Essential Reading?

[alchohaz]

Hi there i have spent the last 15 years working primarily on the Ericsson product Suite, but i have a new role that will involve work on the Siemens HiPath 4k & 8k.

Could someone please recomend some basic reading on the HiPath that will enable me to understand the basic concepts & building blocks in both hardware and software.

Further to this it would be good to get information on the programming structure and on how to view system prints - even if it is just the very basics - Hardware positions, COS, Diverts, VMX etc etc..

Thanks
Al

 

[LoPath]

This is the best place to get some tips and tricks. Other than going to a Siemens school for the equipment, there's not much out there that's really good. I'm running a HP4K V5. I found a AMO reference guide on the web for a V3. That's the best I've found. The folks that officially support us really do try, but they're no experts on it. Siemens seems to use us to beta test their products, so they don't offer us much help either. Best of luck!

 

[Iamnothere]

The best & quickest way to learn about the 4K and the 8K is to attend training. I know that the next post(s) will address the fact that training is too expensive, plus the time away from the job site. Plus, there will always be a disgruntled person testifying that it was a waste of time. But if you could somehow weigh or measure all the situations/moments of trying to figure out things on your own, or asking for help, or using trial & error methods, I think you would find that the expenses incurred to attend training would be well justified. In the USA, there is a 3-week 4K Basic class, followed by a 2-week Advanced class.
The 8K/OpenScape Voice is not a PBX, but rather a carrier-class SiP soft-switch. It is an amazing product, but in my opinion - mastering it requires more data/networking expertise rather than telephony experience. Training is lengthy, but starts with an introductory Basic class followed by an Advanced class, and others.

 

[donb01]

I have been doing Siemens 9006 programming for about 15 years and just got my first 4000. I can definitely say it's a different bird! Yes, there are a number of similarities, but it has taken me quite a bit to get used to. The first thing you need is your own login and password, then (using IE) point your browser at the customer IP address of the system and start the approximate 1-hour agonizing PITA process of configuring your browser to be able to communicate with it. Once you get that done you can at least login. I would strongly advise spending some time looking but not touching before trying to change anything.

I was pretty overwhelmed with it when I first got started, but I spent a day with the tech and he showed me some really cool shortcuts that make life a helluva lot easier. Basically if you want a new phone, new phantom, or whatever the easiest way is to just clone an existing one and change the station number and port number. The hunt group, forwarding and pickup groups are not that hard, although setting up forwarding is a bit more stupid than in previous versions. I think being able to do those few tasks is most of what the average customer would need.... I would still *like* to be able to go to the class, but not sure they will pay for it and also not sure what would happen if I try to be away for 3 weeks - every time I go on vacation they tend to have a major crisis here and that's usually just being gone for a week!

Good luck!

 

[alchohaz]

Hi there - thanks for your feedback !!

Cheers
Al