Merlin Messaging 2.5 AA Setup 1

[FHolzkamp]

I took on the task of converting from our maxed out partner system to a merlin magix (would have chosen another system altogether, but needed to reuse the partner phones for cost savings). Everything is setup, line and extension wise. I've removed outgoing call restrictions on the voicemail port extensions (291-296), but outcalling still doesn't work.

Our calls come in over a PRI, and into calling group "1919". How do I setup the VM to answer this group after 4 rings? I'd like it to also pickup calls immediately when in night mode. I setup the AA to answer by both night mode status as well as time of day (I think it called it "both&quot.

The last thing I can't figure out - we have DID's from 0285 to 0384, but only 300-325 are actual extensions. Is it possible to configure this system to send a DID that's not assigned to an extension to voicemail, i.e. for out of office staff that will never have physical phones?

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[merlinman]

outcalling still doesn't work - SET ARS Restrict to 3 (Usually)

"1919". How do I setup the VM to answer this group after 4 rings? - Create a SPARE T&R Extension and renumber it to 1919 and change the VM to a different group number. Send 1919 to VM by coverage. This way you can adjust the cover delay. If you don't have a spare T&R, there are other ways to do this.

DID's from 0285 to 0384, but only 300-325 are actual extensions. configure this system to send a DID that's not assigned - - RENUMBER AUX PORTS to match the DID you wish to assign to the OUTSIDERS. Then put them in your cover group that goes to VM and make them NON-EXTENSION Mail Boxes in the VM (each MLX and TDL has a "PHANTOM" port avaiable)

 

[fsoz]

When you set up a MB, option 8 under mailbox extensions is phone status. Say this extension does not have a phone.
On the DID, you might have to strip the leading digit to get it to go to the right MB

 

[FHolzkamp]

Thanks for the quick reply. You mention the ARS to 3? Under ARS, there's about 15 different sub options?

No spare ports right now, everything has a planned use in the next few weeks. Management has said no more phone expenses for a "very long time".

I need this 1919 to have multiple apperances on the operator's phone (300) and to have caller ID. I can figure this part out, but I don't understand what you want me to do exactly.

I'm very technical, but this magix system has to be the most confusing and excessively complex I've ever worked with, compared to the partner and most cisco appliances.

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[FHolzkamp]

MCI is sending us 3 digits, so I changed us to 3 digit extension numbers and setup a pattern to add the 1 to the front of 1919.

I don't think I'll have to strip any digits, I understand in my mind what merlinman said about the DID's, and I'm sure I can figure all that out later. My focus now is the main voicemail.

Thanks.

 

[merlinman]

ARS to 3 = Sys Prog > Exit > Extensions > More > ARS RESTRICT - That will be set to ZERO by default for all VM Ports. Thus, they can not dial out until that gets changed.


Yes, the LEGEND/MAGIX is a great deal more complex than the Partner. But it does a bunch more stuff. (Like ARS for instance....)

 

[FHolzkamp]

Ok, outcalling is working and people are happy, yippie! Thank you.

I still don't understand how to setup voicemail and get 1919 into AA1 without using the T/R port. I know because this is a pri, I can't just tell it to pickup 801-823, so what next?

thanks!!!

 

[FHolzkamp]

For the DID's, the AUX PORTS you mention, what are they exactly? Do you mean like a block of real extensions, example, I will never use extensions 150-199, they're not assigned to any cards, so should I just renumber them to whatever DID's I need them to be?

Then go into Merlin Mail Admin and set them up without extensions? I don't understand how that's going to work though, when someone dials XXX-XXX-0351, voicemail's going to answer it?

I have DID's for 0291-296, and those are my mail extensions, but when I dial those DID's they ring busy? It doesn't matter, we use a different number to get directly to voicemail, I'm just not understanding this thing.

Thanks for your help.

 

[merlinman]

Start with this information. If it doesn't do it for you then you can email me.

Each extension on a MAGIX has a MATCHING ADJUNCT EXTENSION.

In the begining, the adjunct was part of the MLX extension.

That is, you could add a device called an MFM to an MLX Phone and it had it's own unique extension number.

