Taking learning on to next level? 2

[Stramec]

Hi Everyone,

I have been visiting the site for the past couple of months since our main Avaya guy moved to pastures new and I got asked to take over the admin for our 5 sites.

We have G3Si's V11 installed with Audix and a couple IPO 406. Previously I have been involved in general Admin (add, moves, changes etc) but since the change in roles I have been faced with installing a new switch from scratch, an Audix going belly up and synchronisation with the carrier going pear-shaped!

Rather than causing me to tear my hair out, I must confess I have caught the Avaya bug and find myself thirsting for more knowledge. This was even more keenly felt when my MD said he wanted suggestions for new systems to replace the current definitys!

So guys after you have all pulled me out of a numerous number of holes, my question is, what would you regard as essential reading for anyone wishing to get a fuller knowledge of what Avaya have to offer?

Things that spring to mind that I would like to know.

1. What are the differences between Multivange and Definitys, are they just later models using fundamentally the same OS and commands?

2. Where can I get good advice and information of setting up Call centres, with skill groups etc.

3. IP telephony, where to start, what's on offer from Avaya.

I read the Avaya website and find their documents great when you have the systems infront of you, but not when I really want pro's cons of each system and general info on how a whole system would fit together.

I realise as I write this what I am asking is 15 years experience in one document... assuming no one has this (if you do I will pay money !! ) any handy links guys would be great.

Also how do you all keep up with rumours and news on Avaya and telephony in general

Thanks

Stewart
P.s Last one... is the Avaya Learning centre worth joining?

 

[4merAvaya]

The easy question first: The Communications Manager is an evolution of a product that started as System 75 in 1984. Around 1991 that product merged with the System 85 and began life as a Definity Generic 1. System 85 became Generic 2. As development progressed the G1 & G2 were merged and became a G3. The name 'Definity' was used up through V10. Avaya used the name MultiVantage for about a year, then decided to change the name to Communications Manager. Same product that has gone through numerour enhancements since 1984.

Kevin

 

[Stramec]

Lovely, good start thanks for that. So now I want to be focusing on Communications Manager.

Right off for a new search.

The rest of you don't be shy, keep it coming

 

[mikeydidit]

http://www.vancouver.hm/avaya1.zip

http://www.jaymzworld.com/pages/linux

Above if a couple of links that you might find pretty good.

Like you said, nothing you can read will come close to knowledge obtained through years of experience. One other thing that may help is to log everything you do with your systems. I find myself getting to the point where I don't remember things as well as I used to, (Sucks too) so I made a maintenance log for all our systems. In it, I write when the routine maintenance was preformed and when it is due again. If i have something that goes into trouble, I put what happened, the cause, and what it took to resolve it. It gives me something to look back on in case I have the same trouble come up again.

Here is a sample for you if you would like to start one. These are problems that I had earlier in the year and what it took to resolve them.



Switch records 2005

1-24-05
Ran backups on the switch and Intuity.
• The initial backup for the switch ran without any problems. The second copy of the backups on the spare copy’s the A optical disk failed. I ran the backup again and both passed without any further problems.

1-25-05

Around 6:30 am I received a call from the switchboard reporting to me that they had an alarm light on their consoles. I dialed in remotely and found we had a minor alarm on the B removable media. This is a problem that has occurred off and on since 11-29-04, as I have listed in my 2004 switch documentation. I called Chris and had him run several repair procedures to try to retire this alarm. I had Tim and Chris run test commands and to reinsert the optical diskette, to no avail. After looking up the error codes and alarm codes, it appears that the test number 811 failed with the error code of 5222. This points to file number 10 having corruption. The initial command to repair this is to save translations and backup the diskettes both full. This did retire the alarm. I feel that these problems are going to be reoccurring until 1 or all of the diskettes are replaced with new ones. I will call tier 3 in Denver for a second opinion.

2-15-05
This morning I have installed the new version of software for the Micro Call system. Made a backup of this new version and burned a copy to DVD. It is stored in our fireproof safe.





Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center

 

[4merAvaya]

Avaya has bought into the '... For Dummies' publications. There are (3) documents that may interest you: VoIP for Dummies, Call Center for Dummies, and Mobil Workforce for Dummies. These are available for download from the Avaya.

Kevin

IP Telephony:

http://www.avaya.com/gcm/master-usa/en-us/pillars/iptelephony/index.htm

Call Center:

http://www.avaya.com/gcm/master-usa/en-us/pillars/contactcenters/index.htm&cid=AVIPCC

Mobil Workforce:

http://www.avaya.com/gcm/master-usa/en-us/pillars/mobility/index.htm

 

[Stramec]

Mike - thanks for the idea of the log, I think it will really help, especially if I record any major changes - easier to remember what I may have done if it all goes tits up!

Have now got the dummy manuals as well, should keep me busy busy on the train for the next few weeks...and stop me looking like a dufus in the next staff meeting

Thanks fellas

Any more tips guys to make life easier? ....All are welcome

 

[nohuhu]

Stramec,

do join avaya university. there are plenty of courses available there, and the most beautiful part that a lot of them are web-based. so you can learn yourself up sitting comfortably in your chair drinking coffee, and these courses either free or cheap. typical price is $33 or $50 or something.
as for choosing new telephony solution, do take advice and stick to avaya. there are very few worthy competitors, namely nortel and cisco, and nortel overall is no better than avaya (and more expensive) and cisco is much worse, never mind what cisco sales say. considering that you already have an avaya-based network you may leverage this and save a lot of money.

 

[mikeydidit]

I didn't know about those "Little books" Kevin.

That will give me some new reading as well. Thanks.

Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center

 

[Stramec]

Nice work guys, the dummie books are really good for basic concepts and terminology and I've already filled 5 pages with logs (reckon I'll learn in time the important stuff to put in )

Has anyone suggestions for general telephony magazines or websites which are a must weekly check for the latest news.

I come from more of a desktop support background, IT changes like the wind, I'm reckoning telephony will be the same.

Good publications on latest developments, would be nice to know.

I've been put onto "comms dealer", but there must be others?

p.s Badgering the powers that be for my Avaya Learning funding