Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

Register Log in
  • Congratulations IamaSherpa on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Parts Availability and downtime

Status
Not open for further replies.
vyrys

vyrys

IS-IT--Management
Jul 2, 2012
61
US
I'm preparing a quick report to our CEO about upcoming tech needs.
One of the areas I want to cover is our phone system.
My main focus is on parts availability, and downtime to be expected in the event of failure.
Is there somewhere/someone, or a company that I can have on standby for this? (they will ask)
However, we are a charitable organization and cannot afford a complete service agreement, which last I saw was close to 400 per month.
Can anyone recommend any solutions or alternatives to be ready for a system or parts failure?

Here is the system inventory:
Merlin Magix Release 3.0 v7 CKE5
Merlin Mail4 port voice mail
100CSU/DSU
24 TDL digital card
408 GS/LS MLX cards (3)
16 TRR cards (8)
08 OPT cards (2)

thanks!



 
Sort by date Sort by votes
You did not mention perhaps the most important component in your system inventory. You need a Quality UPS to protect your Magix system. You are flying blind and rolling the dice without a UPS. Do Not rely upon a surge stripe! fork out the $300 to buy a quality UPS (Minuteman,Tripp-Lite) If you enjoy drinking clean water your Magix would enjoy clean power.
Secondly, your switch needs to be in a cool & clean air conditioned room. Not in the attic where the old PBX used to be. If it is not, you need to have it relocated.

Clean Power & A clean enviornment are equal to a money-eating maintenance contract!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Another thing we'll deen to know is what part of the country you are in. Several folks service these things, but they aren't everywhere. PARTS - Parts are available through several sources at this time, even though this system isn't getting any younger, and no NEW parts are being manufactured. But there are a lot of spares out there.

To add to what WikiTech mentioned, YES UPS is VERY IMPORTANT, but another thing he was leading to is this: DON'T LET THE TOP OF THE UNIT HAVE ANYTHING PLACED ON IT, EVER! - the system keeps it's temperature by a process of natural ventalition, blocking the flow of air will disrupt that and can cause outages and damage. Not to scare you, but it is worth mentioning.



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I would also suggest keeping the system configuration backed up to the PCMCIA so that if there is a processor failure, the configuration can easily be restored. Ditto for the voicemail.

Merlin Magix hardware is fairly inexpensive now...with the exception of voicemail boards and license PCMCIAs. There is no harm in purchasing a spare of each of the various cards. On the upside, AT&T/Lucent/Avaya built Merlin hardware to be very reliable. Properly cared for, a system will last for years and years. As Merlinman said, there is no more new Merlin hardware being made as the platform (and the Partner platform for that matter) has been discontinued.

Lastly, the weak hardware spot will be the voicemail's hard drive. However, there is an outfit based in NYC that sells replacement flash drives for various voicemail systems. They often post on eBay. So picking up a replacememt drive or two might be worth the expense. The replacement drive will need to have the same software version as the existing drive.

I [love2] "FEATURE 00"
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hello, and thanks all.

yes I have a very healthy and robust UPS in place at all times and keep the room temp controlled.
Also I keep OPT cards in use properly. (or DITEKS if needed)

I use WinSPM and make backups regularly to a server for configuration.
There is a PCMCIA card in the slot. Is there a procedure to back the system up to the card?

I have seen the flash drives for sale on ebay from a forum member here. I may invest in that. It is definitely a pain to redo the entire voicemail system. The drive has failed twice...and it's been a loooooong time since the last one.

My main concern is parts availability which seems to be fine at this point, and time to receive parts.

we are a nonprofit healthcare organization...so are needs are high, and our budget is low :)

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Here's a few answers:


There is a PCMCIA card in the slot. Is there a procedure to back the system up to the card?

Yes, in fact it does it by itself when it is set to do in STANDARD SPM under >Menu > System Programming > Exit/Start > System > Back/Restore > Auto Backup.

