2008 Workshop Sessions

Below are the session tracks,  and the worshop titles and descriptions for the hour long workshops slated for NEARMUG 2008.  In addition to the descriptions, look for the knowledge level base indicators that attendees are encouraged to know prior to the session.  (B=Beginner level, I= Intermediate knowledge, A=Advanced knowledge).  Use these symbols as guidelines.  While we may suggest "Advanced knowledge," only you know if a workshop is right for you.

For the Workshop Schedule, click here!

Data Networking Workshops

Best Practices for Implementing Switch Clustering presented by John Lucas, Nortel   (I,A)

Enterprises require vendors to deliver unparalleled network-wide, high-available, and sub-second recovery solutions for today’s converged, real-time, multimedia networks. Nortel’s’ ERS 8600-based Core Switch Cluster delivers a core capacity of over 1.4Tbps with unparalleled network-wide availability to ensure sub-second fail-over of any affected application session, regardless of the failure scenario.

Come and learn about the best practices for deploying this clustering technology (Split Multi-Link Trunking). This session will review choosing the right design model (SMLT/RSMLT) and supported topologies, VRRP deployment, rate limit guidelines, loop prevention, use of Virtual LACP, and a review of software and hardware dependencies.

Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of data networking recommended

Connect, Detect, Protect!!! Securing Your Networks From Insider Threat presented by Don Brennan, Integration Partners Corporation   (I, A)

Integration Partners Corp. will conduct a seminar to explore the components and operation of Nortel’s Secure Network Access Solution (NSNA).  Engineers and managers who desire a firm understanding of the basics of NSNA should attend.

During this session the topics of discussion will include but not be limited to the following:

• Examples of Insider Threats
• Acronyms and what they mean:
  • NAC
  • NSNAS
  • SNAS
  • SSCP
  • SSL
• Existing Technologies used by NAC
  • Vlan
  • DHCP
  • IPCONFIG
  • DNS
  • Filters (QOS)
  • SSH
• NAC Components like Authentication and Compliance
• NAC Operation
  • Client vs. clientless
  • DHCP Hub Mode
  • Packet flow

Join us for a better understanding about securing your environment!!!!

Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of data networking recommended

Deploying IP Telephony in the Enterprise presented by Doug Schlosser, Nortel    (I, A)

Many Enterprises understand the value of deploying some VoIP to enable their workforce to be more efficient and improve productivity. But before deploying VoIP in any network there should be a careful review of the current data network. This session will focus on networking design principles specific to VoIP implementations to include common VLAN strategies, Quality of Service / Quality of Experience, Full DHCP, Auto VLAN Discovery, Auto Detection Auto Configuration (ADAC), 802.1AB LLDP, and Authentication techniques such as NSNA, MAC, 802.1x.

Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of data networking recommended

For more Data related sessions, look at our workshops under Unified Communications and IP Telephony!

Unified Communications Sessions

Unified Communications - Where are We Heading? presented by Mark Fletcher, Nortel     (B, I)

Unified Communications is a natural progression of traditional communication systems, multimedia platforms and collaborative applications. This session will explore how this new environment, based on SIP and enhanced with multimedia presence features, can drive your business into the next generation of communications. This session will provide a high level overview of Unified Communications and Nortel’s continued strategy in the marketplace with other UC vendors such as Microsoft and IBM.

Unified Communications - Nortel/Microsoft (ICA) presented by Sabino DeSimini, Nortel    (I)

This session will provide a more in-depth review of the Nortel / Microsoft Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) to include already or soon to be available solutions such as Exchange UM, OCS integration with CS1000, Nortel Multimedia Conferencing with OCS, Secure Router 4134 with Microsoft Mediation Server technology.

Unified Communications - Nortel/IBM presented by Rick Bartosik, Nortel    (I)

Nortel and IBM have a broad-based alliance that is developing and delivering comprehensive next-generation network solutions to both service providers and enterprise customers. The alliance focuses on collaborative innovation that leverages IBM services and technology capabilities with Nortel’s experience and leadership in communications infrastructure and solutions. Come and hear about Nortel's integrated Unified Communication (UC) & Multimedia solution for IBM Lotus Notes customers, our parallel UC solution with Sametime Integration, and Communications-Enabled Applications, based upon our joint SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) development with IBM.

Open Forum - Unified Communications moderated by Joe Graig-Tiso, College of Oneonta and NEARMUG.  Expert: Sabino DeSemini, Nortel       (B, I, A)

Network with your peers on the topic of Unified Communications.  Here's a chance for you to ask questions to your colleagues and experts.  This session will give you insight into UC letting you know potential pitfalls and other "gotchas" while answering questions you may not have had.  Anything goes in this moderated platform with the goals of giving you greater insight into UC.  Whether you've just started looking at UC or you are already doing it, join us for a session designed to help you with the exciting world of Unified Communications.

