SNMP directly to the sets?

[NARSBARS]

Are any of the sets, any model, with 4.0 software, SNMP capable? I am being put up against Avaya sets that are directly addressable though a MIB Browser.

Is this a tough enough question? I hope not because I need the help.

If this one is too easy, please see my earlier question about setting time via NTP.

NARSBARS

 

[MagnaRGP]

I don't have an answer, but I have to ask....for what purpose would a customer want to address sets directly via MIB Browser?

 

[NARSBARS]

Troubleshooting directly to the set level. The Avaya sets let you query the set directly and even set bandwidth parameters per set.
My reason is because the other side of the house is filled with people that read trade mags and they are saying that if Avaya can do this, then maybe we should go all Avaya.

NARSBARS

 

[MagnaRGP]

So they want MORE complexity and variables to play around with when troubleshooting a set that wont work properly because some IT hack forgot to include the VLAN tagging in a spanning tree group on one switch in a cluster of 15?

I wouldn't want that customer. You would NEVER get them to do ANYTHING but point fingers at the "other" system. If they want a server let them buy one. If they want a feature rich CALL Server that does just that (serve phone calls) have them call you.

K.I.S.S. Always works for me.

 

[NARSBARS]

MagnaRGP,
I wish I could follow your advice. I work for a State government that is 30% Nortel and 70% Avaya.
Nortel has a few PBXs that are not even networked at this time, over 120 key systems that I have to fight to get budget money for. They spend all of the $ on the Avaya and are constantly looking for a way to get rid of Nortel.
Several of the ex directors left service and are now working for the vendor of the Avaya equipment and I expect the pattern to continue. The most damming arguement against upgrading the Nortel past Succession 3.0 is that it doesn't break, so why spend money?
That said, I am in a constant contest to maintain my career in a setting that does not care about performance or features.

NARSBARS

 

[MagnaRGP]

They spend all of the $ on the Avaya and are constantly looking for a way to get rid of Nortel.
Several of the ex directors left service and are now working for the vendor of the Avaya equipment and I expect the pattern to continue" -- Aren't there some sort of conflict of interest laws at play here?

"The most damming arguement against upgrading the Nortel past Succession 3.0 is that it doesn't break, so why spend money?" -- this is an argument AGAINST Nortel?!?

Sounds like a no-win situation, but if the argument against Nortel is that it's so reliable that they don't need to spend any money on it, then maybe you could look at it from the budgetary standpoint of SAVING money by adding Nortel systems due to simplicity, reliability, and oh...I dunno...features. Nortel's site has plenty of competitive analyses between their systems and those of other manufacturers. Maybe you should download them and see if you can put together a case. Frivolity like SNMP to the set seems like tech for tech's sake and if "the other side of the house" has that much time on their hands, perhaps they have too many people for the current workload.

 

[NARSBARS]

I appreciate and agree with your comments.
As far as too many people. We have about 10,000 sets with over 200 locations. We have two technicians, one Nortel, One Avaya, and one dedicated vendor tech for each system.

I can see what is coming. We have 120 Nortel key systems and Avaya will be trying to sell them all as VoIP sites.

Well at least I only have to survive the next three years to be able to retire. The trouble is, I want to be productive and provide top quality services, not hide in a hole.

I come to Tek-Tips so I can talk with true professionals.
Enough of my whining! Thanks for all the help!



NARSBARS