BCM 400 TO 450

[norstarboy125]

Can someone please tell me the easiest and most cost efficient way to get this done. I know there are several ways but just wondering the least painful n cheapest.

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[tech1979]

Not sure if "least painful" and "cheapest" can go together when describing an upgrade to a 450 from a 400.

Also, what version is the 400?

If you have a 3.x, then getting a whole new 450 box and migrating the licenses and programming "might" be less painful, but pricy. Otherwise you will need to upgrade from 3.x to 4.0, then upgrade the 400 components to a 450, then migrate the programming using DMM....this might be cheaper, but a pain. There is a kit and several detailed instructions.

Having done a true hardware(keeping the 400 box and replacing the BFT,hard drive,etc)/software upgrade from a 400 3.7 to a 450 Rls 6 myself, I can tell you its time consuming and should be done is phases.

 

[norstarboy125]

I'm pretty sure that both the systems are 4.0. I have 2 different customers that wanna do this. I mean correct me if I'm wrong cause I haven't been through this process yet but it seems like a new install versus a simple upgrade no matter which way you go. I know they don't want to put the money out for a new 450 box itself, just like everybody right now money is an issue.

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[telcodog]

Just go the upgrade route. Make sure you are using DMM 1.1.1 though. That earlier version is a POS.

If you want to migrate voicemail messages, make sure you add a LAN/CTE license to both systems and ensure that when you do the import (or export from DMM's point of view) to the 450 that you connect via the customer port, not the OAM port.

I just did one on the weekend and the last 3 have went very smoothly with the latest DMM.

If everything goes well, it shouldn't take longer than about 6 hours total.

Good Luck.

 

[pkellow]

I'm waiting on DMM 1.1.2 to fix some problems with voicemail messages not porting over due to weaknesses in the smtp coding on the bcm. As soon as I have it' I'll be posting to this forum. In the mean time, you might want to advise customers they might lose their mailbox messages in the upgrade.

Also recommend you use a spare chassis and install the 450 h/w into it; as opposed to upgrading the customers BCM. That way, if there is a problem, you can review the config on the original customers' BCM, in real time..remember if you upgrade the customers original BCM at this point the original HDD will be sitting in a cardboard box at this stage and you won't be able to access it.

 

[norstarboy125]

Thanks for all the info. It's greatly appreciated. So really there is no software upgade it's a total re do, Your pretty much gutting this thing and starting from scrath. Well the DMM exports the data but there is alot of hardware swapping out huh? I'm going to admit that this doesn't sound that easy. I'd rather just throw in a new 450 but they are trying to save a buck like I said.
It def sounds like using a spare 400 is the way to go just in case any probs occur.

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[pkellow]

Changing the guts replaces the HDD which includes latest 450r6.

If they have a 4.0, apply the latest system update to the 4.0 (or at least meet DMM minimum requirements), upgrade the licenses, extract the data off the 4.0 using latest DMM (NOT 1.1.0), prepare the data, upgrade the hardware in a spare chassis, apply the latest system update to 450r6 (or at least meet DMM minimum requirements), apply the "upgraded license" to 450, use DMM to reapply the data. Don't extract/apply the data through the OAM, use LAN port. Do ensure Unified Messenger keycode is applied to 4.0 (required for exporting the mailbox messages) before upgrading the license from 4.0 to 450 (so the 450 carries over the UM license).

If they don't want to upgrade, and just replace for a 450; guess it's your judegement/pricing on how long it will take to reconfigure.

If it's a 3.x to 4.0 to 450 upgrade, probably best to reconfigure a replacement 450, however its a real time consuming affair (2 days minimum) to extract off a 3.x because every button, speed dial entry, target line appearance etc etc is a click per parameter. I just hate those 3.x's for reconfiguring.