Re: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM
David Hajek wrote: Thanks for your answer. We don't have to use Nortel's BCM, it is one of the option we're considering (not sure if it is still in the game now). I will ask this way, what commerical fullvoip PBX you will recommend? Unfortunatelly I can't use asterisk for this central point, but I can (and will) use asterisk on satellites offices. Can you please give some hints what vendors/makers I should not forget? 3com looks promising Thanks. -David -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Van Meggelen Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 4:24 PM To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion' Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM Use H.323 and in the BCM set the protocol to "Other". Do you HAVE to use the BCM? It's a really horrible system. I worked for many years in tech support, and I've been involved in BCMs since the beta trials of version 1.0, four years ago. I know BCM, and I can tell you that it is one of the worst telephone systems ever produced. Check out the spec sheet: - The operating system is Windows NT 4.0 -- no really, an EIGHT YEAR OLD OPERATING SYSTEM. - The MSC card is a Norstar KSU that they put on a PCI card. That's FIFTEEN YEAR OLD technology - and it shows. - The platform is an Intel Pentium III 700Mhz, with 256megs of RAM, and a 20meg hard drive. How much do they want you to pay for it? - Many of the critical scripts in the system are DOS batch files (I am NOT kidding!). The BCM is famous for it's instability (go figure), and mind-numbingly stupid interface. Unless you have a lot of money to waste on obsolescence, I'd remove the BCM completely from the equation. If you have to go Nortel, go with a Succession (even a Norstar would be a more stable choice, and you can tie it into a VoIP gateway with PRI trunks). You might want to consider not using Nortel's VoIP technology at all -- I don't think they fully understand VoIP yet. Better would be to tie any Nortel gear into your VoIP network using legacy trunking through, say, an Asterisk gateway, like this: [NT PBX/KSU]---PRI---[Asterisk]=(WAN cloud)=[Asterisk] I wouldn't use the BCM as a boat anchor, but for sure it should NEVER be used as the core of a VoIP network - it's just a key system, and not a very good one at that! Good luck! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, does anyone has an experience with connecting Asterisk to Nortel's BCM (http://www.nortelnetworks.com/products/0> 1/eedge/bcm.html)? I would like to make this working using some voip protocol IAX, SIP, but it looks like Nortel's can't do that? My scenario is Nortel's BCM in central office and asterisk installations in satellites offices. Just a few of comments on the BCM. The programming is _extremely_ limited. We are not talking about a real PBX here. We are talking about a glorified key system. (This is from the mouth of the tech of the company who installed it for us, and I have since verified that this is definitely the case.) The license fees are ridiculous; the pay-as-you-grow method is just another way to gouge more money out of people. (Though I realize most commercial PBX systems are using this method, now.) Be _very_ careful that you look _very_ closely at which licenses are required for what service. There will be several that are daisy-chained and seemingly unrelated. This is definitely the most frustrating part of the purchase. Whatever you come up with for license costs, give yourself ample room for errors of omission. The system is based off of embedded Windows NT, and it is riddled with bugs and erros. We are currently using an Asterisk system encompassing our BCM on all sides. The PRI comes in on Asterisk, all of the VoIP and analog sets are on Asterisk, but the digital office sets are on the BCM. This is only because the investment had already been made in the BCM by the time I got Asterisk up and running. -- Ulexus ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM
If you are going to be running a system at the central location as a core switch, you will want to ensure you have, at minimum, an enterprise-class PBX (Asterisk is an example of an enterprise-class PBX). A carrier-class system would be better (but you're going to pay for it!). I have yet to hear of one of the big names doing VoIP well - they are all stuck in their old-fashioned mindset, and are resistant to the new paradigm. What this means is that they are not as obsessed about standards-compliance as they should be. They figure they need to lock you into their technology, not give you flexibility. This will cause you immeasureable grief as you try and get interoperability support from a company that really doesn't want to offer it. This has gotten to be such a problem that AT&T has started their own VoIP interoperability lab.