HiPath 4000, Openstage 40T and USB 1

[Sysadmin0110]

Ok, so I've been the sysadmin for the hospital I work at for a little over 2 years. I have learned quite a bit from exploring the switch and from our vendor who installed it.

I do however have a question that no one seems to be able to answer. Here is a rundown of our setup...

HiPath 4000

RMX V4 R2.1.88 / UW7 V4 R3.0.11

We do NOT use VoIP for our phones (whole other arguement, don't get me started cause I have tried to get the approvals and its a dead horse)

We use both the OptiPoint standards and the Openstage 40 T.

Here is my question, and please, read this twice before answering, cause if you don't understand it, you will give me the response I keep hearing.

Why does the Openstage 40 T have a USB port on it if it is not supported in Openstage Manager?

It is NOT for putting a Phone directory on it, it is not for updating it, and there is no software that I can find that will allow a PC to see it due to lack of drivers.

I have heard a number of things and not a single one has been useful and/or true. I am very technical, having numerous PC based certifications, as well as having gone through the HiPath Admin training. Well versed in windows and linux, so unofficial uses is fine if that is what it takes to get it to be seen.

Sorry to type such a book, but I have been all over, looking for even a shred of help for this question and even Siemens techs cannot give me anything more than a canned response that is meant for the 60 T and up.

Thanks for any help...

 

[Iamnothere]

The OpenStage 40 T has a USB slave port, which is used for 1st party CTI connectivity. This means that a local PC (with a supported CTI application installed) may be connected to the OpenStage 40 T via USB, and the CTI application can "remotely control" the phone.

Siemens "CallBridge Collection" provides a USB-based application known as "CallBridge TU", which currently supports the OpenStage 40 T.

 

[Sysadmin0110]

Thank you VERY much, Iamnothere. Would not have been hard for someone to put that in some documentation somewhere that makes sense, but that is above my pay grade.

You don't know how many people keep insisting that it is so you can upload a directory to the phone, or that it is so you can use it to load custom rings. All features that the 60T has, but no one seems to really read that I am talking about a 40.

I have found the CallBridge Collection and have downloaded it. Will report back once I have had time to install and play with it.

Thank you once again...

 

[Iamnothere]

I tested CallBridge TU with OpenStage 40 T. The CallBridge Collection zipped package includes everything needed to establish a TAPI connection from PC to phone. During the installation of the USB drivers on my WinXP desktop PC, an error occurred - due to a timestamp problem on the certificate. On a hunch, I set the clock back to 2009***, re-ran the installation, and it was successful. Then I installed CallBridge TU, connected the PC with the OpenStage 40 T via USB cable, and the TAPI connection was successfully established.
CallBridge TU is only a TAPI connection, which provides the path for a CTI application to remotely control the phone. There is no internal CTI functionality provided. The customer must install their desired CTI application. I used the Microsoft freebie: "dialer.exe", which is included within XP. (Siemens offers their own CTI application called "SimplyPhone".) I installed "dialer.exe", configured a few settings, and voila, I was able to place calls and answer calls via my PC.
(***Ran out of time. I plan to change the date back to 2010 and see if everything works OK.)

 

[Sysadmin0110]

Hmm, would you mind pointing me to where you found that install? Seems the one I have does not contain any driver info despite having the USB folder and the inf files inside of it. XP just does not see them as a valid driver for any of the devices I choose. Have tried all options now and still refuses.

It is weird though, XP says that I plugged in an Oopenstage T but says no drivers can be found, both on the web or within any folder of the CBC software that I have.

On a side note, I did not get the certificate error about the date being off. I ran the setup just fine, though it did not find any USB modems (as expected).

 

[Iamnothere]

I assume that you used SEBA. You would not have access to the site that I use. The USB driver is contained in a directory named: USB_Windows_XP_Vista_7_2003_2008. The executable file inside that directory is named: USB_2.1.1.0_Setup.exe. Note: there was a more recent version. I used this one after I received the weird error message during the USB Driver installation. But this version also had that same problem.

If you can provide your email address, I will be glad to share more info away from this public forum. If not, I certainly understand.

 

[Sysadmin0110]

I would be happy to. If you need help deciphering it, please let me know. Being I cannot find a way to PM...

robert underscore sidio at todaysgateway (its at a commercial address).