Norstar/BCM to UCX Conversion Guide

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Overview

The E-MetroTel UCX Server is a cost-effective next-generation Nortel Meridian1, CS1000, Norstar and BCM replacement solution, supporting both IP and traditional digital & analog technologies simultaneously, making migration to SIP based VoIP deployment much easier. It also means you can start benefiting from the latest technologies while leveraging your existing investments.

Supported Hardware

Note that a DSM16 is only required to support Norstar/BCM digital phones connecting to the UCX Server.

BCM Systems

The following systems can be converted to a Digital Gateway by purchasing and installing a Solid State Drive (SSD) with UCX software from E-MetroTel:

  • BCM50 (For BCM50 R1 hardware units with firmware version 2.04 or earlier, an update of the firmware is required to ensure reliable operation. For other BCM50 hardware units with firmware released prior to the year 2007, an update of the firmware is recommended. The firmware update procedure is described in the page: Updating BCM Firmware.)
  • BCM450

With the following systems, you will need to purchase the DSM16 from E-MetroTel that includes both hardware and software:

  • BCM200
  • BCM400
  • BCM1000

Digital Station Modules

  • DSM16
  • DSM16+
  • 32DSI
  • DSM32
  • DSM32+

Supported Telephones

Digital Phones

The UCX DSM16 allows reuse of Nortel Norstar/BCM digital phones as TDM devices with the UCX Server. Norstar/BCM digital phones work with UCX Server through the DSM16, keeping their original phone user interfaces and having extended VoIP feature capabilities from the UCX Server.

The UCX DSM16 software supports the following Nortel digital phones and devices:

  • M7100
  • M7208
  • M7310
  • M7324
  • CAP (Central Answering Position)
  • T7100
  • T7208
  • T7316
  • T7316E
  • T7406
  • T7406E
  • T24 KIM (Key Indicator Module)
  • Norstar Audio Conferencing Unit
  • ATA2

IP Phones

In addition to the support of digital phones, the UCX Server also supports the following categories of Nortel/Avaya IP phones::

  • IP phones that can use either UNISTIM or SIP firmware (11xx and 12xx series)
  • IP phones that use the UNISTIM protocol (i2xxx series including the i2050 soft phone, Nortel IP Audio Conference Phone 2033)

Chapter 2: Collecting Data from BCM system

This section provides a step by step guide on how to collect all the relevant information from your existing BCM system to prepare for the migration.

Step One: Data Export

  1. Using Avaya/Nortel Business Element Manager, connect to the desired BCM system.
  2. Navigate to Session -> Save Programming Record -> Save All Data.
  3. Export all the data to an Excel spreadsheet.
  4. On very large BCM systems, it can take several hours for the export to finish.

Step Two: Identify the Data you need

Open the exported Excel spreadsheet and proceed to the Summary tab. The basic information that you will need from this file are: System Speed Dial, Active Sets, Active Physical Lines, Active VoIP Lines, Target Lines, Scheduled Services, DNs, Routing and Ring Groups.

When you click on each item under the Summary tab, it will take you to the corresponding tab for that item.

Chapter 3: Converting to UCX

This section provides a high level view of the steps required to convert from a BCM system to a UCX system.

Step One: Installation

Step Two: Basic Configuration

Extensions

  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Active Sets in the Summary tab and it will take you to the ActiveSets tab.
  • Take note of the information in the following columns:
    Column Name UCX Field
    DN Extension number
    Model Device type
    Name Display Name
  • For supported Nortel phones, you can create one extension for each device type (model) and use it as a template for bulk creation of Nortel phones (see Bulk Add Nortel Extensions).
  • For all other phone types, you have to manually create each extension (see Extensions) or use the Extensions Batch tool.
  • For each extension, you want to plan ahead and consider activating the following features:

SIP Trunks

  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Active VoIP Lines in the Summary tab and it will take you to the ActVoIPLines tab. 
  • Information here relates to the Voice over IP (SIP) trunks assigned to the system. (Note: If you do not have purchased keycodes for SIP trunks on the BCM, then this tab would be blank.)
  • From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, navigate to the IP Trunk Assistant page to configure SIP trunks.

PSTN Trunks

  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Active Physical Lines in the Summary tab and it will take you to the ActPhysLines tab. 
  • Information here relates to the Central Office (PSTN) trunks assigned to the system.
  • If you are using an external gateway for these trunks, refer to the corresponding gateway configuration information under External SIP Gateways.
  • If you are using an interface card on the UCX, the interface card is configured under PSTN Cards and the trunks are configured under DAHDI Trunks.
    For trunk connectivity to protocols like T1, E1, PRI, FXO, R2MFC etc., telephony interface cards can be purchased from E-MetroTel.

Inbound Routes

  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Target Lines in the Summary tab and it will take you to the TgtLines tab.  
  • The concept of "target lines" does not exist in UCX, you have to take note of all the DIDs and their destinations.
  • From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, you have to configure DIDs under the Inbound Routes page, where incoming calls can be routed to an extension, ring group, IVR, etc.

Outbound Routes

  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Routing in the Summary tab and it will take you to the DPlanRouting tab.  
  • From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, navigate to the Outbound Routes page.

Step Three: Features

After provisioning and testing basic phone and trunk functionality, proceed to configure additional features and functionality that are available on the UCX. 

If there is a feature that is not described here, please visit our support website to search for the feature or contact your UCX reseller for more information.

Group Level

Ring Groups
  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Ring Groups in the Summary tab and it will take you to the RingGroups tab.
  • From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, navigate to the Ring Group page.
Group Pickup
  • After identifying the different Call Groups and Pickup Groups, configuration of the Group Pickup feature is then done at the extension level.
  • See Group Pickup page for details.
Queues
  • If programming is being done for a Call Center, see documentation under Call Center.
  • If programming simple queues, see the Queues page.

System Level

System Speed Dial
  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on System Speed Dial in the Summary tab and it will take you to the SysSpdDial tab.
  • Delete the heading rows and re-arrange the columns to allow export of the data to a CSV file with the following fields: "Name","External Number","Speed Dial Number".
  • From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, navigate to the Phonebook page and import the speed dial entries using the exported CSV file.
Time Groups and Conditions
  • From the Excel spreadsheet, click on Scheduled Services in the Summary tab and it will take you to the SchedSvc tab.
  • Scheduling of services from the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool is done under Time Groups and Conditions.
  • For each schedule found in the SchedSvc tab, you have to create a corresponding Time Group in the UCX.
  • The routing of a service is done by creating a corresponding Time Condition in the UCX.
  • You can also add holiday schedules by using cascading time conditions. See Configure Cascading Time Groups and Conditions for details.
IVR or Auto attendant

From the UCX Web-based Configuration Tool, navigate to the IVR page to configure IVR or Auto attendant for the system.

Conference

Conference bridges on the UCX do not require a license and there is no limit to the number of conference bridges that you create. See Conferences for details.

Any internal extension on the UCX can initiate an Ad-hoc conference any time during a call, there is no need for advance scheduling of a conference bridge. Both internal and external callers can be added to the conference and there is no limit to the number of participants allowed in an ad-hoc conference. See Ad-hoc Conferences page on how to configure system wide options for ad-hoc conferences.

Call Recording

See Call Recording Options for the different levels of recording that can be configured.

Chapter 4: References

For a complete list of Features and Features Codes supported on the UCX Server, see the following references:

  1. BCM Feature Codes Supported By UCX
  2. BCM and UCX Feature Codes Comparison
  3. UCX System Wide Feature Codes List
  4. User Guide
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