(http://www.telecommagazine.com/default.asp?journalid=3&func=departm ents&page=0409t02&year=2004&month=9) Another important thing to understand is the difference between a key system and a PBX. About eight years ago a Lot of vendors started referring to their key systems as a "Hybrid-PBX". What this meant was that the system had a few PBX-like capabilites, but was still very limited in functionality. Once people got used to the moniker, they dropped the "Hybrid" and now the term PBX means almost nothing. A respectable discussion on the topic of Key system vs. PBX can be found here: http://www.pbxinfo.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid =431. The difference (aside from the limited features on a key-system) is that a PBX switches all channels through the same dialplan, whereas a key system keeps trunks and stations in different numbering spaces. Also, a PBX thinks differently from a key system. A PBX thinks in terms of taking calls from one channel and connecting (switching) them to another channel. A key system mostly just worries about getting incoming lines to ring on phones. Any key system I've seen that provides a PBX-like numbering plan (such as routing codes - 9 for local, 8 for long dist, etc) has to do it through a kludge; Nortel's BCM/Norstar is a classic example of this. So when you're evaluating a "PBX", you'll need to have a proper telecom geek look at how it handles it's routing functions. It's not easy knowledge to gain, and I've never seen any good books on the subject. Ask your supplier to get you a definitive answer to this question: "Is this a hybrid-PBX?". If there is any hesitation in providing that answer, be cautious. I couldn't comfortably recommend anything other than Asterisk, because from what I've seen, no one handles VoIP more openly. All of the big name vendors will happily promise you the world - if you're willing to pay for it. There's a ton of commercial PBXs out there. It's hard to say which one's best because they all have their niches. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Thanks for your answer. > > We don't have to use Nortel's BCM, it is one of the option > we're considering (not sure if it is still in the game now). > I will ask this way, what commerical fullvoip PBX you will > recommend? Unfortunatelly I can't use asterisk for this > central point, but I can (and will) use asterisk on satellites > offices. > > Can you please give some hints what vendors/makers I should > not forget? 3com looks promising > > Thanks. > > -David > > >> -Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of >> Jim Van Meggelen >> Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 4:24 PM >> To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion' >> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM >> >> Use H.323 and in the BCM set the protocol to "Other". >> >> Do you HAVE to use the BCM? It's a really horrible system. I >> worked for many years in tech support, and I've been involved >> in BCMs since the beta trials of version 1.0, four years ago. >> I know BCM, and I can tell you that it is one of the worst >> telephone systems ever produced. Check out the spec sheet: >> >> - The operating system is Windows NT 4.0 -- no really, an >> EIGHT YEAR OLD OPERATING SYSTEM. >> - The MSC card is a Norstar KSU that they put on a PCI card. >> That's FIFTEEN YEAR OLD technology - and it shows. >> - The platform is an Intel Pentium III 700Mhz, with 256megs >> of RAM, and a 20meg hard drive. How much do they want you to >> pay for it? >> - Many of the critical scripts in the system are DOS batch >> files (I am NOT kidding!). >> >> The BCM is famous for it's instability (go figure), and >>
Re: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM
We don't have to use Nortel's BCM, it is one of the option we're considering (not sure if it is still in the game now). I will ask this way, what commerical fullvoip PBX you will recommend? Unfortunatelly I can't use asterisk for this central point, but I can (and will) use asterisk on satellites offices. Can you please give some hints what vendors/makers I should not forget? 3com looks promising... You might want to consider the Alcatel OmniPCX Office (not Enterprise). It's pretty cheap - at least on my side of the world. It's a native IP-PBX that scales to 200 users. For a small PBX, it packs a lot of punch including CSTA Phase 2 for CTI. According to someone at Alcatel, the OmniPCX series can interface with other IP PBX through H.323 or SIP. Been thinking about it but no time to explore that. Maybe you can check with your local Alcatel reseller. FYI. ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM
