sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Toshiba Telephones & Systems IPEDGE EC SERVER

what is your feedback on deploying ipedge EC in the field, is it stable as CIX serie's? we have 60 full ip users to deploy over 5 cities. communication depends on internet for sure.
does the system become slow in the time line?
thanks

While the two are different creatures and being associated with the dk/ctx/cix systems for many years it is not as simple to answer your question. What applications and/or services are you running? What are you using for voice, PRI, SIP, copper?
Added to that it must reside in the server mode, no more telephone closets or utility rooms these systems need sever room residency. Another thought might be is this a "new rollout" or is this a "replacing an existing system" I feel the cix is faster to deploy and gives the overall flexibility of the hybrid versus full IP. The additional third party devices required for analog devices or putting copper lines to the Edge are a pain and need to be incorporated by Toshiba.

Anyway the Edge is a solid, stable system that runs and runs for days and months without problems in my opinion.

We have been a Toshiba dealer for many years and have been slow adopters of the IP Edge. Our main objection was, as Toshiba Bob mentioned, the gateways needed. There are no SIP providers in our market so we would need some type of PRI->SIP gateway. The Adtran 908E was good because it also provides 8 FXS ports for analog devices. This has caused us to install CIX where, in hindsight, the IPEdge would have been a better fit.

That being said we are now selling and installing along with CIX. As far as a side by side comparison it would really not be fair to say either is better. Each product is well suited for a different type of installation. A CIX paired with an IP Edge app server can do all the things an IPEdge licensed as a communications server can (mobility, find me follow me, etc...).

If we have a site that is already VoIP ready or we are forklifting an existing VoIP system we would go with an IPEdge. A CIX with multiple MIPU cards would just not make sense in addition to the hassles presented by Network EManager. It would be a step backwards.

On the other hand, a site with good CAT3 cabling would warrant a CIX if we can successfully demonstrate that digital phones, while not "cool", have a place in the sun. Sometimes the IT people will not listen and we can fall to IP Edge.

Each site will have to be looked it and the whole picture determines what to install. If mostly IP or the IT department is IP centric then IP Edge. A CIX with numerous data connections will probably not fly as well during the proposal phase. Not saying it is impossible but it will be an uphill battle to convince a prospect that my system that needs 4 IP addresses and 5 connection to the LAN is better than IP Office that only needs 1 or possibly 2 connections.

To close this is my quick impressions of the pros and cons on each, this could be a 3 hour argument lol...

CIX - Rock solid, reliable, easy to install, works.... The downside is the architecture is showing its age and Network EManager just plain sucks as far as keeping it running. A CIX is just as good as the other vendors when paired with an IPEdge App Server.

IP Edge - Reliable. We have encountered some quirks that Toshiba has had to help us with. Strangely simple ones like analog ports not being able to initiate a conference call and the use of long distance account codes when using the fax sending feature. Toshiba, however, has been very on it in solving these. Administration - The PBX programming is just like CIX so no learning curve there. Browser based so no more Network EManager and the hassles it brings. The voice mail is based on the LUCA so if you are familiar with it, then the learning curve is shallow. An IP Edge applications server can be upgraded via licensing to be a fully functional PBX. One idea is if the CIX is outgrown you could promote the IPEdge applications server to a fully function IPEdge, install some IP phones, and tie the IPEdge to the CIX with EdgeNet (the new name for StrataNet).

As you can see, this can become quite the discussion and has been for us! If you made it this far, I thank you and wish you luck in your endeavor. If you have any further questions, I welcome them. We have 3 Edge installs (one is about 60 phones), and 1 IPEdge app server on a multisite CIX (4 sites tied via SN). So far we have been successful. We have had a few minor bumps from time to time but no real drama. ~ Mike

we have a futur customer that he looks ehead on IP technologie.
around 30 ipphones on lan and 23 over distant cities, we are looking for a EC server. 16 channel siptrunk over Thinktel sip provider,over fiber link.
we are very depedendant over internet, if fiber is broken again like last years, it was a mess in our area :-) , all system goes down. CIX is like a rock, and parts easy to replace, but in ipedge, we have no replacement.
we have to think about it before & submit the wright quotation at the customer needs.
thanks

There is bound to be a lot of opinions on which way to go, CIX or IPEdge. I would just add a couple minor points.

Traditionally a TDM PBX is hidden away in a closet, where it just sits out of sight doing it's job for several years. With an IPEdge, I think it is better to treat it more like your data servers then a PBX. Use Raid drives. Do Backups. Keep the server with your other servers in an air controlled room. Use UPS and power conditioners. Monitor the server periodically.

The IPEdge is still being developed, while the CIX not as much. The future will likely be mostly IPEdge. There has been a quite lot of features, improvements, and setup enhancements complained to the early IPEdge versions. But most of the additional features you can get with CIX and an IPEdge app server. We have been selling more CIX + IPEdge app server then just the IPEdge.

An IPEdge will be better then a CIX with SIP trunks and remote IP phones. With the IPEdge you can do NAT, while a CIX will require an MIPU with a public IP address. The built in wireshark comes in real handy.

One complaint I had about the IPEdge as a PBX is that it was TOO much like the CIX. I was dreaming of a time when we could have multiple PDNs without using phantoms, multiple system CF timers, names on MCGs and hunt groups, the MSG button that calls the voicemail even when not blinking, and other things that Toshiba techs have been asking to have for years.