Upgrade 8x24 Nortel DS5 with expansion card and new station module

[Daveoman]

Hi.

We've got an old 8x24 Nortel system with firmware DS5 in it. It currently has no expansion. We've got it full of extensions, so I found a 6 port expansion card and a station module that will plug in. I'm wondering about the correct method of doing this? Is it a:

- power down
- plug new cards in
- power up

And I don't lose any of my programming and the new extensions are available? Or, does something else happen? I'm scared!

Thanks.

 

[exsmogger]

It's possible that your programming will default since the expansion will force stations to 3-digit numbering. You could go into System Data and change your system to 3-digit DN's before adding the expansion card. That might avoid the system defaulting, although I'm not certain. After adding the 6-port expansion, add your station module to the bottom most port and work up. Trunk modules are added from the top most port and work down.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[Daveoman]

Thanks for the data Brian.

I guess I better figure out a way to back this system up. It's not very involved, so going thru the menus should work for me. I read about getting a RAD device and some software, but that seems like a stretch for this application. Any tips about important things to look for?

-- Dave

 

[exsmogger]

Even if you back it up first you can only restore it to an identically sized system. If you try to restore after adding the 6-port expansion it will fail.

I'd change the system to 3-digit DN's before adding the 6-port and then hope for the best. At worst you'll get some experience with programming a system from scratch.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[Daveoman]

Ok, sounds good Brian.

Thanks!

 

[norstarboy125]

That system is so old once you power it down it's a good chance that it will boot up back to default. I would be prepared to re-program from scratch, it's a 50/50 kinda thing.

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[Daveoman]

Gotta luv computers being a 50/50 thing. Guess that's what ones and zeroes give ya!

Thanks all.

-- Dave

 

[curlycord]

That's based on Capacitor memory, much like the CMOS battery in your PC...it only lasts so long before it needs replacing.
Some Caps will last seconds, some minutes and some hours...all depends the abuse and age of the cap.
8X24 was discontinued 20 years ago?
So if made 30 years ago the cap wont last long.





=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord

http://www.curlycord.com

 

[Daveoman]

Update:

I went thru and wrote down the programming changes that were different from the defaults. I then changed the extensions to 3 digits. Powered it down, inserted the 6 port expansion along with the 16 station expansion unit plugged in to the bottom, and powered it back up. It did lose all the programming, but I went thru and set everything back up and it seems to be working swimmingly now. Thanks for the help.