Thanks for your answer. We don't have to use Nortel's BCM, it is one of the option we're considering (not sure if it is still in the game now). I will ask this way, what commerical fullvoip PBX you will recommend? Unfortunatelly I can't use asterisk for this central point, but I can (and will) use asterisk on satellites offices. Can you please give some hints what vendors/makers I should not forget? 3com looks promising Thanks. -David > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Jim Van Meggelen > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 4:24 PM > To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion' > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM > > Use H.323 and in the BCM set the protocol to "Other". > > Do you HAVE to use the BCM? It's a really horrible system. I > worked for many years in tech support, and I've been involved > in BCMs since the beta trials of version 1.0, four years ago. > I know BCM, and I can tell you that it is one of the worst > telephone systems ever produced. Check out the spec sheet: > > - The operating system is Windows NT 4.0 -- no really, an > EIGHT YEAR OLD OPERATING SYSTEM. > - The MSC card is a Norstar KSU that they put on a PCI card. > That's FIFTEEN YEAR OLD technology - and it shows. > - The platform is an Intel Pentium III 700Mhz, with 256megs > of RAM, and a 20meg hard drive. How much do they want you to > pay for it? > - Many of the critical scripts in the system are DOS batch > files (I am NOT kidding!). > > The BCM is famous for it's instability (go figure), and > mind-numbingly stupid interface. Unless you have a lot of > money to waste on obsolescence, I'd remove the BCM completely > from the equation. > > If you have to go Nortel, go with a Succession (even a > Norstar would be a more stable choice, and you can tie it > into a VoIP gateway with PRI trunks). > > You might want to consider not using Nortel's VoIP technology > at all -- I don't think they fully understand VoIP yet. > Better would be to tie any Nortel gear into your VoIP network > using legacy trunking through, say, an Asterisk gateway, like this: > > [NT PBX/KSU]---PRI---[Asterisk]=(WAN cloud)=[Asterisk] > > I wouldn't use the BCM as a boat anchor, but for sure it > should NEVER be used as the core of a VoIP network - it's > just a key system, and not a very good one at that! > > Good luck! > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hello, > > > > does anyone has an experience with connecting Asterisk to > Nortel's BCM > > (http://www.nortelnetworks.com/products/0> > 1/eedge/bcm.html)? I would > > like to make this working using some voip protocol IAX, SIP, but it > > looks like Nortel's can't do that? > > > > My scenario is Nortel's BCM in central office and asterisk > > installations in satellites offices. > > > > Thanks, > > David > > > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Asterisk-Users mailing list > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/> asterisk-users To > > UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > > > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > > > ___ > Asterisk-Users mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: >http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users > ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk with Nortel BCM
Use H.323 and in the BCM set the protocol to "Other". Do you HAVE to use the BCM? It's a really horrible system. I worked for many years in tech support, and I've been involved in BCMs since the beta trials of version 1.0, four years ago. I know BCM, and I can tell you that it is one of the worst telephone systems ever produced. Check out the spec sheet: - The operating system is Windows NT 4.0 -- no really, an EIGHT YEAR OLD OPERATING SYSTEM. - The MSC card is a Norstar KSU that they put on a PCI card. That's FIFTEEN YEAR OLD technology - and it shows. - The platform is an Intel Pentium III 700Mhz, with 256megs of RAM, and a 20meg hard drive. How much do they want you to pay for it? - Many of the critical scripts in the system are DOS batch files (I am NOT kidding!). The BCM is famous for it's instability (go figure), and mind-numbingly stupid interface. Unless you have a lot of money to waste on obsolescence, I'd remove the BCM completely from the equation. If you have to go Nortel, go with a Succession (even a Norstar would be a more stable choice, and you can tie it into a VoIP gateway with PRI trunks). You might want to consider not using Nortel's VoIP technology at all -- I don't think they fully understand VoIP yet. Better would be to tie any Nortel gear into your VoIP network using legacy trunking through, say, an Asterisk gateway, like this: [NT PBX/KSU]---PRI---[Asterisk]=(WAN cloud)=[Asterisk] I wouldn't use the BCM as a boat anchor, but for sure it should NEVER be used as the core of a VoIP network - it's just a key system, and not a very good one at that! Good luck! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hello, > > does anyone has an experience with connecting Asterisk to > Nortel's BCM > (http://www.nortelnetworks.com/products/0> 1/eedge/bcm.html)? I > would like to make this working using > some voip protocol IAX, SIP, but it looks like Nortel's can't do that? > > My scenario is Nortel's BCM in central office and asterisk > installations in satellites offices. > > Thanks, > David > > > > > > ___ > Asterisk-Users mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/> asterisk-users > To > UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users ___ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
