sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Connecting two Modular ICS Units

Hello, can you tell me if it possible to connect two Nortel Modular ICS Units to work in Parallel? What would be needed to do this? My objective is to support additional sets on another floor and improve my performance. Hopefully the two units would apprear as one unit and share the tasks of the system. I have the second ICS unit available to me at no cost and wish to utilize it. My current unit is nearly maxed out as I have less than twenty port left free out of 160 ports. It has a fairly new CallPilot (67 free mailboxes)and uses two T1 lines. The software version is 30DDC04. I just need to get this working until we can get into VOIP.

While I have not examined the Avaya product line that can use Nortel phones, if I were you, I would call up an Avaya distributor and ask if there is not a new Avaya control unit that will let you use all your current phones (but not the mics and call pilot) and have VOIP phones as well.

I am no great fan of Avaya, but since they have taken over Nortel and you have that many phones, it would behoove you to get some detailed Avaya information.

Thanks but I am not even certain that we will use this companies VOIP equipment. A major purchase in another branch office was for CISCO equipment. It might seem illogical, but I really would like to use the two Modular ICS units at this time. Is this possible or has anyone encountered this type of setup?

I think you can use a tie line scenario ala a DTI card.

I believe it might be possible, I have not done it.

Why don't you ask the HQ to get a Cisco bid for your office and ask the Avaya distributor for an equipment bid too.

Some people think they have to have a Cisco or they won't be able to perform when they get home.

Other people would look at this and say, "I have a lot of phones there I can reuse, I mostly care that everyone has a phone that works, and upgrade this, don't buy a Cisco."

It is their job to determine if they want you to put patches on the system or upgrade it or throw it out. Give them some options and look like the valued tech who wants to help them instead of being the boss.

No - I do not believe that you can use TWO MICS unit and make them work as ONE.

You can have two units (one on one floor and the other on the other floor) they would each work by themselves. But you can tie them together to pass a call to the other system. You would still need voice mail on each. Or if you want to try some things maybe use the voice mail on just one....maybe. PM me if you dare try it.

PRI is what you need, make it like a centrex link

Bunny? can you define behoove?

In a very limited way you can join them together through an ata on each KSU.

Bunny can't, but Bunnie can

be·hoove
verb \bi-ˈhüv, bē-\
be·hoovedbe·hoov·ing
Definition of BEHOOVE
transitive verb
: to be necessary, proper, or advantageous for <it behooves us to go>
intransitive verb
: to be necessary, fit, or proper
Origin of BEHOOVE
Middle English behoven, from Old English behōfian, from behōf
First Known Use: before 12th century

I'm just one of those old farts that think it is a better idea to gather a lot of information then ask the customer what they want to do.

Yes, it is possible in a very limited way to link them together (DTi card, T-1 or PRi) and have 10% functionality. If I were in charge of a company I would not consider that option.

As I said before, getting a proposal for a new Avaya unit and for a new Cisco system would be a good idea.

You go to the boss and say "I have a proposal to keep the phones, and I have a proposal to replace all of them with a Cisco and I have a possible but really stupid way to give you exceedingly limited functionality that will cost more than it is worth."

Now they look at you as a valued person who is trying to help them.