sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Norstar Software Upgrade Kit.

Can anyone answer this question? I used the Upgrade kit to go from Rel 1-T1 to 7.0. Can I assume that this kit is reusable ?? Does it need reset before re-using?? or just plug it in again and it does it thing ?? If it needs reset somehow - how do you do that? I would sure hope that these kits are NOT use once and toss !!!!

The pcmcia card is reusable. You will need to purchase an NVRAM cartridge with your next upgrade.

OK - I would like to take this another step farther. I just had to replace the Outer Shell Cartridge for a customer about a month ago because his CAP was bad. Everytime power went out he lost his configuration. Then HOW does this upgrade tool work, when I pull out the Rel 1-T1 cartridge and insert this new Shell and Upgrade PCMCIA card, how does the Config info stay in tack. If the software is stored on the cartridge - I just removed it. If the s/w is in the system, and the CAP is is the Cartridge - I just removed the CAP. Somebody tell me!!! Where is the software stored? And where is the CAP? And how does it keep its info to upgrade when the Cartridge is removed?????
This is one of those - Don't know because it has never been explained to me.

This one of those questions that has the answer I give my kids... "because it does".

I know it seems really weird, but I'm sure the engineers have their reason. The database is in the cartridge because you can take the cartridge and put it another KSU and it works. Yet when you pull the cartridge and replace it with the upgrade cartridge and tool somehow the database is still intact in the KSU.

Actually there is memory in both the cartridge and the cabinet (and a cap in each). I'm only guessing here, but here's what I think happenens. When you boot from a normal cartridge, the data in the cartridge is uploaded to the KSU memory. The KSU memory is also cap protected (there is a cap in both the cartridge and the KSU), but each time you boot the cartridge over-writes the KSU data. So if the cartridge data defaults because of a bad cap, the KSU (although it has the data already stored) defaults when it boots because it is over written.

I suspect the upgrade software does not upload anything. Instead it takes the data already in the KSU and downloads it to the new cartridge. I also suspect if you leave the KSU unplugged long enough there won't be any data stored to upload to a new cartridge.

Now if you ask me why Nortel did it this way I will refer you to my first sentence of this post.

By changing to a two piece cartridge all that needs to be done now is change the operating system flash card when you upgrade with a stop at 6.1 if you are going to 7.0.

Well, That is the best (and only) answer that I have heard so far. I will call it fact until someone tells me something better. THANKS TELEMARV.
Side note: This upgrade took my R1-T1 to rel x then the next card took it to rel. 7.0. It worked!!. This site had MICS, 4 station Mods, a NAM, and PRI with broken up DID blocks. Since it saved me from re-doing all that DID stuff, I am a happy camper. The only thing the upgrade missed was my T1 (not PRI) card. When it was all done, I had to change lines 1-18. They all came up loop. Changed 12 lines to E&M, 6 to DID, and left the rest alone. All worked great.
Amazing - It must be Christmas. What a gift!!!