Upgrade requirements? 1

[tryingmybest]

We are wanting to upgrade our Partner ACS R1.1. I have found on the Internet where I can puchase a new R5.0 upgrade card. It is the Remote Access PC Card (Remote Access, Upgrade, Backup/Restore). Will this card upgrade us like we want? (i.e. to R5.0 features). We currently have the PC Card voicemail inserted in the system (4 mailbox) and set on auto attendant. How do we go about upgrading, first? And second, do we re-insert the voicemail card after the upgrade or what?? How does that all work out?? All information is appreciated.

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi tryingmybest,
Upgrading is easy. Do a backup if you have a restore card. Power down the system. Replace your old backup / restore card with the new one & pull your vm card. Turn the system on. The power light will alternate red / green. The system will then reset. Power down the system & reinstall your vm card. Done (you hope)
Be aware that sometimes the programming suffers a little corruption. Look for the same co assigned twice on an extension. Likely one you don't have on your system. There may be other strange things but you'll get through it. This does not always happen, so don't worry too much.
Now you have R5 features, except possibly fax CNG detect on the CO's. (circuitry involved)
-Chris

 

[tryingmybest]

While fax CNG would be nice it isn't a must. I just needed to know the process I needed to take to do the upgrade (i.e. order of inserting and removing the cards). Thanks!!

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi tryingmybest,
Just think, now you can "dial in" to program the system with a PC. The software is free on the Avaya website, so is the R5 manual.
-Chris

 

[tryingmybest]

That will definitely be helpful.

Is $185 a fair price for an R5.0 upgrade? It's the cheapest I found in my short search on the Net.

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi tryingmybest,
Sure, not bad. But I'm in Canada. I don't know what your market values are like. Doesn't sound too shabby though.
-Chris

 

[tryingmybest]

Okay. Must be around there. $185 was the cheapest for an R5.0 upgrade and they went up to $275.

 

[h5n1]

i don't think you can upgrade straight from a R1 to anywhere higher than a R3....there's been hardware changes for the R4 and R5....maybe i'm wrong.....

 

[TouchToneTommy]

You can upgrade anything from 1.1 and higher all the way to R6.

 

[tryingmybest]

Is this correct? I thought I read somewhere it could be done. We have R1.1. Anybody??

 

[tryingmybest]

I just looked again. The website where I found I could purchase the R5.0 upgrade card lists that it upgrades R1.1 - R4.0 to R5.0.

 

[tryingmybest]

Okay, good. Since we don't currently have a backup/restore card will we lose settings when I upgrade or will it retain them pretty much, except for the occassional mix-up as mentioned by Chris? It isn't a huge system so reprogramming wouldn't be that huge of a task, but it'd be nice to not have to do that. But I don't want to have to buy something else just to backup.

 

[TouchToneTommy]

Just make sure that your batteries are good before you upgrade. Backing up to an existing card before upgrading is not needed, as you can't restore from that file - it will be from an earlier release!

So, the batteries are good, power down, remove any old backup card, insert the new card, (the VM card won't matter if it is in or out), power up and watch the light flash green/red until it flashing stops and the phones come to life. NOW, do a backup onto the new card.

Now do whatever programming you need to do to take advantage of the new software features, test them out, and when you are satisified, do another backup to keep the new programming.

The upgrade card SHOULD also contain the modem for remote access, assuming you are purchasing one that is brand new from the factory. Sometimes, Avaya Business Partners will burn the upgrade onto a card that doesn't also have the modem, to upgrade a customer that already has a remote access/backup card. That way, after the upgrade, the put the old card back in for backup/remote access, and take the upgrade card back to the office to reprogram again for another upgrade. Make sure that the card you are purchasing includes the internal modem.

 

[tryingmybest]

Thank you, TTT. Good info.

This one does specifically say it has the modem in it.

Backing up is a feature code, I know. What's the code? Yeah, I could look it up but I'd have to find the manual first and I know someone out there will know from memory, so.... :-D

 

[Naperguy1]

X 76 is the modem. You need to set up the Remote Access Password first (#730).

Naperguy1

 

[tryingmybest]

I thought that was for remote access. Isn't there a code you punch in to make the system back up to the backup/restore card or am I wrong? I've never done it before so I don't know how to do it.

 

[Naperguy1]

Backup is #124

Naperguy1