Upgrade from ACS R2 to ACS R7 1

[wheelma2]

I've had an old ACS R2 in a warehouse for a number of years, and now considering redploying it with an upgraded processor since the R2 processor has issues.

I don't imagine there have been many upgrades to the backplane itself, but I just want to verify that there are no issues with installing an R7 processor in an older 103H cabinet\carrier before I purchase the R7 processor...?

Please let me know if you've had any issues with similar hardware upgrades.

Thanks-
Marc

 

[1043]

It should work but if your going to invest in a new processor then spend another $100.00 on a 5 slot carrier.
The cooling is better on the new carriers.

 

[wheelma2]

Thanks... can you elaborate on the better cooling of the newer carriers?

Were they redesigned because the older cards were overheating.... or because the newer cards produce more heat?

Just trying to understand why I should recommend the business spend additional money.

I'm an IT geek... I'm all for spending their money...

Thanks-
Marc

 

[skip555]

I would go with a 6 , 7 has been Buggy

 

[1043]

The new carrier provides more space between the cards for air to flow.

If your company is concerned with spending $100.00 for the carrier do they really need the new processor. It cost us over $75.00 each to fill our vans with gas atleast twice a week.The old saying is "if it works why fix it

 

[wheelma2]

The new carrier provides more space between the cards for air to flow.

I didn't ask how, but rather why...

Why was it determined that the carrier needed to be re-engineered to deal with heat in a more efficient manner. I can think of a couple possibilities....
[ol]
[li]There was feedback that old cards were overheating[/li]
- We have a number of older Partner ACS systems in production, and have not experienced heat issues in our offices.
[li]The newer cards generate more heat[/li]
- We have a couple of R7 systems in production that were installed with the newer carriers, by contractors local to these particular offices.
- We have not deployed an R7 processor in an older carrier, so I have no experience with this adaptation... thus my inquiry.
[/ol]

I would consider recommending the newer carrier if it were designed to facilitate a greater heat load generated by the newer generation hardware. However, I would not consider recommending the newer carrier if it were designed because of feedback regarding issues with the older modules overheating... I have not experienced any heat issues in the older systems installed in our offices.

Perhaps the heat issues are only prevelant if the system is not installed in a climate-controlled room...?

If your company is concerned with spending $100.00 for the carrier do they really need the new processor. It cost us over $75.00 each to fill our vans with gas atleast twice a week.

I realize we're not talking about much money, but as I said earlier... it isn't my money. My team is service-oriented, not profit-oriented. Therefore, it's my job to ask... why?. Since the folks who run the business are concerned with dollars spent on this project, every penny I save reflects positively on my team!

If money weren't an issue (and technology were a must), I would recommend they go with a platform that were designed with VoIP, SIP (presence), Unified Messaging and Centralized Management in mind.

The old saying is "if it works why fix it"

The processor doesn't work. It must be replaced in order for this system to be put into production.

Since money must be spent on a replacement processor, upgrading to an R7 will be a cost savings to the company in the long run since it offers an "Admin" port. With this feature, I can manage it remotely by attaching it to a PC that is accessable over our existing WAN... then we don't have to pay the ridiculous rates charged by local, old-school techs.

I would also like an answer to this for other reasons... We also have several Partner II systems "on the shelf". If I can use the carriers and cards from them, with R7 processors, I may be able to save a few more bucks by buying several R7 processors at once and using these systems in other deployments that will be coming up.

 

[Dexman]

I don't know of any studies that look into the amount of heat generated by newer modules. The precise amounts of heat generated between hardware revisions isn't something Interconnect/CPE vendors concern themselves with.

Simply put, wider spacing = better cooling = longer life for electronics.

The new carrier does space the module out further than the old carrier. The new carrier also has "clips" that helps to keep the modules seated better than the old carrier.

The R7 processor has had issues since its inception. The most stable software release seems to be the "K". The R6, which is the same configuration as your current processor, has been around for several years.


If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[1043]

Sorry I didn't realize it was an engineering question. You might want to post that question in the Bell Labs Forum.

 

[SYQUEST]

Where is the BELL LABS Forum?

 

[Dexman]

I don't think there is one. The post may have been strictly humorous.

If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.