XC 7.1 w/ PRI lost Programming??

[Goodbytes]

I was programming (from startup) a newly upgraded XC 7.1 system with PRI. The system was working perfectly until the building announced over the loudspeaker that they were conducting "Life Safety" tests. Not sure what happened after that because the power did not seem to go off on our floor yet the phones just stopped working (steady date/time on display, but unresponsive until I pressed the release button, then everything started flashing). We didn't yet have a UPS on this system (though we had recommended it to our customer).

I checked the DTI card which had lights flashing on the 2nd and 3rd LED's from the top of the card, and I decided to wait about 30 minutes hoping everything would reset.

After no response, I tried rebooting (several times), disconnecting the DTI and various cards, waiting approx. 20-30 minutes each time.

Though I have a backup of the old 4.1 version, I had no backup yet for the new one as I wasn't quite finished programming. It seems that I've lost my XC 7.1 software and/or the NVRam card. I had no choice but to replace the software with the old 4.1 XC to get basic functionality back and, of course, I've also lost my PRI code as the system defaulted when I went back to 4.1 (using the old NVRam cartridge).

My best guess is that we may have taken a power hit through the T-1 circuit during the power shutdown/cyle in the basement Telco closet but I'm open to any of your ideas about what may have caused the problem.

My questions are:
1) Has anyone seen this problem before (unexplained loss of programming with no apparent power outage) and is there any way to protect from a power surge through the T-1 link?

My supplier has already told me previously that they can't regenerate any keycodes and will want to charge me again for a new one. Any way around that?

What is Nortel's warranty with regard to their software and keycode products?

Thanks in advance for any responses...

 

[lugerlover]

1st nortel will regenerate if you still have keycodes. SO your supplier is full of s***
I have seen a nortel switch reboot on massive t1 hits"errors" Both pbx and norstars

 

[MagnaRGP]

If you have the system ID your supplier can retrieve the enabler code from KRS for you and should do so at no charge. If they won't, any vendor with Nortel access can get the enabler code for you.

As for the power, I don't think you took a hit over the PRI link. I would say more likely there was a hit of some form during the life safety test. If your system is plugged into an outlet that is connected to the emergency generator, that is likely where the hit came from. Emerg power is the dirtiest power (variations in voltage supplied and/or harmonics) you can have and is susceptible to HUGE spikes when transferring from normal grid power to the generator and back. With no UPS to protect the system, it's VERY likely that your programming was wiped, and probable damage to the cartridge if not the chassis itself. No warranty short of an insurance policy will cover that.

Like I say to my customers....a UPS is $300, your system is $X thousand plus labour to repair/replace. You choose.

 

[Goodbytes]

Since I no longer have the software, I can't check the logs to see how many hits the T-1 was taking, though I have also seen reboots from too many hits (though not complete software failure).

The more I think about it, the most plausible explanation would be a spike from diesel generators kicking in during the tests (if that's what they did).

I'm getting a UPS and will contact a different vendor to try to retrieve the codes. As for the expensive XC 7.1 software/cartridge, I'll probably have to eat that one.

Thanks for the input...

 

[hawks]

If the system ID did not change you’re vendor should be able to retrieve the codes. But I suspect that the ID changed and that is why your supplier said that you would need to purchase a new one. Nortel may replace the codes but only after they get an open PO and do an investigation to make sure that the system really did change ID and you are not just saying that it did to get free codes. Been there and done that with Nortel, they give you a new code and if they fill that you are telling the truth you will not be billed. Good luck

 

[jerryreeve]

If you downgraded from 7.1 to 4.1 your KSU's system id number will have changed (you can check this by pulling out the sysid and compare it to the sysid that you had to submit to get the keycodes for the pri enabler). armed with the old sysid and the new sysid you can recover the keycodes thru the KRS (keycode retrival system) that nortel maintains and vendors should have access to.

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JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com