Blah

We've migrated to S8700s long ago.. between the constant patches and firmware upgrades, on cards, servers, and myriads of other problems we've seen.. we've concluded Avaya must be intentionally pushing a product that requires far more maintenance than ever before.. sort of akin to a highway department that intentionally erects roads that require mainteance. Avaya still has the best product, and there's no choice in the matter.. but the G3 platform was far more stable. Voice will get degraded, and it will become more acceptable (outages, etc).. similar to the data world.

I am also wondering how many businesses are ignoring Avaya and just sticking with the G3 platform, Definity AUDIX, etc, etc, etc.. proven, reliable products that are nearing end of support.. and now I've read Intuity's future will be Windows-based.. with some other company's voice port cards.. Avaya still will be #1.... but I think they are intentionally releasing products that are less stable than the G3.. I think this is their secret mission, besides playing in the IP world. Is it really in their best interest to keep rolling out G3-type products that rarely break?? There's more $$$$ to release a platform that requires constant upgrades, like "leap frog" upgrades.. hiding behind, "Well, the firmware needs to be updated on your digital packs.. your IPSIs, your phones.. then we'll talk to you.."

Sorry to vent. "Dial-tone never went down--until now." That's what I've had to listen to over the last few years. And it's not that things break.. we're just too busy upgrading to upgrade, to upgrade, to upgrade.. interchanging the servers after-hours, etc, etc, etc.

Blah

And in fairness to aVaya, I realize that the more features available, the more problems.. I am just quite tired of firmware updates.. I would bet we're one of the few that are 24*7, and actually stay on top of the firmware, even on Cajuns.... it's getting ridiculous, like a full-time job just tracking FW updates.

PBXtech.info

 

liquidvw

I am waiting as long as possible to change from G3 to S8X00.

nexSIP

we had several issues to start but we are quite stable. I dont patch just to patch thats just asking for a headache :)

__________________
http://www.nexsip.com
Communicate Openly and Freely

Blah

Me neither, but there are now times where Avaya hides behind patches.. especially software patches.. like 2.2.. that's lately their answer to every problem.. are the IPSIs updated? Even the TN2224 cards and DS1s have to be updated.. it's an absolute nightmare.. and I think it's part of the highway department strategy. The S8700s are in fact stable, but the maintenance of them is definitely not..

DHQ

Earth to Avaya PICK AN O/S! We have the following running in our 8500/Aria MM/CMS/Conversant environment:

Windows 2000
UnixWare
Solaris 9
Linux

Each with its own temperment and its own little set of issues. Life is complicated enough without four different operating systems to futz with.

Our policy on firmware upgrades is, don't upgrade unless Avaya says we need to.

PBXtech.info

 

Blah

How about this on? A windows application running on a Linux server??? That's how some other products are set up..

Just wait until Avaya stops supporting S8500s altogether.. I remember how the S8100s were the king, the future, etc.. then there was also IP600... anyone remember that?

My criticism is constructive.. Avaya still has the best voice products, in my opinion.

liquidvw

It's a love/hate relationship. We love to bash them, but their products are second to none.

Blah

During 24-hour cutovers while waiting for an RFA/IPSI/CTI issue to get fixed, I hate Avaya. When I see things that don't break, while the data guys use the voice network to dial into their [down] routers/switches, I love Avaya.. what's happening is voice is getting degraded to the quality of data.. it's going to have to be more acceptable to have downtime for upgrades and maintenance... however, there are more contingency options as well.. it's a gigantic federal highway department.

Blah

a few years we attended a different company's sales presentation.. The company begins with "C" and ends with "O".. and is a major router/switch company.. anyway, during their presentation, they touted hold music as an advanced/new feature.. that says it all. oh yeah, the videoconference locked up because their network went down during the presentation. I am NOT kidding.. the sales lady went nuts.. that says it all.. Voice for that entire office also went down, so they could call no one at their CA office, either.. they had to dial in, we gathered, over the PSTN and troubleshoot. The presentation ended with an apology.. power outages were later blamed outside the offie. (AT&T?).