sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems CICS - 4.1 software - Installer setup - IANAI

Interesting take on life you have, friend. So, basically one learns to do only one thing and never learns to do anything else? Dude, that would bore me to tears. Also, I loathe products from Micro$oft (note the reference to Linux in my signature. Don't know what Linux is? https://www.linux.org/info/index.html) but if you want to gunk up a PC with Windoze 2000 Server then go right ahead. I'd be happy to help you learn how to install a FreeBSD server or a distribution of a Linux desktop though. No sweat. Hey, the more folks I can help get away from The Evil Empire (Micro$oft) the merrier.

Regarding programming the CICS, heck it is just a computer that runs phones. Don't ass-u-me that I think I will be an expert in 15 minutes ... however, after tomorrow ... I will be a "phone guy". (For the humor impaired, that last sentence is a joke. A darn funny one too )

Gene

:rofl: This guy thinks a phone system is just a computer running phones? Damn, that's the best sentence i've seen in a long time. If you want a computer that runs phones, go out and get yourself some VoIP crap.

It took me a month to figure out three different Norstar systems, and that was with the help of the great techs here. They had the patience and cooperation to deal with me .

You know, most techs here, are trained on a system, went to classes, paid for an electrical license to properly install and get permits, they have strong business ethics, and they didn't go off and start on a system at a customer's site for $100.

If you want to learn a system, go out, buy the system, hook it up at home, (like I did) and mess with it a bit to learn it! Don't rely on books to tell you everything you need to know, as people on this board have had problems with Norstar that aren't in the books.

BTW, the assume joke has been played before, and no one took it lightly.

You have been warned! Be prepared for people not to help you as much from the display you put on here.

ERA you're not collecting many browny points here. Techs here have invested countless hours learning their craft (as I'm sure you did too learning yours).

Many phone systems manufacturers rely on the experience of their dealers. Most manuals are written by egg heads who have never held a punch tool or a butt set.

CICS for the most part is plug and play but if you want to customize it, you'll find out soon enough there a lot "undocumented features".

Well all I can say is there is no secret to programming the Nortel's, as suggested you should do a startup and clear it to default, if you are doing VM with it you will have a very hard time trying to build it as it is something you really need to know before you attempt to build the tree. I have seen many a IT guy get stuck with this and ( not saying this is your case )really get in over his head very fast, the switch is nothing like a computer, there is no way we can train you on this in 5 min. class's on this usually take 4-5 days when you go and get cert. I wish you luck and let us know how it went.

ERA I going to get some grief for this but I'm on your side everyone has to start somewhere and if the customer is willing to let you learn on their system then go to it. I have learned most of my telecom experience on my own as I started out in consumer electronics. I look at a little different then you to me its just another group of circuits, a transistor, resistor, capacitor etc. all perform the same function no matter what type of equipment it is. From my experience if you work with Linux then you will be a fine "phone guy" Good Luck

Gentlemen,

To those of you who took offense at my last post here I apologize. The jest was meant to be lighthearted and intended to be taken that way. If you still choose to be offended, oh well.

To those of you wishing me success. Thank you! It went great and the simple settings the customer wanted were easily done with the documentation in front of me. The suggestion to perform a 'STARTUP' was excellent advice. Thank you again to those who suggested that here in this thread and in private messages (you know who you are).

For the record, my uncle worked for AT&T and BellSouth (back when it was South Central Bell) as a lineman and installer for over 35 years. He now owns a phone system installation company in Mississippi and I could easily ask him to walk me through the setup over the phone. Since I am family he would do it and not charge me a dime. But I wanted to do this on my own by researching with other people. You guys have been great.

Hmm, telemarv, I've had a punch tool for years I think I need a butt set now. ;-)

Gene

Glad you got it going Gene, stick around maybe you can help us phone guys with those computer thingies every once in awhile.

ERA, I do like your spirit. Like you have said the customer that owns the CICS understands the circumstances so everything seems to be OK.
You will have some success but that will not make you a phone guy just a luckier than average computer geek. See, we can joke around too.

Remember this at all times. All of us techs in here have walked into a room before that was full of CG's like cockroaches in an Arkansas kithchen and took care of a problem that was confusing the whole crowd. Then we rode off into the sunset like John Wayne just to be disrespected by a jealous CG. We expect that out in the world but in here tread lightly with the "just phones" type comments. We gotta break you in and initiate you first. Apparently that has already begun.

Carry on young Jedi. May the force be with you!

John

You can count on my help if I know the solution. If it is a Micro$oft Windoze system the likely solution is to reinstall. If you want to get into open source systems like FreeBSD or Linux then a reinstall will rarely be the answer to a problem.

If you know how to use IRC (Internet Relay Chat) then come over to freenode.net (the primary open source software chat network for techs and users) and look me up. I am in several channels there and give free help to Linux users in #mandriva and #ubuntu when I have some spare time. I also hang out in ##freebsd as well as a few other technical channels. My nickname on freenode is 'eracc'.

Gene

Thanks for the forum tip. I'm setting up a ubuntu desktop and server next week.