Avaya Definity PC Console 1

[pedro6262]

I have PCCON version 2.0.0 running on a Windows XP machine as the attendant on a Definity G3si Ver.8 system. It's been working flawlessly for many years. We must upgrade all XP machines to Windows 7 or 10 in the next couple of weeks. I've tested this version on Windows 7 and i get an error "Error accessing the system registry".
Does anyone know how to resolve this or what product i should upgrade to?
I don't have support with Avaya at this time.

Thanks.

 

[kyle555]

I'd say stick with the XP PC as an exception to that rollout and just have it on the voice VLAN and isolate it from everything else.

You don't want to troubleshoot that
I don't think the current software version for PC would work with your PBX anyway

 

[pedro6262]

I would love to stick with the XP PC, but even though the PC is off the network, I'm told it must be replaced. I was hoping someone else was in the same boat over the last few years as XP has been phased out...Thanks.

 

[kyle555]

Unsupported, unsupportable. Ask them for the budget to upgrade the PBX while you're at it.

If this is the manual for the product we're talking about:

https://downloads.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/003679285

Then, no, you won't get any help from anyone running 20 year old software on Win7/10.
Give it a shot. How does that thing even work? For all I know if might get licensed off some DB25 printer port dongle or something. I don't even know what the PC requirements are - maybe it needs a PCI slot or something.

Even if you could run it on Win7/10 you may not have the 1990s interfaces needed to make it work.

It's a terrible idea. Just keep the XP machine until they have budget to bring their phone system into the 21st century.

 

[pedro6262]

Agreed...we have a plan in 2017 to move to a hosted VoIP system or onsite VoIP system (Cisco or MS Lync). But was hoping to fix this issue in the meantime...What Avaya software replaced PCCON 2.0?
Thanks...

 

[kyle555]

It's a few generations ago man. I have no idea what was in between, but today, it's One-X Attendant. It registers as an IP phone to the PBX, for which the PBX must both support VOIP and have a license - which pretty much scratches that idea for you.

 

[montyzummer]

You can run xp as a virtual machine on windows 7 , i am doing this for various applications and it works a treat , its free reliable and in essence there is no way that your IT department can moan about its usage , see below link , im sure that you can put a business case forward that is essentially let me run this work around or pay 10 gazillion dollars to upgrade our telephony estate.

http://www.duxburysystems.com/documentation/megadots/vmware.htm

ACSS (UC/SBCE/SM/SME)

Not that they mean a thing anymore , get a brain dump pass the test crash the system.

 

[kyle555]

monty - do you know anything about that old PC Console? Like, how does it connect? data module or serial port or what?

 

[lopes1211]

TSAPI via RS-232. It was done via an 8411 phone and it's rs232 connector ....OR.... almost any other digital phone plus a Passageway adapter (looked exactly like an 8400B data mod but I think it was Taupe instead of Black).

-CL

 

[kyle555]

Damn. I can't imagine buddy ever getting that working on Win7/10! Thanks for the info.

 

[lopes1211]

It might work. I think xp mode in win7 should be a no brainer. I think the biggest hurdle might be the software itself looking for a specific default IRQ for whatever com port 1-4 is used on the PC. I suspect the IRQ part may take a little as modern machines and/or serial port adapters don't care or follow the old school IRQ rules used back when that software was written.

Side note semi related but not really - XP Mode is rock solid and used on all of my machines. When doing a RAS connection to a CM over a modem, it kills the internet, email, etc. on your PC while you have the RAS connection up. Running ASA and the RAS connection in the XP window leaves your Windows 7 apps and browsers connected your LAN so you can still check email, etc... And you can't argue with "free".

-CL

 

[montyzummer]

Haha i just noticed your plans to "Upgrade to Cisco or MS Lync" how very dare you use those swear words in this forum , im just joking.... but with you already familiar with Avaya is there no way you can stay true to the cause , there are very competitive methods in pricing models if Avaya know they are up against such competitors , plus the tech is bomb proof ... even the IPoffice can now service upto 2000 users .... ok enough sales man speal .... i just dont want to see you move to one of those swear words and be disappointed.

ACSS (UC/SBCE/SM/SME)

Not that they mean a thing anymore , get a brain dump pass the test crash the system.

 

[kyle555]

Hey Lopes, I'm not saying you couldn't make it work... but to monty's point... Wanna talk about bomb-proof? The guy's 90s vintage PC reception console off a serial port is still working.

It ain't broke - don't fix it!

 

[lopes1211]

It might also be a good time to step back and ask how many phones are on this system and ultimately how important is this problem that you are trying to solve in the grand scheme of things? How many different numbers does this operator transfer 95% of the calls to? 10.....20....30???? If you ask the president of the company that IT says the operator needs to give up an app on an XP machine and switch to a $30 6424D+ with some speed-dials on some sidecars or else you need to spend $100K+ to upgrade the entire system to better support this one single user/phone.....you might likely get fired just for asking the question. Just saying. Perhaps the appropriate answer is that the app is supported up to Windows NT3.5 (if anyone even knows what that is anymore). If the IT department refuses to support NT3.5 or XP.....push the blame onto them and let them explain why it's an issue forcing a $30 versus $100K decision.


-CL

 

[mikeydidit]

I just dont want to see you move to one of those swear words and be disappointed."

It's really a shame that the IT guys today rule over the telecomm world. More and more of this will happen. Looks like this system, (over 7000 stations) not counting 5 other IP Office systems is now going to be replaced with not one but two Cisco systems. It will be divided pretty much in half.

The end result will be all IP (not that they couldn't do it on what they have) but it's got to be better on Cisco Right? Well the Gartner report says it's so... Is that like I saw it on the internet so it has to be true?? I hate to see them junk the place up myself but it is what it is..

Sorry for the rant.

When is the last time you helped someone, just because you were able to?

For the best response to a question, read faq690-6594

 

[pedro6262]

Hey everyone…thanks for the help and the information…this forum always has great information and has helped me with many issues…
@ Kyle555…Thanks for the help, but we had to upgrade…legal issue…otherwise you are correct, why upgrade off of XP, especially since it wasn’t on the network…
@ montyzummer & lopes1211…This solution worked like a champ…running Win7 boxes with XP mode and VMPlayer3 without an issue… I tried later versions of VMplayer with many issues…life saver…
@ montyzummer & mikeydidit…Sorry for the swear words…our Avaya system has served us without issue for 18 years for 300+ employees, I have no complaints…we had every vendor present a new solution and you would be embarrassed by the job the Avaya people did…great product, but the sales people are too complacent…
Thanks again…