I am guessing you are cutting from an ILEC to a CLEC (or reverse).
If the CLEC has done thir job, and configured the trunks identically, then the cutover consists of:
1) Porting the old numbers over to the CLEC. This is completely in the hands of the LEC.
2) Unpugging the old trunks and pluging in the new ones.
However in the real world it is quite common that the new trunks won't be identically configured. For example using T1, they may have gotten the line coding or framing wrong. In this case the fastest solution is to change these things int eh PBX, though making them change it is also an option.
Another example involves DID (on analog, T1, or ISDN). If the new carrier gives you more or less digits than the previous then this must be addressed. If you have a complicated dial plan it may be better to have the Telco fix it, but if you have a simple dial plan you may be able to just change it in the PBX.
I guess my favorite description of a cutover is from the "old days" and is from Jane Laino's book "The Telephony Book":
At a typical cutover, a lot of people would be standing around looking worried, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and making periodic forays out of the telephone equipment room to reassure the customer:"Yes, at any moment now you will be back in business"
I don't think much has changed in many cases, but I guess they are less likely to be smoking now, and maybe some are drinking lattes rather than coffee
ISDNMan, you've pretty much covered it there. It's a pretty helpless feeling between the time the number port is scheduled and when the first call comes over the new circuit.
So few buildings allow smoking these days, I've taken up Skoal chewing tobacco during all-nighters. Those latte cups make great spitters.
At a typical cutover, a lot of people would be standing around looking worried, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and making periodic forays out of the telephone equipment room to reassure the customer:"Yes, at any moment now you will be back in business"
Pretty good summary. In short, i would consider anytime we have to take a service down and then restore it to be a 'cutover'. We use that term for installing a new Key system or PBX, replacing a router/switch setup, etc. I also use the term when associates call me on the cell phone during that time so they understand i can't chat (We're in the middle of a cutover) which means I'm busy with jumpers and programming and can't visit.
PLEASE don't use those latte cups for spitoons! Man that scares me, a typical situation for my crew in a cutover (no smokers, no chewers) might have an assortment of 10 latte cups scattered around as new ones arrive and you weren't quite finished with the old one, etc. I've never picked up the 'wrong' cup, but i have picked up the cold cup. That is a bad risk for your coffee drinkers
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
Solving 'Real World' problems
Daron, I've taken to marking my territory with a Sharpie -- usually a big CHAW on the cup side or lid will make people notice. It only took one big gulp to break me of using beer cans too. One time is too many for that mistake.
Back on topic -- one thing that's important is to have access to the project folder that has all the order numbers, circuit IDs, contract numbers, and contact info for the providers in question. Trying to track down the CFO or business manager and find the keys to a file cabinet at 11 pm is no fun at all.
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