Programing - Partner + R4.1

[Bobg1]

Sysytem has Partner mail VS R 4.1
What is the easiest way to program one of these systems?
I see that there is a jack on the VS labeled rs232, is that used for programming the mail system only?
I have seen the software for use on the ACS systems, is there something like that available for the plus?
Thanks

 

[ttech]

The Only way to program th VS is via the telephone. the RS232 port is for diagnostics and reports

-Don

 

[DWLaurie]

What sort of diagnostics and reports are available via the rs232? What do you use to get to them?

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi DWLaurie,
You would use a straight through CAT-5 patch cable and an AT&T 355 adapter. You can see the boot up sequence, but there is absolutely nothing helpful to us mere mortals.

On the Partner Messaging R1 to R7 you can do all kinds of things. Most of use just setup the iP addresses, but you can run reports, etc.
-Chris

 

[DWLaurie]

I tried that, actually an AT&T 355A (different pinout?) I see nothing, dern, I'm a tried and true IT GEEK so the gobblee gook that might show on my screen might actually mean something to me :-D

 

[hbiss]

Just love you guys! If you can't do something without a keyboard and monitor you are lost. I've been in this business for over 15 years and I have yet to use a computer to program a Partner system. Believe it or not, ALL Partner releases can be programmed from extension 10 or 11 and that is the only way to program anything other than an ACS. You can make programming changes in less time than you would be able set up your computer and get it to communicate, download, etc.

Don't get me wrong, PC Administration has it's place and even must be used to do some things, but I see a lot of people here who think it is the only way or use it as a crutch. If you know the programming it only takes a few seconds to walk up to extension 10 or 11 and change something, maybe 5 minutes to program from scratch.

I think one of the reasons nobody knows the programming steps is that the documentation now provided sucks! Bad enough it's on a CD but the format itself makes no sense. Compare it to the printed manuals they used to provide that ended with I think ACS R5.0. Section 5 was programming arranged A to Z with a numerical cross index. Read through it a few times and you saw what the system was capable of and what you needed to do. When you needed to refer to it you could find what you were looking for easily.

Progress, YECCH!

-Hal

 

[DWLaurie]

I am well aware of all Partner systems being able to be programmed from exts 10/11. That's how I did it until I found PC remote admin in June. I am also aware that the functions that I want to program on the VS are available through the administrator (Int 777 Ext 99) and can be accessed on any extention on the system (system or non-system phone) as well as remotely (*7 ext 99). What I want is to observe the system reports to look for anomolies so I can be prepared for faults considering that it was purchased by a small, poor non-profit agency from eBay. I have manuals for the ACS what was Ver 1.1 and has been upgraded to 6.0 and I have the manual for VS 3 and VS 4. I may not be a "phone guy" but I have been managing phone systems for 5 years. Definity, Merlin, Partner, Nitsuko, and Hitachi, even an old Western Electric system that needed a "control phone" for every 2 lines that not only have to be plugged into the telephony, but AC volatage as well. Not a lot of programming there, but a lot of wiring cross-overs when I had 6 lines and 6 phones. BTW, I think the only way the Nitsuko and Hitachi could be programmed was by laptop/PC. At any rate, enough of the soap box. I just want to know what information I could pull off of the unit so that I can have them prepared for disaster recovery and let them know what they got. After all, Stickers can be moved, Programming doesn't lie!

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi DWLaurie,
On the older Partner VS, you only get info on boot up. I am not sure if RS-232 ports are hooked up on every version. If the settings aren't right you may not even get garbage.

Hal,
I normally program via phone. But I do save the program on the laptop. The newer Partner Messaging units are MUCH easier and faster to program via laptop. My laptop is already plugged in and running after setting the iP address up. Cuts my training time too. You have to get use to the new features or you are "ripping" your customers off. Go ahead and charge more, but give the customer the option of the features.
-Chris