I STRONGLY RECOMMED SETTING it for ONLY WEEKLY.

It is definitely a pain to redo the entire voicemail system.

One thing you can do to prepare for that problem is a BACKUP of the Messaging using HYPERTERM. That way, you'll have an easy way to get it up and running when the next failure occurs.

I have heard of SSD's being used as replacements for the old Electro-Mechanical ones. That would be nice. I have a friend who did that to his Partner Messaging, way back when SSD's were new, and it has NEVER FAILED!




 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Great... I have set the autobackup to weekly. 00200 - which I am guessing is Sunday at 2am?


Are there documented steps/procedures to backup voice mail using Hyperterm?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You can backup the Merlin Messaging to the port license card (option 8 in the programming menu), which will save the auto attendant recordings, the automated attendant structure, and the mailbox assignments (but not their recordings), and if it is 2.5 or higher, you can connect the gui through the lan port and back up everything including mailbox recordings.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
As TTT says, the GUI is better for sure. AND just as sure, if you have that, forget about HYPERTERM.

But that being said, here's how to do it with HYPERTERM:

Set the modem speed to 19200, 8 Data, 1 Stop, and NONE Parity. The Data Protocol is STANDARD EC, Compression is DISABLED and the Flow Control is HARDWARE.

Set the Dial String to be the Voice Mail Calling group number, usually 770 or 7929, plus 2 pauses and then **3. Mine looks like this: 7929,,**3.

Once it dials in, your login is sysadmin, and the password is the one you use to do the ADMIN when you dial in manually.

When you are logged in, you will be presented with a terse, but straight forward menu and you can do the backup (and at a later date) the restore from there.

One little note, when it dials the **3, you'll swear it hung up on you, but it didn't, just wait a few seconds and you'll be in.





 
Upvote 0 Downvote
how would I find out what version I have?
My system inventory only shows the following:
Hardware vintage 04
Firmware vintage 53

Also, I am having trouble locating the 'Option 8'...is it in standard SPM?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
In regard to:

"how would I find out what version I have?

I found this info in some old notes I have. To determine the RELEASE of the System, Dial 7 after logging in as the Administrator.

As far as "Also, I am having trouble locating the 'Option 8'...is it in standard SPM?" Are you talking about the HYPERTERM Settings?



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
TTT said "You can backup the Merlin Messaging to the port license card (option 8 in the programming menu)"

wasn't sure which programming or menu he was talking about.

Also, in mail, 7 isn't a valid option...


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
IF you have Merlin Messaging, you log into mailbox 0 for administration, and normally press 9 to get to the programming menu. If you press 7 instead of 9, you will hear your release. After pressing 9 for the programming menu, you should have option 8 for backup and restore.

However, if you are logging into mailbox 9997 to administer the voicemail system, you have an 007 Merlin Mail, and no longer have any options for Ethernet connections, backup and restore, however you CAN access the system through the serial port and get reports that will make it easier to recreate the system when it dies.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
that is probably a great idea...

we are excepting donations! :)

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Well I wasn't very clear in the OP...

I'll check out the options.
thanks guys!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

endel2005
  • Locked
  • Question
Avaya Partner R6 - #203 RCF issue and Group Voicemail Light condition
Replies
5
Views
251
TouchToneTommy
TouchToneTommy
Jim E
  • Locked
  • Question
False Ring on Legend and 1A2 System from Fixed Wireless Unit.
Replies
0
Views
106
Jim E
Jim E
Jim E
  • Locked
  • Question
Merlin Magix and Merlin Legend DSS Console 1
Replies
5
Views
250
orion3311
orion3311
Jim E
  • Locked
  • Question
Merlin Legend 7.0 Coverage Groups and Calling Group
Replies
1
Views
120
merlinman
merlinman
AMG910
  • Locked
  • Question
Partner ACS Auto Attendant and Night Service
Replies
2
Views
138
AMG910
AMG910

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top