Tek-Tips is a terrific site with lots of great technicians contributing their input (the best overall technical site I've found). Hoping I can get a few nagging questions answered about an upcoming Norstar site expansion.
The following expansion has to happen quickly (within 1 or maybe 2 weeks) so I may not have enough time to do everything at once.
Here's the background. I've inherited a situation where we've got an existing MICS 4.1.6 (ver SP:30NDG04 NAT) with NAM 4.0.04C voicemail. Currently running 2 analog DID cards with over 100 target lines, 4 LS/DS cards. The first 6 port expansion card is full and it will probably need to be upgraded to XC 6.1MR software and another 6 port (combo) card if they continue to grow.
The company is moving 30 of their existing users to a new, 2nd site via point to point T-1 (using Cisco 1841 boxes that they've already ordered). We'll grab perhaps 8 of the channels for 2 way intercom and DID traffic (and also voicemail if we upgrade to 6.1).
Management has asked about the wisdom of installing a higher end system (such as a BCM). So far, I'm thinking they've probably got some room to grow the Norstar if they do the necessary upgrades. Take a look at the following questions and then let me know what you think....
1) Due to time constraints, I was wondering if I can get away with just installing another MICS ver 5.0 at the 2nd site for now along with a NAM 4.0, then upgrade to 6.1 later. We've got analog lines on site for outdial traffic.
2) Another question I have concerns the number plan. They currently have 3 DID ranges (xxx-11xx, 12xx, 28xx). I've read that the 2nd site should (ideally) be on a completely separate number range. Can they carry over their same extension numbers from the old site to the new site without messing up the number plan or am I looking at another solution (?VOIP via Gateway) to do it that way??
3) They would like to be able to do overhead paging from Site A to Site B. Is this possible and if so, which software version(s) support this and where in programming would I find it?
4) I've read that we would need to upgrade the existing NAM (8 port with 1 key installed) to ver 4.1 before we upgrade the KSU to XC 6.1MR. Would it be easier to just order a new 4.1 upgraded hard drive (rather than try to find an older Backpack unit and all of the proper NVM patches)?? I don't want to lose the existing programming on the NAM or on the KSU so good backups are crucial.
I'll very much appreciate any and all comments/suggestions/ideas about this upgrade. Thanks in advance....