Hi everybody.
It seems I will be taking over 2 Mitel PBXs installed in small local resort. I’ve not looked into that yet, but at a glance they both consist of several SX-200 “microwave” cabinets (though not sure of what exactly kind of).
They also have some spare parts which are someone else’s old PBX bought for cheap and ripped apart. There is quite a list (see below).
I am asking for your advice on if there can be the decent bench system made out of it? Or, even the full-functional one in one cabinet? And what cards would you include?
Tnx.

Here is what I got:
SX-200 chassis (microwave) = 2
SX-200 Light chassis (tower) = 2
BAY PSU 9109-008-000-SA = 4 (some might be toasted)
MCCIII-ELX Stratum 3 9109-610-202-NA = 1 (I guess this is CPU, got some flash on it)
MCCIII-ML Stratum 3 9109-610-002-NA = 1 (another CPU with flash)
MITEL EXPRESS MESSENGER 8PORT 9109-080-008-NA (with 20GB HDD on it) = 1
BAY CONTROL 9109-017-001-SA = 3
DIGITAL LINE (12CCT) 9109-012-000 = 1
DIGITAL LINE (12CCT) 9109-012-001-NA = 3
LS/GS TRUNK (6CCT) 9101-011-001 = 1
LS/GS TRUNK (6CCT) 9109-011-001-SA = 1
ONS/CLASS LINE (12CCT) 9109-110-001-NA = 1
ONS LINE (12CCT) 9109-010-002-SA = 1
BLUE ONS/CLASS LINE (12CCT) 9109-110-002-NA = 7
BLUE ONS LINE (12CCT) 9109-010-003-N1 = 1
BLUE DIGITAL LINE (12CCT) 9109-012-002-NA = 1
UNIVERSAL 9109-005-005-SA = 2 (got one module on each)
9109-613-001-NA = 1 (twin fiber interface with empty slot, says not for SX-200ML or Light)
DUAL CONTROL FIM CARRIER 9109-611-001-NA = 2 (one with module)
unrecognized with fiber module on it, plugged into BAY CONTROL = 2

IF you are Mitel trained/experienced, the answer would be self-evident, i.e. yes. It wouldn't be fun or easy, even if you have the MOSS sheets for the MCCIII's. All that said, with your apparent lack of Mitel knowledge, no.

"BAY PSU 9109-008-000-SA = 4 (some might be toasted)"
Many times spare parts are really bad parts.
That list you posted gives you all the components you need but the fact they are laying around could mean there was a lightning hit to the original system.

Main point, LH is right, at best you would need some decent help, at worst there is no moss option sheet or decryption module and you would get nowhere fast.

I admire your ambition though.

Lightinghorse, your simple yes would be enough to turn me on, so… tnx. The “Mitel knowledge” ain’t something sacred. You personally can share the labyrinth’s roadmap or you can take it to the grave (forgive me my cynicism), sure, either your choice has the right to be made.
Well, you can consider me “trained” and “graduated” for at least the first level for sure as I was able to make my setup working just based on what I read from manuals (written f..ng poorly), my common sense, my hell of experience in IT, AND, I ADMIT, a little help from you guys. FYI, LH, I acquired my Master Degree in Electronics Design long ago and possibly possess waster knowledge in Electronics than you do (or can imagine).
BTW, on my SX-200 ICP setup I got the voicemails forwarded to the e-mails, everything is shining, we are all happy. Now I am configuring the firewall for VoIP so then we can take some phone sets home.
Mitel Tech, this is not going to be the production system so I do not really care how bad the bad parts are. In fact, that ripped PBX was in working condition when they bought it, so the chances are very good. As long as I get the boards “visible” by system I can do some programming even though the actual lines are toasted. I understand clearly that without the MOSS sheet I might be not able to connect to it or do anything with it. Let me try my ways, I got some.
Apparently, the PSU, MCCIII (I guess ELX), Bay Control have to be present, and the Messenger board won’t hurt. Then I think of one 6-Trunk, and ons-12 and digital cards; not sure which ones. I would appreciate your opinion on what would be best combination of them assuming that we gotta have everything in a single cabinet.

You are correct about the 3 control cards. The flash card must be in the MCC to boot.
The 8 slots on the left side can hold any cards except for a T-1 card, which goes in the right side but is programmed as Bay 5 or 6.
The MCC is where the decryption (software) module sits. It is about the size of a postage stamp and is basically a daughter board. Without it the system won't load.
If you do have it, the system will load and you can see the programming and check the MOSS options. The options store on the system for a while but default after a short period of time and you need the sheet to re-enter them.
You can play with some programming without the MOSS options but the cards won't boot.
Good Luck

I actually think the technical practices are fairly well written. Try reading the Vertical SBX 320 IP manual, and you may agree.

John

So let's think about this. My 2 cabinet system in a motel has (L to R) 4 ONS (some are blue) 1 Digital line, 2 LS/GS and a MEM in the first bay. Second bay is 3 ONS cards and that gives me a 12x84x12 (I think, I don't go to the property until Monday) system with voice mail. I have CIM's between cabinets. That's an ok setup, and I think you're allowed 7(?) blue cards. How's that MOSS sheet working for you? Don't forget to mark out pair 13 on the frame in each 25-pair cable.

