.

Thanks

 

[1043]

http://www.avaya.com/

https://mywebtools.avaya.com/bplocator/start.swe?SWECmd=Start

Here are a couple of links that I would start with.

 

[tdaugirdas]

You need to hire yourself a technician to program this phone system for you. The programming can be done remotely and/or someone knowledgeable can walk you through the steps to get this old puppy up and working - using your 20L.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[Dexman]

I agree with Tom and 1043. It would probably be best to contact an Avaya Business Partner to get the system configured properly. The programming for the Legend and Magix can be a nightmare unless you really know your way around the menus.

 

[jgillman]

Thanks everyone!

I called avaya and got the pricing. I sent a request to management and we'll see what happens.

Take care

 

[jgillman]

Hey,

I was able to program this system from the MLX-20l, and fix all the mailboxes, setting calling groups, etc.. The only problem I have now is I have one MLX-10d, that will not call out. I can get the internal intercom and that is it. I checked the programing on the line buttons, and they are proper. I tried taking another mlx-10d from another station and plugging it in. The same thing happens. If I push feature, select acct, enter the mailbox number 18#, I get an outside line, and can make one call, but as soon as I hang up, you can no longer call out of the phone. I checked and made sure the 18 account is not in the restriced list for outside dialing.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[2BAvoice]

When you say you can't call out, do you mean when you dial nothing happens, you get no outside dial tone, or do you get the oodlle doodle tone? Check system program, exit, extensions, restrictions, put in this extension number, and see if it has restricted highlighted.

 

[jgillman]

Hello,

I can dial internally, but cannot get an outside line. I checked the restriction and this extension, which is 18 is set to unrestricted.

Thanks

 

[jgillman]

When someone else on the system picks up a line, I can see the line light up on this unit, and if I hit that line button, I can hear them on an outside call, but if I just hit one of the line buttons to get outside, it lights red for a second and then goes out, and you get no dial tone.

 

[tdaugirdas]

Check programming under menu, system program, exit/start, extentions, restriction - and then key in the extention number. You may find that it has been "outward restricted" - which means that extention can only make internal intercom calls. If it is outward restricted - chenge the restriction to "unrestricted" and press enter. Then press "Home" to exit programming.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[TouchToneTommy]

 If I push feature, select acct, enter the mailbox number 18#, I get an outside line, and can make one call, but as soon as I hang up, you can no longer call out of the phone

I think you are set to Forced Account Code for this extension.

 

[jgillman]

Touchtone Tommy, you are the man!!!!!! You ever make it to Michigan, I owe you a few beers