Cisco vs. Nortel - PBX Info :: Your Free PBX, PABX and Telephone Information Resource

topp · 12-19-2006, 02:27 PM

Our network backbone here is completely Cisco and for years we have had a entire Nortel voice backbone. We use almost strickly norstar key systems at most locations. As some of you I am sure are seeing the introduction of IP telephony has got a lot of people talking including the network administrators which means they like to see the Cisco system. My questions for you is out there is in your experience how is the cisco phone system and is it best to keep the networks for phone and network seperate? I haven't haven't viewed the Cisco yet and was curious what some of your thoughts were.

Thanks

Filou · 12-28-2006, 05:02 AM

You will gain some LAN-centric features (phone boot config method, power over ethernet fine-tuning and things like that) by using Cisco phones on a Cisco LAN, but Nortel phones are totally compatible with any LAN and won't pose any problem.
When Cisco starts fully supporting (didn't check whether they already are) standards LLDP and LLDP-MED instead of their proprietary CDP, you should even benefit from these same features with the Nortel phones as with the Cisco ones.

You should choose your voice/multimedia solution based on it alone instead of blindly choosing the same brand as the LAN. Differences in the voice system itself far outweight any LAN integration advantages.
And if your LAN or voice vendor says otherwise, that means it's time to switch vendors.

WhereWolf · 12-28-2006, 11:18 AM

The previous reply was well stated. ALSO consider the following:
I know a site that was Nortel, and decided to go pure Cisco (except they kept the Nortel as a Hub switch)
They changed out all the network gear in order to provide Power over Ethernet to keep the phones running $$$$ and bought Cisco IP phones for the desktop. $$$$
NOW - they only had 1 cable (CAT6E) for ethernet and a CAT3 for voice to each desk (installed recently) - so by using the repeater port on the cisco phones, they can have both the phone and computer working. Except when the demand for gig to the desktop occurs (not far in the future IMHO) they will be forced to change out EVERYTHING including the phones (limited to 100 meg) - or have the building completely recabled - and add twice as much network gear as they really need to support both the phones and computers. I'm not sure that's a bill I would be willing to pay.
Just my 2 cents worth. (probably isn't worth that....!

)

Wherewolf

topp · 01-02-2007, 01:53 PM

These are the type of things I was curious about! We have about 40 sites in which we have almost only Norstar MICS running any where from release 1 to 7.0. The thing that I like about the BCM is the ability to use existing phones as well as using it as a hybrid system. I don't know if I like feel overly confident yet in going complete IP and the BCM allow you to utilize even the old fiber modules.

I was also looking into the IP gateways that Nortel has for the ICS systems this seems like another solution to add in the transistion. Not completely clear on this though is this only for point to point communication or can it be used for IP long distance service?

I appreciate all of your help as our company is going thru that difficult transistion at this time.

***sillejo*** · 03-11-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhereWolf

The previous reply was well stated. ALSO consider the following:
I know a site that was Nortel, and decided to go pure Cisco (except they kept the Nortel as a Hub switch)
They changed out all the network gear in order to provide Power over Ethernet to keep the phones running $$$$ and bought Cisco IP phones for the desktop. $$$$
NOW - they only had 1 cable (CAT6E) for ethernet and a CAT3 for voice to each desk (installed recently) - so by using the repeater port on the cisco phones, they can have both the phone and computer working. Except when the demand for gig to the desktop occurs (not far in the future IMHO) they will be forced to change out EVERYTHING including the phones (limited to 100 meg) - or have the building completely recabled - and add twice as much network gear as they really need to support both the phones and computers. I'm not sure that's a bill I would be willing to pay.
Just my 2 cents worth. (probably isn't worth that....!

)

Wherewolf

wow, there are so many things wrong with your assumptions here, I'm not sure where to begin....
1.The Cisco phones have been shipping with Gig for over 2 years now.
2. Gig to the desktop would require new LAN equipment no matter what your phone system is so the "$$$" is spent anyway.
3. The only reason you would put in duplicate runs and duplicate ports in the closet for phone and PC use is if you had no idea how to run an converged IP network. No respectable LAN or IP Tel vendor would advocate this.
4. Whoever installed Cat3 "recently" should find another line of work....seriously, can his a$$. That could possibly be the biggest wast of money I have heard of since the last time a guy told me he still uses AOL for dial-up internet access at his house.
5. "repeater port on the cisco phones" - this speaks volumes about your IP Tel experience...................or lack there of......

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