Blah

What are people's versions? Am I working for the only company that feels the inherent need to be "bleeding edge" vs "leading edge.?" We keep discovering issues for Avaya, making them have to write patches.. I don't know what the problem is.. but apparently we're the only customer keeping up to date on firmware.. even on TN2224 cards.. the comical thing is I asked Avaya, "What about the non-DP TN 2224 packs/DS1s/etc?? " Answer: "Be thankful you haven't moved to them entirely yet.." We've been down in various forms more in the last year than during the last decade.

Blah

CM 2.2, forgot to mention. Migrating to 3.0, God Help Us, over the next year.

PBXtech.info

 

liquidvw

I just upgraded the firmware on some of my clans and medpro's. They still seem to be fine. Many of my digital packs and ds1's are older so they are not upgradable. The ones that are, I don't touch them. If It is not broke, don't fix it.

I have not had any problems with any of my CM2.X software or firmware.

Blah

My problems have been updating and upgrading.. while I do not subscribe to "upgrade just to upgrade.." my company does not like this.. and funds everything. So it's a Catch 22. I don't want to lose the funding to do upgrades.. but in order not to.. I have to upgrade. And that means upgrading.. While we have had ZERO problems with any of this, we've been down more than ever before just to update things. In a 24*7 environment, taking down DS1 packs, TN packs, and then interchanging the servers is no light thing.. everyone's got to be notified.. and in a 40+ cabinet scenario, you're looking at 10-20 hours for just firmware updates.

Here's my take. Either the G3 was more stable. Or.. Avaya hid stuff during the G3 era.. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between. We defintely were NOT upgrading nearly as much as we are now.. We're are purposely installing TN packs that are not upgradeable, same with DS1s.. it's just not worth it.. the whole point of having a system is to have it up and running. Not to upgrade it continually.

That being said, I have not updated the TN or DS1 packs.. however, part of the 2.2 upgrade is in fact updating all the firmware.. as big as we are.. it's going to be about 17 hours.. from pack to pack, I mean.

Blah

The positive of all this is at least the data guys can have a good laugh now.

butch

I am trying to get a tn2224 B v18 working in a G3 9.05 and have several spares and none have ever worked in this system. What's the secret? Do I need to change the location code as it says in the r7si manual?
Butch

PBXtech.info

 

ahays

[/SOAPBOX MODE ON]
They're lauging because you're creating your own problem. Taking your 7x24 system down repeadedly simply to satisfy a desire for funding (i.e. simply to spend money) is not only counter-productive it's irresponsible. The "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy is rock solid. Unless you need to fix a problem or add additional features you are simply wasting both time and money. If you were working for me and I found out what you were doing (and why) I'd want you to be sure and have your resume up to date because it wouldn't take a fortune teller to predict your future.
[SOAPBOX MODE OFF]

Take a long hard look at what you're doing ... at how you're negatively effecting your company's operational effeciency for purely selfish reasons ... and then let your conscience be your guide.

.al.

__________________
Al Hays, ACE, MCSE, CCNA
Homepage: http://www.jeral.com/
Training: http://www.jeral.com/avaya-learning.html

oozenoz

You have bigger problems than just a 'catch 22.' If your company's management does not understand the effect constantly upgrading has on their business, how well can they be managing the rest of the operations?

Al is right in a way, if you're doing it just for the sake of spending the money and appeasing your superiors, you are not doing anyone any favors. Step up and tell them what they risk - if they haven't already figured that out. You sound sane enough to me; if I can suggest anything at all, either try to muster up the courage to tell them what they are doing is stupid - meaning it's counterproductive, potentially unnecessary, probably not cost-effective, and obviously disruptive - or work on that resume and try to find a position elsewhere. Not all companies are so loose with their money - or their attitudes about upgrading just for the sake of upgrading.

__________________
- calvin

knewshound

If, and I do mean IF you have decided to do these upgrades, why not purchase a stock of "spare" cards ?

You can update them individually, then replace a "non-upgraded" one with it, upgrade that one, roll it into the next spot ect.

If nothing else, you will spend a LOT less down time, get the latest updates, if that is important to you, yet still maintain 100% (or close to it) up time.

I am with Al on this one however, I have never, EVER, upgraded for the sake of upgrading. I run a 90 node network of G3's/Prologixs and have never spent a single minute doing what you do and my network availability is outstanding.

The Telecom world is far different than the Data world, upgrades ARE essential, IF they are needed.

Upgrading for the sake of having the latest release is a poor business practice. You are BTW a Vendors dream, an endless pot of money in search of a place to spend it.

Just my $.02.

Cheers,

knewshound

martinyoung

I will have to agree with these comments and I speak from experience, having done this for nearly 40 years. You should examine each upgrade to see if it fixes a problem you are having. If it is not relevant then don't fix something that is not broke.

The only time I do a blanket upgrade of all cards is if I am doing a major upgrade of a PBX, for instance, from Release 11 to CM3.

If your management absolutely insists on these needless upgrades, then follow knewshound's suggestion. Since money is no object, buy several spares and start your upgrades with them. It will go a lot faster.

__________________
Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech