atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems MICS 4.1 to 7.1

We're considering upgrading our MICS 4.1 to 7.1 -or whatever is current- in the next few months, primarily because our Flash 2.0 seems to be dying a slow death (had to reboot it twice in the last six months...no programming lost, yet) and our vendor is giving us a deal if we upgrade the MICS at the same time as replacing the Flash with a CP150.

My questions are:

1) Does the MICS upgrade only involve a new software cart, or does the physical trunk box have to be replaced? The quoted price looks like a lot for just a cartridge

2) Is there any 'clear winner' feature addition or improvement between ver 4 & 7? Other than the standard "it's just newer" answer, I haven't been able to get much of a reason why we would want the MICS upgraded.

3) Is the next release of the MICS software likely to hit anytime soon?

Thanks gents.

The price quoted from the vendor will of course cover the price of the software upgrade as well as his time involved for the upgrade. It's not a simple "Pull the old out & push the new one in". There are proceedures that he must take to insure everythings OK afterwards.

Also did he just quote a price for the software with service as a separate item?

Is it a "Global" quote for the software, Call Pilot and service all included? If so, the bulk of the price would be the Call Pilot & reprogramming that from scratch.

For your 2nd question, check out this link for some of the changes.

For the next release? Your guess is as good as mine, but do you really want to wait until your Flash dies completely & have to wait for the vendor to get what is needed to get you back up & running?

Hi Dave

I requested a quote on installation of a CP150, and that then became a CP150/MICS 7.1 combo. The difference between the two quotes seemed high for a MICS software upgrade, which is why I was wondering if it included new hardware. I don't know what kind of labour said upgrade would entail, but even if programming had to be rebuilt from scratch, we have a relatively simple system which an expert could likely complete in an hour or two (I figure it would take me about a day).

In the end, I will likely go with the combo upgrade, if for no other reason than to avoid connecting a new VM to a 7-year old key system - although this doesn't sound like all that bad an idea from what I've read on the forum.

Thanks.

Even after the upgrade, you're still going to have a "7-year old key system", just updated with the newest software. 7 years for a Nortel KSU is nothing. I've still got clients with their original KSU's being 15 years old. They're tough. I've only had to change out two KSU's because they were defective: 1 took a direct lightning stike and the 2nd took a surge and blew out one line. And that was easily repaired with a new fuse soldered onto the board.

If you are at all happy with your system, it's worth the upgrade.

The whole reason for your dilema is the Flash VM. I wouldn't even consider repacing it with a Flash. Call Pilot is much more stable and worth the price.

Unless you are looking at the added features of Digtal Mobilty Telephones or want to use T7316e telephones, an upgrade to 7.1 is not nessecary to run Call Pilot. The minimum version required is 4.1. Also if you are using PRI for your lines 4.1 was not very stable and I do recommend the upgrade.

There is hardware involved in your upgrade... NVRAM cartridge must be replace. The proceedure to upgrade while maintaining the current database is rather lengthly and required if you are using PRI.

Next generation of software: 8.0 I have not heard of any release date or if there is even one planned. I have a wish list for what it would contain.... VoIP modules.

Always good advice on the forum, thanks guys.

Marv, no PRI yet, so I guess sticking with 4.1 won't kill me. I can only think of three benefits:

1) I've had an infrequent corruption of HG settings with 4.1. Deleting & rebuilding the offending HG seems to take care of it, but I guess this must be fixed in 7.1.

2) DST change (not a big deal really).

3) We're currently working around a few dead ports, and I will eventually need these for stations (although not in the immediate future).

Thanks again, will let you know how it goes.

Marv, I know this is a wish list for many us, but have you heard that this might be a possibility (rumor mill), or just a pipe dream; eventually forcing everyone to move to a BCM.

Just dreaming.