How to know if installation cost is right

[cardsfan44]

We're getting ready to go through with the start of our Cisco cutover from TDM systems like Norstar. In doing so, we're trying to hire in a partner for some services, but the price seems way out of line IMO. Given the following info, what would you all expect, or have you encountered in your experiences with these systems? Our system will eventually handle several thousand users and over 100 sites, but the initial install is as seen below.

200 users
200 endpoints
4 UCS C series servers
CUWL STD (100) and Pro licenses (100)
2 3900 series routers with CUBE function to connect to SIP providers at the data centers
Another 3900 series router with a PRI for SRST

Thoughts are appreciated

 

[whykap]

Every install is different and not a cookie cutter and your info is way too generic. You are not even telling us what apps you are purchasing.
I suggest you get another quote from a different VAR since you don't seen to trust this one.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

VARS also vary in their charges depending on location/market area. You also need to fully define the scope of work expected, such as a total turnkey solution (most expensive) versus back room system commissioning (IOS & initial software setup) only. There is a huge difference. Anything you can do yourself will reduce the number of hours. Expect something on the order of $175/hr X number of man-hours. Also beware that their meter continues running while they're on the phone working TAC cases to resolve issues and there are likely to be many of those hours. We got blindsided by that and burned through our allocated hours long before expected. They may also bring in multiple people which will also burn through your allocated hours much faster than expected. If I had it to do over I would have arranged a "staff augmentation" plan with them (i.e., where you put one of their people on staff for however long it takes). In the final analysis I think Staff-Augmentation could have saved us thousands.


Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[whykap]

My point exactly. Trying to get a quote on a forum for a complicated system is not the way to go.
If you are trying to compare the installation costs with a norstar cost to install you are looking at it wrong.
Norstar is a key system that can be installed with no network understanding or even concern to be honest. Plus it is obsolete and old technology that will never be developed anymore.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Also ask around and get some recommendations on what VAR to use or not to use. Your Cisco sales rep should be able to give you names of competing VARs as well as customer contacts to check with. A Cisco Call Manager is not your father's phone system - nothing at all like a square key system, not by any stretch of your imagination. You're stepping out of a rowboat into a yacht. As you will learn, the administrative programming tasks for what may have been a very simple task on the Norstar will boggle your mind when you see how granularly complex the process is on the Call Manager.

What are you planning to do for voice mail?
Are you going to be directory-synched with Active Directory/LDAP?
Since I see you're buying CUWL licenses, does that mean you're also going to be doing CUPC & Presence?

Has anyone done a network site survey? (if not, why not?) Have you (or will you be) replacing your network switches with POE switches? Does your data network utilize Cisco hardware (routers & switches)? - Most competing hardware is fine, but opens the door for finger-pointing if it's not all Cisco and any problems crop up. If moving up to POE switches, beware that the AC load requirements are considerably higher.

Be awware too that all of Cisco's greyscale/non-backlit phones only have a 10/100 layer-2 switch in them. If you have gig switches and need gigabit to the desktop, you'll need color phones (7945/7965/7975). The "G" on the 7942G phones does not mean gigabit. (we got bit on that)

If after it's in and running you hope to be able to handle the administration of it 'in-house' you will need a minimum of two and possibly as many as 5 training courses just to get exposed to everything you'll need. How much you retain from the classes will in part depend on how much of what you learn you are able to put to use upon your return. Quite a few of the legacy telecom terms have also been changed, for example ARD/PLAR is called hotdial.





Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Here's something against which perhaps you can measure -

My VAR just quoted 36 hours at $175/hr to set up five (5) phones w/voice mail at a remote site for me + install & configure SRST with the phones registering back to my Call Manager cluster and my UCXN server. Since I pretty much know how long it takes (me) to set up 5 phones from scratch it tells me they're wanting to charge 34 hours to configure the router with SRST and a couple FXO cards. Okay, obviously they've "padded" this in case Murphy's Law comes into play, but it still seems excessive.


Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member