Networking Multivender PABX with Alcatel 4400/Oxe/Oxo

[Ihthisham]

Hi All,

We are almost through of networking Alcatel Oxe with Other venders for a single client. As first stage there are 20 sites that going to interconnect with Oxe. Oxe is going to take control of whole network as it will be the central site with about 1700 Extensions. Within the network there are PABX's with Awaya, Erikson, NEC, Nortel, and Seimens.
Networking with other vendors and related problems were discussed time to time but I thought of gathering all information in to this particular post because I am looking all those information and who experienced and success on networking with other venders. Really it is going to help me as well
I found a Pre sales document regarding QSIG tests and references world wide released on 2004 but it is up to R 5.1.
Please share your experience networking with other venders with 4400/Oxe/Oxo.
Basically at least give following information
1. 4400/Oxe/Oxo version and Other vender PABX Model/Version
2. What type of connectivity? ( QSIG-BC/GF, SIP. H323..)
3. What are features worked?
4. Reference Site if possible

later I think its possible to have a single document for reference.

So your information is going to help me and definitely this post will help others as well.

Regards

[zanex]

Having a multi vendor network is a nightmare.... we have alcatel, cisco, avaya, siemens, nec nortel, iwatsu and lucent pbx's in over 150 sites

The problem with so many different vendors is that when you go to qsig GF it just doesnt work as each vendors implimentation is slightly different and some features will work between some systems but not others.
I found that transfer, hold and name display were the common problems that i came across

in the US we use SDN networking from ATT but that is being phased out as we move towards voip
All the Alcatel networking is done via gatekeeper controlled h323 (intip) with a few places also having ABCF and some QSIG's
All the other systems have either qsig or local ISDN (country dependant) into a cisco GW that does the voip trunking

I am in the process of moving (regretably) all the non alcatel to Cisco but plan to leave many of the alcatels (50+) in place for a while but there is one issue with this for building an alcatel network they dont support qsig-gf tunneled through h323 (to my knowlage at least) so the feature sets between them will be very limited.

Alcatel R3.2 - 6.2 although i run 5.1 min for voip
CCM v5.1

if you want more specific info let me know

[alex]

With such big project you should have planned to run interworking test, create a test-bed and run all possible scenarios and test all features at least between two PABX of different vendor. Troubleshooting interworking of 3 different vendors' PABXs(transfer or transit call) on a production system is a nightmare.
Anyway, these should be done by ALU presales team. At least with the help of Presales people from ALU.

[Ihthisham]

Thanx for the comments.
A very small island and 3rd world countries like us is so difficult of client to push for huge investments first time. The only way is breaking into several stages to impliment the total solution.
As first move oxe is going to sit at central Site will be connected by QSIG. We have some sites running already internetwork with Erikson and Nortel.(Not this particular site) But never tested with other venders. basically starting with level of Qsig BC and then going for the GF. In fact client looking for services like call forwarding. So it may definitly impact on some sites and as a result could propose for replacing by a MG.
So as you all said it will be huge challenge. I need to start from some point. That is why I thought of asking others experience. Other venders know that definitly merging Alcatel in to the network will be a huge problem for their systems.
Anyway we have notified about this project to ALU Presales team already. But you know at last practical scenario is with loacl BP. Getting ready is safe.

[laroth]

Why do you need do integrate all these sites? make it easy for the yousers and yourself be only integrate those that's easy to integrate and use speeddial/routing for the rest if needed. (people dont care and use different contactlist for number search)
By using a 3thd part program like TRIO www.trio.se that integrates with most lager PBX the operators will have controll and it can be integreted with Exchange/ Notes for absentmessages.