Still interested in Unified Communications?  Stay for the Professional Development Session on using Microsoft's Unified Communications Server on Wednesday at 9:30am!

Nortel Solutions and Information

Disaster Recovery Solutions using CS1000 Rls 5.0 presented by Gary Cattarin, Nortel    (B, I)

One of the biggest features introduced in Communication Server 1000 Release 5.0 is the ability to build IP distributed resilient systems. With this capability, the CS 1000 can become a key component in your disaster recovery plan. Join us as we explore this critical functionality. We'll cover the details of geographic redundancy, survivable gateways, temporary IP licenses, and more. We'll weigh the features, risks, and requirements of various types of deployments. And we'll and examine at a case study of a network transformation to a resilient distributed model. Don't get caught short! Attend this session to learn how to build the CS 1000 into your DR plan.

E911 Part 1: CS1000 Rls 5.0 Features presented by Mark Fletcher, Nortel     (B, I)

Understanding E911 as it applies to enterprise PBX solutions is a critical topic on most telecommunications managers to-do list. This workshop will cover the E911 system in general as well as the recent enhancements that have been added to the CS 1000 Release 5.00 stream of software. Learn about IP telephone discovery mechanisms as well as on-site notification and caller ID management. Those attending this workshop will have a better understanding of how their environment is affected by E911 as well as a deeper knowledge of the tools that Nortel has to offer to provide solutions to common problems.

E911 Part 2: Solution Deployment presented by Mark Fletcher, Nortel     (B, I)

E911 and Emergency Services Access was once a configuration exercise. Recent advancements in technology and capabilities have now made this important topic more of an engineering exercise. In this workshop we will cover the more common deployment solutions that can be easily deployed to provide your employees with a higher level of E911 service. Specific scenarios to be covered will be location management and IP telephone discovery, managing Emergency Response Locations (ERLs) as well as Emergency Location Identification Numbers (ELINs). Multi-building and multi-site engineering guidelines and best practices will be modeled that will make this complex issue one that is easily understood.

What You Need to Know Before Going to CS1000 5.x presented by Mark Kerchoff, Ronco Communications    (B, I)

Thinking of upgrading to CS 1000 Release 5.x? For many, this involves the costs of upgrading your phone system's hardware along with the software making the upgrade more challenging to promote to your CTO and CFO. How do you justify the upgrade and create a strong return on investment? This session will discuss new hardware introduced and how Rls 5.x positions your organization for the future. We'll discuss key components of the upgrade along with the upgrade transformation. We'll look at the features of Rls 5.x that can translate into true business drivers that provide concrete solutions allowing you to develop strong ROIs meaningful to Executive Management. Join us to see how Rls 5.x can leverage your future and discover some key points to use to make a strong business case for your upgrade.

Nortel End of Life / MD Update presented by Nancy Norteman, Nortel    (B, I)

This session consists of an overview of new and ongoing marketing product promotions and how they may benefit your organization's technology needs. We will define the Nortel product lifecycle process, including the status of recently or soon-to-be Manufacture Discontinued (MD) and End Of Life (EOL) products. Attending this workshop will assist you and your organization in planning smooth technology migrations where necessary, and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Dial Plans - More than Just Numbers presented by Mike Farr, Nortel & Leo Melanson, Nortel   (B, I)

One of the most important, yet often the most ignored, components of any telephony deployment is the dial plan. Understand what role the dial plan plays in a new or old environment, as well of the challenges of migrating existing dial plans into a new converged communications architecture. Learn the most common mistakes made, as well as useful information to engineer a strong flexible dial plan that will stand the test of time.

Converged Branch Office Solutions presented by Ron Senna, Nortel     (B, I)

Deploying Branch Office solutions can be a big benefit for today’s decentralized enterprises but careful planning is needed to ensure a reliable and secure implementation. This session will focus on extending enterprise class voice capabilities across an entire network. It will detail some of the new branch capabilities delivered with CS1000 R5.0 and include deployment scenarios. Topics covered will be Bandwidth Management Zones, Time of Day Controls and Emergency Services (911, 999, 112). Call routing will also be discussed with a review of some example networks.

See Nortel's CallPilot Application Builder in Action on Sunday! Learn how to build menus in Nortel's comprehensive voice mail system!

IP Telephony Sessions

Best Practices - VoIP Network Readiness presented by Thomas Moreo, Cornerstone Information Technologies, LLC     (I) 

In order to successfully migrate to any VoIP system, the proper network fundamentals need to be in place. Our discussion will revolve around what the best practices are for designing, testing, and migrating from a traditional TDM system to a Voice over IP system and ensure a successful deployment.  Topics will include the value of a good network audit and design (Bandwidth, VLANs, Voice/Data convergence), Quality of Service and how to implement it for a successful rollout, High Availability and Survivability, and training of your IT Staff and End users (Before, duing and after).

