Couple Q's about BCM50 keycodes

[gm85]

Hey Everyone,

We’ve had the BCM50 2.0 installed at our business for the past 6 months and I’ve pretty much either looked at, or played with most the features provided. I checked the documentation and do have a couple questions regarding the keycodes.

1. I have the sheets for the authorization codes and keycode used for the system. If it ever came to a point that a Level 2 reset is required (I’m looking into this for disaster recovery purposes), does a new keycode need to be generated, or can I simply re-enter the keycode the system was provided with?

2. When new features need to be activated and a new keycode needs to be generated, does the new key code add to the current activated licences, or does it replace them? For instance, my system has licences for 8VM, 4 lines, 12 digital sets, 2 ip sets, 2 analog sets and 1 expansion. If I were to add licences for IP sets, does the new keycode only need to include the activation codes for he IP sets, or does it need to include all the other activation codes as well?

3. I am assuming that the Nortel KRS is not for public use? I was looking into adding 4 IP client seats and was shocked to find that installer of our system (Bell) is charging more than twice the price for the client seats compared to a store I use online to buy Nortel phones ($750 + $100 technician installation fee, vs. $349). Only catch is the online store provides only the activation codes and no means of generating a keycode for our system.

Thanks!

 

[PainOfDeath]

1. The BCM 50 2.0 uses .lic files to install features as opposed to keycodes. Basically, your system is (or should) be registered on KRS and there is a unique .lic file associated with it. Should you ever lose everything, you can upload that same file into the BCM and get all your features back.

2. When you register new auth. codes against the system, a new .lic file is generated. Each time you do this the file number of the .lic file is incremented by 1. So again assuming your system is registered on KRS, when you add features you'll just upload the new file into the system and voila, your new features will be enabled. Think of the most recent .lic file that you have as an archive of all the keycodes that have ever been associated with your system.

3. You are right, KRS is for authorized Nortel resellers only. There are ways around using KRS but since nothing done outside KRS will ever be registered with KRS, if your system got wiped you could lose features that you paid for. Some vendors will register keycodes for you that you bought elsewhere, but your best bet is to find the cheapest authorized reseller that you can buy the codes from AND have them legitimately registered on KRS. That way if things go south you know that KRS knows what your system is supposed to have.

Hope that helps.

 

[MagnaRGP]

Pain is right on all counts. One thing you need to consider with Bell (and all other AUTHORIZED resellers) is that there are costs associated with being authorized and maintaining that status. This is why their costs are higher than online. Ever seen someone bitch about Nortel Tech Support costs? Guess what? Vendors have to pay that cost too. In Advance. Annually.

Many resellers will charge you a fee to generate a keycode if you provide a valid authcode, but some wont do that for you if you didn't buy your auth-codes from them. That is up to them, and rightly so. They don't want to own a problem that isn't of their doing. Also, where did that auth-code come from that it is so cheap? Stolen? Gray Market? Don't be surprised if at some point Nortel begins revoking auth-codes that aren't sourced through proper channels. Then what will you say to the vendor when they tell you that your auth-code is invalid?

You can always shop elsewhere, but at the end of the day, vendors are in business to turn a profit. You can go the backdoor route or with some fly-by-night person, but you WILL get what you paid for....eventually.

 

[hawks]

One other thing is there use to be defferent KRS access NA, Europe, Asia. If you happen to buy an Auth code via the internet then tried to get your local Dealer to activate it it could come back as an invalid code because it was meant for International sales. Bottom line make sure you know who your getting the codes from.

 

[PainOfDeath]

I also should mention that it is wise to get as many auth codes registered at one time as you can rather than doing them separately over a short span time. With each batch of keycodes the registrant pays a fee to Nortel, which gets passed on to you. Hence if, say, you need 4 IP telephony seats now but you know will need 4 more in another few months you are better off buying all 8 now and paying a single registration fee, rather than paying twice. Plus all the hassle of acquiring the codes, getting them uploaded to your BCM, paying invoices etc. It all adds up to time and money.

 

[gm85]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, you really cleaed some stuff up.

When we are going to add features, I'll try to justify the extra cost to my boss and go with Bell, which makes sense as it guarantees we get what we pay for, instead of something that has a 50/50 chance of working (and who knows what could happen down the road).

Thanks Again!

 

[gm85]

PainOfDeath:
Thanks for that tip, I went onto Nortel's site and found a few other authorized partners in my area so I sent off a message to them. Hopefully at least one will come back with (at least) a slighly lower price. At least that'll let me know if the price I was originally quoted is the standard price I should expect to pay.... or someone's really marking up the price haha.
Thanks.

 

[acewarlock]

LEC's always have been and always will be more expensive than other Vendor patrners and Non-partners.




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