Help with overview of Merlin system. (Adjuncts and surrogate cards)

[Lifeshare4life]

Hello,
I'm relatively new to phone systems but my current job has me on a crash course to learn how the Merlin Legend system works.

Past employees set up our old phone network so it has been difficult trying to understand exactly how it is structured. All I have is pamphlet that isn't the easiest to understand as a new user.
We are using the old Lucent 4400 series phones and I have been doing most of the programming on a 4412D+. I also have access to WinSPM release 9.0

So far I have an idea of how the automated attendants are set up, how to program extentions and their functions, how outcalling works, etc.

However there are several parts to the system that I am lost on:

- I have a list of phone numbers that I'm not sure are being used or linked to trunk numbers.
-We have a "surrogate" card that I'm not sure which other card it is being linked to.
-I'm not sure how adjuncts work or what card they are programmed to.
-I know of the 4 general mailboxes, but our receptionist is only using one to gather voicemails. Is there a way to tell how calls are transfered to the other 3 mailboxes?
-There are "phantom" mailboxes that several employees have. What are their functions and how can I track them?

If anyone could answer any of these questions or help give me a better overview of how this system is structured, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[merlinman]

Well, I will attempt to address what I can.

You stated:
- I have a list of phone numbers that I'm not sure are being used or linked to trunk numbers.

For that, you would need to call them and see if they answer. They could be Fax Numbers, Numbers to an Alarm System or numbers you're paying for and no longer using. Sometimes, but rarely these days, the PROVIDER can help with this part of your questions.

You stated:
-We have a "surrogate" card that I'm not sure which other card it is being linked to.

Not real sure what you are saying here, but, with WINSPM, you should be able to PRINT a SYSTEM SETTINGS report and show us just what you mean.

You stated:
-I'm not sure how adjuncts work or what card they are programmed to.

Adjuncts are a "HOLD OVER" from the Merlin Legend System. (Based on the fact you are using 44xx sets, that tells me you have a MERLIN MAGIX System) Their function was to provide 1 of two types of ADJUNCT INTERFACE (A physical device). One type created a T&R (Analog) Extension right there in the Legend MLX Set and the other type provided a special type of Signal Interface (again, right in the MLX Set itself). To accommodate these a special type of Numbering was developed to provide an "address" for the ADJUNCT PORT of the MLX Set. For example, the "DEFAULT" Extension numbering of a system would have been 10, 11, 12 and so on. The "ADJUNCT" associated with 10 would be 710, 11 would be 711, 12 = 712 and so on. The ADJUNCTS were only associated with the MLX Type extensions and allowed programmers some leeway in doing other things with the programming, besides the two physical interfaces. The same "ADJUNCT" Numbering plan is used with the TDL (44xx) Ports as well. If you print the EXTENSION DIRECTORY (WINSPM) you would see what your System Numbering plan is (for extensions & adjuncts) and should be able to determine some of the information you are looking for.


You stated:
-I know of the 4 general mailboxes, but our receptionist is only using one to gather voicemails. Is there a way to tell how calls are transfered to the other 3 mailboxes?

For this, you need to do some ADMIN of the (I assume you have) Merlin Messaging system. It has a separate programming interface that can be accessed by you LAN. Software for this can be downloaded from Avaya.com

You stated:
-There are "phantom" mailboxes that several employees have. What are their functions and how can I track them?

Again, this needs to be examined in the MERLIN MESSAGING System Programming. Once you print the reports, it should be obvious as to what's happening.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

-merlinmansblog.blogspot.com

 

[Lifeshare4life]

Thanks for the info.

I've printed the reports and it answers most of my questions.

As far as the surrogate card.. When I run system inventory in WinSPM, it shows our slots with the type of cards on the control unit. The last one, slot 9, shows a card that has an "S" on it. This icon means it is running in surrogate mode( as shown in a key under it). There are physically 8 slots, so I am assuming the 9th slot is some sort of virtualization. In the report it shows that the 9th slot is using extensions 7187-7164 with adjunct numbers 7387-7364.

 

[Lifeshare4life]

Also the last card is an 024TDL. Is this where the adjuncts are stored?
One other questions. Does each line coming in have its own logical ID and trunk number?

 

[merlinman]

Well, ALL TDL Slots have adjunct extension numbers.

A card that exists only in memory can be used as a PHANTOM Card, along with it's adjuncts.

One work of caution however, a simple software task called "Board Renumber" will erase that card from memory, along with whatever is being used in it. (A restore can bring it back provided your BACKUP File is current).

So, don't do a Board Renumber.

In this partial System Directory report:

A 1/1 160 LYNN … 1/17 7300
A 1/2 196 JIM … 1/18 7301
A 1/3 179 JASON … 1/19 7302

Slot 1 port 1 is Extension 160 while 1/17 is the ADJUNCT ADDRESS of 7300.

I hope this makes sense.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

-merlinmansblog.blogspot.com

 

[Lifeshare4life]

Oh I see.

Yes, all the information you provided is helpful. Thank you a ton.