Replacing cards on Merlin Legend - Programming Concerns?

[cakestick]

Hello,

I have determined that one of the ports on my DS1 card has gone bad, and am awaiting a replacement card that has just been purchased. My only concern however is that I have been administering the system, but was not involved in the initial setup/programming when it was first installed. My question to you: If I bring the system down properly (last to first), replace the DS1 card, and bring it back up properly (first to last), will the system believe that it's the same card? Or in the case that is not as desirable, will I have to re-program the card to function as the last one did?

I have already made a backup to flash and file if necessary, just wondering if anyone can answer this question. Thanks!

 

[tdaugirdas]

Yes - if you do the above - there should be no need to reprogram. How did you determine that the card is defective?

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[cakestick]

Well, it's still possible that it could be the processor itself, but replacing the DS1 card is the cheapest attempt at getting the system going again. I have had intrusive testing done to make sure the T is clean to the CSU, and there are no errors related to the issue arising on the CSU either.

Basically, there's a pool set up for making outgoing calls by dialing '9' - when a user attempts to place a call on a certain pair, the phone will disconnect in the middle of dialing or shortly after. I'm assuming that the only way it gets past the issue is either a) someone disconnects a call they were on, freeing up a lower port, or b) two try at the same time and the bad port is skipped.

I have not been able to find information on how the *03 trunk access works, as I've tried *03 + system pw + trunk number and the phone just times out. Also no idea how to remove a bad port from the pool itself, but I'm assuming that info will be found in the manual.

I wish there was more time to train on this system, however being the 'jack-of-all-trades' makes that sort of thing difficult!

 

[tdaugirdas]

What kind of T1 service do you have? PRI? There really are no "lines/trunks" - just T1 channels. However each "live" channel is assigned a trunk number in the system. - and these trunks are then placed in a pool or multiple pools. Is this a full T1 = 23 channels or something less? You say there has been extensive testing done to ensure you are getting good communication from the Telco network to the T1. Is there a specific channel that is disconnecting? which channel is it?

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[cakestick]

They could not see any certain channel disconnecting inappropriately during the day, and the intrusive testing had to be done after hours. This is a full T, of which 12 channels are being utilized by the 9 pool. The other half is for our incoming 800 number, which doesn't seem to be having any issues.

 

[SYQUEST]

Would you post a print of the DS1 config? That way we can get a better idea how the DS1 is programmed on the switch.

Have you run any of the maintenance tests on the 100D Module?
Any alarms in the Error Log?

They are covered in the maintenance document. The *03 trunk test is in there also, but is sounds like you are having trouble using it. How many trunks did you try and not get DialTone? If your DS1 is configured as a PRI the *03 test won't work, you get error tone. You would have to use the Pool access code and cycle thru the channels. The *03 works on analogue or conventional trunking on DS1 ie: LS or GS or TIE types. When using the *03 + pw, you should get system DialTone after the pw is entered, then the trunk number then "CO DialTone" if CO trunk, etc.

When the station users are placing calls, the trunk number is displayed on Display Phones. So with a little attention it should be easy to spot the bad trunk.

I am assuming you figured out the system pw for the *03 test. If not just convert the system login pw letters to digits and you will have it.

Hope this helps!

....JIM....