atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Interface differences between Avaya and Nortel?

Hello everyone,


I have about a year of Avaya PBX administration experience (Avaya Administrator/Gedi etc.) and I'm going to be interviewing for a position that utilizes Nortel PBX. What are the major interface/command differences? Is it still stuff like 'display/change subscriber, cor, remote coverage path' etc. or is it completely different? Any help with this topic would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

You are going to find that EVERY manufacturer uses different terminology for the same functions. I hold certs on 3 and all are different, it's simply relearning terminolgy.

IT guys got it made. Everything they work on is one version or another of Windows. I personally have to completly clear my brain of Avaya terminology to work on a Nortel. Then clean it out again to deal with a Samsung. If you have certification in one area you are several steps ahead for sure but stay on your toes.

lol grider: i would support you, but it's windows, linux, BSD, unix, macintosh...etc.

And even then, IT isn't just server administration. There is the whole spectrum of routing/switching/transport technologies. It's really the same story on both sides of the fence.

I would tend to say that there are almost no similarities at all between Nortel M1's and Avaya Definity's interfaces.

A typical command on the Avaya would be "Display Station" where the Nortel equivilent would be "LD 20, PRT, DNB, ..., PRT, TNB"

Avaya ports are numbered "A0415" and a Nortel port would be "8 0 4 15".

Just to name a few...

Thanks for the input everyone. After much more research on the web, it looks like I'm screwed for the interview. The Nortel commands are indeed very different from Avaya etc. I've been reading some about Nortel loaders etc. but without a cross-reference cheat sheet or something, there is no way I cram enough before my interview (this Thursday!) to sound like I have a clue. The sad part is that it's really hard to get much detailed information on the web for PBX administration. There isn't a Nortel or Avaya 'technet' so to speak (or not much anyway). Better luck next time I suppose! Thanks again everyone!

Dan

Don't count yourself out just yet! Yes, you know that each system is unique and so does the prospective employer. You have aquired the knowledge, skills and abilities based on one platform and you have performed such duties that made your present employer money. You may be in a support position but you do make them money. You have traits that employers look for. Had this future employer wanted a fully trained and qualified tier 3 tech, they would have asked for one! You have many tools in your bag so use them and let the new company provide you with some more.

Danmcgrathm, to the board.

As jwooten said, only in double ! :thumb:

As an individual with decades in this industry, I have seen many things come and go within this profession.

Do you think I knew digital switching when it was introduced? But with my background, prior training, and basic knowledge of telephony, I was able to be trained to accomplish the job.

You have an advantage as someone is asking YOU, not you asking them. They will be more receptive of you than someone who would only accept a certified tech.

Good Luck, and don't count yourself out until the fat lady sings.

dan,

I'm a Mitel/Fujitsu guy who moved into an area chock fulla Nortels and Avayas. I apply for jobs on these systems armed with the knowledge that I can get up to speed in no time - why? Because I know PBXes... Don't matter if it's a port or a PLID or an EN, it's still the same thing, same with COS/COR, routing, ACD, anything. The major manufacturer's switches all do pretty much the same thing pretty much the same way, and they do it well.

Nortel's interface is pretty ugly, Avaya's is sorta plain language, Mitel's is menu-driven, and Fujitsu's is just plain ass-ugly.

You might want to check out the Nortel forum on www.tek-tips.com which has tons of FAQ's on the system, also www.ghtrout.com who has plenty of good info on his Nortel site.

Too bad there's no Little Instruction Book for every system, but if you dig around enough, you'll find some gold.

Finally, I've trained literally hundreds of techs to install, maintain, repair, and administer big PBXes and I can tell you, you can learn basic system administration essentials in a day, if you're motivated enough.

jsaxe