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UPGRADING ACS R1 OR 1.1 TO A R3.0

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PETC8263

Technical User
Apr 28, 2003
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CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE TELL ME HOW TO PROCEED IN UPGRADING A ACS PROCESSOR FROM A R1.0 OR R1.1 ,TO A R3.0?
 
Assuming you have an upgrade card, power off the ACS, remove your existing backup card, insert the upgrade card, power on the ACS. The power light on the ACS will alternate green & red until the upgrade is complete and then go solid green. You now have a R3. First thing I would suggest is that you perform a backup of the system when the upgrade is complete.

Brian Cox
J & J Communications
brian@jandjcommunications.com
 
Hi PETC8263,
Is there any reason you aren't going all the way to R5? Same proceedure. Just newer software on the card. Guys, check me on this. Don't you have to start with an ACS R1.1 minimum?

-Chris
 
That's what I've heard, but I just upgraded a 1.0 to 5.0 a couple of days ago with no apparent ill effects. I've also heard you're supposed to flash a 1.0 to 2.0 first, and then flash again to the desired higher release. Don't know what difference it would make as the rom memory is being flashed with new programming in any case.

Brian Cox
J & J Communications
brian@jandjcommunications.com
 
No need to upgrade the older ACSs in stages, as you can go straight to R3.XX - R4.0 - R5.0.

Andrew Roach
President - Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail-Component-Transtalk Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
269-685-5400 - voice
269-685-5500 - fax
 
THANX GUYS .YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP.
 
Hi All,
I just thought I would mention one thing. A few times I have seen really weird program (translation) corruption. Things like a line programmed that was outside what an R3 would have (eg. CO25). These days, I expect the unexpected. :)
-Chris
 
You can only upgrade a Partner ACS 1.1, you can not upgrade a 1.0 at all. And you can go from 1.1 to 5.0 with no problems.
 
Brian is correct that the ACS R1.0 circuit board with the original processor software version will upgrade to the ACS R5.0 latest version. There are a few concerns we have seen with this upgrade from the ACS R1.0 original circuit board that primarily relate to some of the older circuitry and components on that board that have been replaced on the newer style ACS main boards - R3.0 and newer. These older components seem to fail or create processor CPU programming quirks within a short time frame after an upgrade to ACS R5.0.

This has happened in our test lab when we fill a 5 slot carrier with (2) 206ECs - (1)012 and a Partner Messaging. We upgraded the older R1.0 power supply, some other components and it still occured. Can't repeat these different failures and CPU programming corruptions, but it has happened a few times for us.

We have over 100 of these upgraded to R5.0 out in the field in more normal configurations without 012s or Partner Messagings without any failures.

Andrew Roach
President - Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail-Component-Transtalk Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
269-685-5400 - voice
269-685-5500 - fax
 
Andy,

I haven't tried a 012 in a upgraded R1.0. Partner Messaging seems to operate normally. I'll report back my findings if I ever have another 012 module to play with. We sell very few of these.

Brian Cox
J & J Communications
brian@jandjcommunications.com
 
Hi Andrew,
The latest case of corruption was with an original ACS R3.0 to R5.0, adding an 012E. I have had other corruption without the 012E cards, ACS R3.0 to R5.0. I wish we could change the translation rev level in software like the Legend / Magix.
Andrew, when did they change the power supply in the ACS. I've had hot R3's, the R5's seem to be okay. What changes did they make?
-Chris
 
Chris,

The problem with alot of "refurbed" ACS processors available on the market currently is that you can't be sure what the original circuit board is unless you open the plastic shell and know what the older circuit boards look like - R1-R1.1 & R2. About 50% of the ACS processors we get in for repair each week - come in with an original labeled R3.0 shell, but the older circuit boards are inside. We even see some of the R4.0s now coming in the same way. My point is that you can't be sure what you have "inside" unless you check and know the component configurations on all the version boards. So when you mentioned that the R3.0 to R5.0 with the 012 caused some corruption, it might have been an older board unless you knew the history of the processor.

The Older ACS processors had a different design and vintage of components on them that Lucent had major problems with overheating. We always repalce key PS components when we repair them - what we call the PS "update" whether the PS is defective or not. Like the VS R5.0 mails, Lucent made improvements on the ACS processors as newer releases came out starting with R3.0.

The problem with overheating which does cause some probems with the life expectancy of the power supplies was addressed with these newer power supplies, but ultimately Avaya woke up and just redesigned the 5 slot carrier so the modules don't interlock as they did in the older 5 slot carriers. Improved air flow around the mods helps, but the most important factor for improvinjg the life of ALL Partner mods is using the best power protection on the 100V supply side and also on ALL CO Lines coming into the switch. Basic telecom info, but not followed consistently. Keeps our repair business going!

Except where you need a specific release of the ACS software for a component like the 012E or 1600DSl (an Avaya flop), you can change versions both up and down, but will lose programming in many cases.



Andrew Roach
President - Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail-Component-Transtalk Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
269-685-5400 - voice
269-685-5500 - fax
 
Our Partner ACS is located in the warehouse whcih gets very hot during the summer. 2 years ago our ACS would go nuts about 2pm every day. The top of the ACS processor was hot as fire. We bought a small fan and mounted it to blow air on the top of the ACS. No problems ever since. Maybe Avaya could start mounting a small fan inside the Partner mods to keep them cooler like on pc processors.

Brian Cox
J & J Communications
brian@jandjcommunications.com
 
Hi Brian
Yaaay, now it's a vacuum cleaner too! Actually, the best defence is to keep the system cool, as in ambient temperature. The fan does help. Can you run an air conditioning duct to it?
The new carrier will help too.
Andrew, we received many ACS R3.0 straight from Avaya that I guess must have the earlier rev supplies in them. I have an ACS 3.0 in my house that I upgraded to R5.0. I remember modifying the supply myself. I found a zener running way too hot, so I changed a resistor (can't remember which one) so the supply didn't run so hot. Voltage correction from the opto coupler I think. I also put two zeners in parallel.
-Chris
 
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