The preceding is *INSTALLER* information.

Carl

Two more config. notes:

Always put the Messenger card in slots 1,2,3,4 no higher. I like to put it slot 1 and a DNIC in slot 2.

Blue cards require MOSS options to work.
Load the system with white ONS and DNICs to start. Play with the blue ones later.

If you get an E8 on the MCC after booting you have a configuration error.

Wow, we put the MEM in slot 8. Does it perform better or have a different power requirement in the first 4 slots?

Carl

Carl,
There can be a problem with the BCC if the MEM is in slots 5-8. Mostly seen it with the BCC3 cards.(I hate BCC3s)The MEM will cause the Bay to "lock up" from time to time. I think Mitel posted a TSN about the issue years ago.

Oh no, maybe it's why that site has gone through two BCC's in 8 years? Sigh. They think they can hang on until after Memorial day on the new restaurant cabling, so I'll put it off until then. Thanks for the heads up.

Some other thoughts for a "Bench system" -- Blue ONS (BONS) and blue DNIC (BNIC) are not interchangeable with white ones. White are generic, blue are limited to what's on the MOSS sheet. Again, you need that MOSS sheet, or you're screwed.

And when booting a MEM card, remember that it takes a hell of a lot longer than all other cards combined. So even after all the other cards are up, you may still have 5-10 minutes before the MEM is answering.

bda, you seem like a good guy, so I'm gonna be really frank here: The Mitel SX-200 is a great system, a lot of fun, and I love it. Having a bench system is a great idea. But there's a lot of "gotcha" in it also.

Even after training on the SX-200 D/L, I had a couple of moments when I thought I had completely destroyed the system (I still get really nervous if they take a long time to boot up). So if you really want to learn the system, get training on it.

Mitel will train end users, and there are third-parties who hold training classes. It'll cost the company to send you, but it'll save you a lot of head-scratching and maybe prevent a few "ох боже!" moments.

BTW, I'd go with:
(1) ONS/CLASS - white
(1) DNIC - white
(1) LS/CLASS
(1) MEM
and leave 4 slots to play with.

Carl, Mitel recommends them in the first 4 slots. I have found that getting in on the modem works better and hooking up locally through the serial port works better too. You don't get rejected when trying to connect.

Ok, I sorted it out all by myself.

Frankly, I did not look at this topic since my last post. I must admit that starting with MItel by reading first the manuals on SX-200 ICP was the wrong move. The ICP’s manual consist of kinda 2 parts: “how to operate the screws with screwdriver” and a written by embarrassing language full of abbreviations that perfectly makes it hard to see the forest behind the trees. None of really useful “how to”s. So this time I got the manuals for EL/ML which made it easier to get to the ropes. Then I:

1. Thrown away both Light cabinets as I was not going to keep them around; got 2 of microwaves – white (W) and black (B);

2. Tried and tossed the cards in the appropriate slots between W and B and eventually found that:

- W is dead, none of MCCIIIs in it would come to the point of flashing with alarm on the cards. I guess the chassis also has some chips soldered on its circuit board, apparently toasted;

- MCCIII-ELx also ain’t good: even though I can login to it there are no installed cards shown no matter which chassis I put it in. Strangely, it lets me login with “Installer” being in bad W, but there is no way in a good one;

- MCCIII-ML is all fine, no E.8 issue, I can get in, bingo. Good enough;

3. The flash card with LightWare v19 went into ML replacing the one with LW18. Nice little upgrade won’t hurt

4. All 3 BCCs seem to be working. One turned out to be made of much less chips which look more modern, so it stayed;

5. I guess ”VERIFY DATA” is not very comprehensive, and I will have to find out which circuits on the line cards are dead and which aren’t. Apparently, the CLASS cards are not supported on ML, or, at least without the DSP module.

I ended up with: Dig-012-001-NA (1 & 2), Blue Dig 012-002-NA (3), Blue ONS/CLASS 110-002-NA (4), Blue ONS 010-003-NA (5), Universal 005-000-SA (6), LS/LG Trunk (7), Messenger (8), Bay Control, Triple-FIM, MCCIII-ML.

As a last I have manually cleaned the configuration, and even though there are some alarms I got pretty much what I wanted. LH, you can close the topic, the weekend is almost here, time to go diving.

Sounds like a plan,bda. I'm thinkin' mohito's and NC beach sounds like a plan for this ol' reprobate!

If you knew how to read the manuals, they would make sense. IMHO

I know this thread is 'threadbare' but I was thinking about the NEC 2400 last night (DON'T ASK) and realized that bda's opinion of Mitel's manuals would improve by a factor of 1000, if he had to use NEC 2400 Manuals!

BDA,
Your config still has some problems.
Did you read all the previous posts?
I would relocate the messenger card to avoid problems.

ASYD alone had me pulling my hair out. I learned the 2400 from an NEC instructor named Georg, in the bay area, and sometimes I think he was trying to confuse us. Other times, I think someone at NEC was trying...