Strange Matworx problem (and other issues)

[Planethill]

Hey everybody!

Longtime lurker, first post. I have a new client with an antique NEAX2000-IVS and NEAXmail. I believe its a Version 1 PBX and AD-8 voicemail. I think.

I have scoured the net and this forum and read every manual I can get my hands on, and so far so good! But I have an issue that is stumping me, and that is maintenance access. After finally obtaining various cables I was able to get Matworx 13.0.1 to connect! The problem is, every option I try fails or times out. I cant really do much of anything. MOC mode works however, so it seems I do have a valid connection to the switch as I was able to set the system time. (Woohoo!!! ) What am I missing here? Wrong version? Too new/old? I see that 13.0.4 is the latest but I cant find it, or ANY other version anywhere. Any help would be awesome.

I am also unable to connect to the NEAXmail no matter what I try. I couldn't find any NEC software so I have been trying PuTTY and Teraterm using VT100 at various baud rates to no avail.

Clues:
[ul]
[li]I am running Windows 8.1 with a USB-Serial adapter.[/li]
[li]I have tried Matworx and the others in various emulation modes (95, 98, XP SP2, etc) with no changes.[/li]
[li]I always run both with Admin privileges.[/li]
[li]I have the following cables: MAT CA-P, RS NORM-4S CA-A and RS RVS-4S CA-C. What are the last two used for?[/li]
[/ul]

I am really stumped. I've been in the biz for 18 years and tried every trick I know, but this is my first NEC system. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[3racefan3]

With the old IVS MOC mode is all that will work when using MatWorx as far as I know. The AD-8 uses CoSession software and the latest operating system I was able to get it to work on is XP, I'm sure someone smarter that me has figured out how to get to work newer systems, perhaps using virtualbox or VMware.

 

[belevedere]

Your version of MATWorx was created for the IVS2/IPS, not the original IVS. MOC mode is all you get. The only way I got cosessions to work on WIN7 was with a virtual operating system. I had a Lenovo laptop that was virtual operating system capable. Cosessions is no longer in production and therefore is not updated to work with WIN 7 on up. Those of us in the NEC world usually keep an old XP PC running just to work on the older systems.

 

[Planethill]

Ah, got it. Thanks Belvedere. I've got a couple old laptops I could load up XP on, that wouldn't be hard to do. What version of Matworx would I need? (And any idea where to get it?!)

Another angle would be to update this to IVS2. What is involved in that? Just a new processor card or is it a major retrofit?

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[belevedere]

The IVS used an old DOS based program which was not very user friendly. Having worked on these systems for over 30 years using MOC mode is second nature. It's actually hex code. You should get some manuals at

http://www.wedophones.com

and look at some programming guides at

http://www.nectekhelp.com.

As for upgrading, the entire line of products, IVS/IVS2/IPS have been discontinued. An upgrade would be expensive using used parts, and the CPU is licensed to the original purchaser. The software is loaded on to the CPU, then registered with NEC. The registration server has long been taken off line. The current system is the SV-8300/9300. It is much like the IPS in programming and it has a much better gui program. There was a retrofit CPU that could have been plugged into your old cabinet, but getting one with software loaded and registered will not be easy. It also required replacing some of the common control cards.

 

[Planethill]

Yeah, I downloaded the whole set the other day. MOC/CAT mode is certainly doable. Not hard to figure out, but potentially a LOT of data entry. Do you know where I can get a copy of the old DOS Matworx for IVS1?

 

[belevedere]

In my opinion you will not gain anything by having it. Use the MatWorX MOC mode. The program is on 5, 3.5" floppy disks and I hesitate to offer it since it will not really give you anything more than what you have. It's designed for DOS, not Windows.

 

[OzzieGeorge]

The enhanced Iva mat would allow copying stations and keys and there is a version of Matworx for the IVS but it is very buggy. I am away from home till the fourth of next month and I will try to get something to you after that!

 

[OzzieGeorge]

Ok so home now.

First have a read here....

http://www.australiancommsforum.com/post/cosession-on-a-windows-8-machine-6788777?pid=1281823981

You will need either an XP machine or a virtual XP machine.

I have misplaced my Cosessions install disk but that won't stop us as it is basically a DOS program and can be simply copied across from one machine to another if the instructions in the link are followed.

The enhanced Mat, I have never tried to run on a virtual machine but I see no reason why it shouldn't work and again just needs copying across. I will fire up my work PC tomorrow and see if I can get you access via dropbox.