Hello, new user here 1

[SteveLord]

hope this forum is a good place to get help on using Meridian phones and their remote admin program.

I just started a job as the IT guy for a textile company about a month ago. I came in not knowing anything about phones and still don't know much. The guy I replaced had little time to give me a crash course in that + other responsibilities around here.

Anyway, we got a lot of older stuff here. The main panel that controls the phones is a DOS-like program. Uses LD commands and such. I've already had to call a private consultant to take care of some stuff and would like to avoid that in the future for small problems if I can. (I plan on talking to one of my bosses here about getting school/training also)

So anyway, I hope I can get help here on any problems with the Meridian system that I can't seem to solve or find time to solve. The manuals I have here aren't user-friendly at all.

Thanks.

PS- While Im here, I've been noticing a "volume almost full warning" lately. Anyone know how to clear that up? Thanks.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Its not Dos, its actually Thor

Yes this is the right place but it will be helpful when you ask questions if you can find out if you have an option 11 (box a little bigger than a PC hanging on the wall) or a 21/61/81 switch. These will be gray boxes on the floor mounted on top of each other and/or side by side.

If you use the search on here you will find alot of good info to get you started.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Also go to Ld 22 and at the REQ type iss and this will tell you the version of software you are using, also needed to answer alot of questions.

 

[hawks]

volume almost full warning" could be talking about your voice mail.

 

[wolfi24]

I think you must delete messages in voice mail to users with too much time storage.

Wolfi

 

[SteveLord]

looks like i have the option11 setup. got 2 big ugly cabinets on the wall inside the phone closet.

my software info

Version 1411
Release 21
Issue 7+

ill be sure to stick this stuff on my signature for future posts.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

The training that is available at Global knowledge is usually pretty good for the meridian line, but they teach the latest greatest versions where you are on a much older release.

You would probably benefit from an admin class, that would teach you the basic phone building, but you could learn as much or more on here honestly for what you would need there. It sounds like the older system is running fine for the company and you don't really need an upgrade unless they change the way they are doing things. You might run into a problem for support but if you have a local vendor you can call for emergencies (system down etc) you should be okay with what you can learn here.

 

[johnpoole]

until you realize that this is the best pbx on the market today and that nortel provides 90 percent of the dial tone provided nation wide, you might have a few problems,, this box is not user friendly, it's not micro soft and the people that wrote the code didn't spend a lot of time holding your hand, no "are you sure pop ups" a simple command line mistake can take the system down for a day or two.. best bet is to search a lot in this forum and maybe build a test phone so you can teach yourself how to make routine changes.. connect a pc to the switch so you can save a soft copy or things as they stand, before changes...
ld 10 for analog sets ld 11 for digital... rtfm

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[SteveLord]

thanks guys. like i said, im very happy to have found a place to gather info and get help with issues. my boss hired me knowing i wasnt familiar with phones but was confident in me learning things along the way.

the computers here i can handle (even though some bring me back to when i was a kid)

im only 22 and this is my first real job outside of the military. so i have a lot to look forward to and a lot to learn.

thanks again.



IT Admin
SaferTextiles Newark, NJ
Meridian Option11
Version 1411
Release 21
Issue 7+

 

[SL1M1]

My question is how much did the private consultant charge you, against booking an overview course with Nortel
Cheers !!

 

[SteveLord]

he charges $60 an hour, with a 2hr minimum =(

the main reasons i brought him in last time

- needed to add an area code to the authorized list
- several phones needed to be re-routed
- a phone was being forwarded to the wrong place suddenly
- another phone was dead, turns out the "pairs" went bad
- needed someone's voicemail to be activated
- i had a lot of issues on the computer side to take care of/military obligations that friday so i couldnt spare time to research how to do it all myself.







IT Admin
SaferTextiles Newark, NJ
Meridian Option11
Version 1411
Release 21
Issue 7+

 

[arunkamat]

first you need to upgrade that system. Its an option 11/11E, which is really old. The current version is 11C and the one you have is at 'manufacturer discontinued' status. This necessarily means that you will not be supported by any Nortel authorised partners in case of a system failure. The upgrade will typically be replacement of the SSC card and licenses to Rls 4.5
This will help you to get the system in position to use for some time. Currently you are sitting on something that can crash any day and there will be no one to cure it.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Its hard to sell an upgrade to a company that has no problems with what they have and will not see any benefit from the upgrade since they aren't trying to add VOIP or anything.

Proactively you could mention to your boss that the manufacturer wont support it now, but if you have someone local that can get replacement parts and is knowledgable you should be okay the way you are.

If we replaced everything just because it was old Johnpoole would have been gone about 30 years ago haha (just kidding ya John!)

If its not broke dont fix it!

 

[johnpoole]

some things get better with age, wine, 1957 chevies, me... (two out of three ain't bad)

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[johnpoole]

i usually ask management if they have any other server that has not been rebooted or upgraded in almost a decade?

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[chippowell9]

Steve, you did the best thing you could possibly do by joining this forum. You've already proved to your boss that you're smarter than 90% of the people out there, simply by taking advantage of these types of forums. I can't tell you how many expensive Global Knowledge classes I've been to and run into other telecom managers who have never even thought about seeking support from the vast online community of users - whether here, or Terry Grace's listserv...wherever. Props to you. I always make a little speech at the end of these classes, giving people this URL and others. It always blows their minds.

The only other thing, that I probably don't have to tell you, is when and if you do have to bring your contractor out to help you with stuff...watch him like a hawk and take notes. If he can do it, you can do it. Ask him questions, learn how.

And never be shy about coming here and asking. Good luck!

 

[johnpoole]

and if he does not want to answer questions.. replace him.. the same is true of your vendor... back when i contract work, for 125 (12 years back) an hour i would spend days in the switchroom, mostly cleaning up the database but also explaining each step and the reason for that change and how many other things it would effect.. it's your money

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[Telecomlady]

You came to the right place. All the things you had on your list are things that are pretty easy. Do you have the book with the LD's in it for your PBX? If not get one because they are pretty handy.

 

[johnpoole]

you can find that book (100,000 pages or so) google for nortel+merl

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[acewarlock]

I know people who are still running on X11 Rls 8 the old tape drive systems and they can still get parts for them and there running just fine.