Since MAGIX was built around something other than MLX phones, these ADJ's just kinda' hung around.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

DEFAULT, extension 10 had an adjunct of 310, if you renumbered using SET UP SPACE, then extension 7100 (what was 10 to start with), had an adjunct of 7300, if you used 3 digit default, then extension 100 (again, what was 10 to start with) had an adjunct of 300.

So, you need to do a PRINT of the DIAL PLAN and see just what you are dealing with.

I personally like to do that print, cut and paste the part that shows the Extensions and Adjuncts to a TEXT FILE, Remove all the double spaces, change the single ones left to commas, and then import whats left to an EXCELL SPREAD SHEET so I can figure out what I am dealing with.

That way, you can massage whats left of the ADJUNCT EXTENSION NUMBERS into something that makes sense.

THEN you can renumber them to something you can use. (150-199) and send them to Voice Mail by cover group whatever.

 

[FHolzkamp]

After reading and reading and some more reading, here's what I ended up doing:

Since we don't intend on expanding this system for quite sometime (I hope!), I went in and told the magix it had a 024 card in slot 5. I renumbered the extensions on the fake 024 card in slot 5 to match the 3 digit DID's (note all my extensions are 3 digit). I added these extensions to my voicemail coverage group, 30.

The DID's now function properly, you just have to change the pickup ring for those extensions to 0, or just let the caller wait 10 seconds.

I told the magix it had this 024 card only because if we do anymore expanding, it'll be to add more extensions. Right now we have a 2 line to 1 phone ratio. Overkill? Maybe. Previously we paid around $450 (plus tax, fcc line charge, etc.) and had 15 lines. Now - $537 (plus tax, fees, and NO $7 per line charge). The savings is there, but worth my aggervation? I'd rather jump into a pool of freezing water.

A big thanks to merlinman for your help and attention.

No reason to continue this thread any further.

 

[merlinman]

OR BOILING OIL,

Certainly, there are several ways to skin this cat, and you found one more......

 

[FHolzkamp]

So I did as I said, and set up a fake 024 card. I assigned it extensions 351-374. I also added 351-360 in the Merlin Mail (via the admin software). I added all the extensions into group 30 (vm cover group), but only 351 and 352 will go to voicemail from their DID lines.

Example, I call XXX-XXX-X351 or 352, it rings, then goes to that person's mailbox. Now if I call any other number, 353-360, which are setup as real extensions (just no phones plugged in), and are setup in the merlin mail without a telephone, it says transfering to the operator.

Did I miss something?

Also, where is the option to change the number of rings VM waits before it picks up on these extensions? or is this a global change?

I miss my partner system, those where the days I worked with my feet up and relaxed.

 

[franke]

It sounds as if your system is pretty well jazzed up, starting with the PRI routing, calling group setup, phantom boards (which will cause you headaches later), etc.

You should perhaps contact a qualified Business Partner, if for no other reason than to set you up correctly, so you can 'look back' at what they did.

If you can't find one in your area, etc., feel free to email me at fekresin at krescom dot com.

franke

 

[FHolzkamp]

Franke,

I've called 2 different folks out here, both Avaya Gold Partners, and I've not been happy with the results. One spent some 5 hours here @ $70 an hour, ate half a rather large tin of cookies, and got little to nothing accomplished. If it hadn't been for this forum, I think we'd be down hard still today.

Everything else is setup, I just need to get these few extensions into voicemail. I haven't had downtime to do any programming yet, but my guess is that cover group 30, vm, has too many extensions in it. I remember reading something about that somewhere? It seems the only extensions that don't work are after a certain number.

Suggestions?

 

[franke]

Can you do a cut & paste of your PRI printout?
Cut & paste of your Cov. groups?
Cut & paste of your Calling groups?
Cut & paste of your Extension Directory?

franke

 

[merlinman]

I might be able to help as well, but you will have to fill that tin of cookies up again......(LOL)

I realy think everything could be cleared up remotely.

The first thing I would do is a PRINT ALL and peruse what you find.

It takes a while, but it is usually VERY ENLIGHTENING !

merlinman@comcast.net