Securing Your VoIP Communications presented by Corey Schultz, Nortel     (I, A)

Deploying IP Telephone with out care for security carries with it is some level of risk to unauthorized access or malicious attacks such has Denial of Service, user spoofing, unauthorized ease dropping, etc. Come learn about the top security concerns and how to protect your VoIP infrastructure from them. The session will review the Nortel’s layered defense model provides details on specific attack scenarios and how to stop them. We will discuss best practices for VoIP deployment such as access control, authentication, deploying the Secure Multimedia Controller, and a review of the CS1000 Release 5.0 security features.

IP Telephony: Dispelling the Myths presented by Danny Krauss, CXtec   (B, I)

CXtec will present on the "gotchas" of VoIP planning and implementation. Insight will be provided on organizational infrastructures and the data and voice elements needed to be examined for "real-life" deployment. Effective strategies for migratng to an IP Telephony environment will be discussed. This presentation will allow for group discussion and inquires as it will be conducted in an "open forum" style 

Troubleshooting Call Quality presented by Brian Casey, NetIQ  (B, I, A)

This session will take a technical look at the factors affecting voice quality like delay, jitter, packet loss, etc., and the common network impacts (serialization delays, Duplex mismatch, etc.) to voice quality. We'll examine what RTP Control Protocol Extended Reports (RTCP XR) is and the value it adds.  The workshop will also discuss the value of Proactive Voice Quality Management (PVQM), reporting and diagnostics to VoIP deployments. There will be a quick review of what it takes to implement Nortel code versions, releases, etc and a look into the future!

Open Forum - IP Telephony moderated by Sam Schaumburger, Oasis Systems and NEARMUG.  Experts: Ron Senna and Doug Schlosser, Nortel   (B, I, A)

Here's a chance to talk about IP Telephony with your peers and experts.  Whether you want answers on where to begin, troubleshooting, working with your IT teams for smooth installation, problems, pitfalls, or just have a general curiosity about where others are in the world of IPT, here's a session for you!  Join in in this moderated forum and discover how your colleagues are handling IPT.  Bring your questions, thoughts and ideas and share with your peers.  Open forum sessions sometimes provide you enough infomation that they end up resulting in future savings that pays for the conference.  If you want to know more about IP, take part of the Open Forum! 

Want to see how Nortel IP works?  Join us Sunday for the Professional Session on Nortel's Signaling Server - See how to set up IP Telephony in your environment!

Contact Center Sessions

Can Contact Center improve your business giving you quantifiable ($$$) and "qualifiable" results? If your business has a group that focuses on service, sales, or support (like your IT Support group?), then Contact Center is a solution that can give you an immediate impact on customer service levels, improve your team's morale, and allow you to see what you need to do to improve business solutions.

Join us for a Contact Center 101---an entry level session discussing why Contact Centers are no longer merely "call centers." Contact Center implies all forms of contact - phone, email, web, chat. Contact Center can incorporate all these forms of communications and provide you with detailed reporting. You'll discover how this solution can make a positive impact on your business, how to use it, and how the software and hardware work to improve your business. By the time you leave you'll:

• Have a general understanding of Contact Center concepts and tools
• Understand the relationship between agent staffing and customer satisfaction
• Be able to relate product functionality back to your specific needs and see examples from others
• Understand how Contact Center relates to 3rd Party applications
• Understand the importance of accurate reporting - if you can't document it, you can't improve it.

Discover the world of Contact Center and see how this solution can improve your business objectives! 

Advance Contact Center presented by Jim Hall, Nortel     (I, A)

Learn how to get the most our of your contact centers! This session will provide an overview of planning considerations for networked contact centers, networked skillsets, redundancy levels within networked contact centers, and using Corporate License Manager for networked and non-networked multi-site deployments. There will be discussion on branch/regional location options and what to consider when deploying remote agents, Call Recording and Quality Management for either digital or IP agents (and the differences), Multimedia Contact Center, and review of system redundancy for single and multi-site installations. So, if you are considering or supporting a multi-site contact center or even a complex single site, this is the session you need.

Contact Center Reports 6.0-What They Mean to You presented by Mike Kopiec, Telserv (B, I)

Rather that just showing you how to generate a Contact Center report, we will dig into what all this information is trying to tell you about your business. We will examine in detail the basic Application, Skillset, and Agent Performance reports. Then we will use what we learned in those reports to branch out into other more detailed reports such as DN Performance and Delay Before Answer/Abandon.

By taking a closer look at the wealth of data that CCM 6 offers, we will help you discover what is good (and perhaps not so good) about your contact center. More importantly, by gaining a better understanding of these reports, you'll not only identify the problem but also the solution. You’ll leave this session with answers you can bring back to your Contact Center Managers and supervisors.

More Contact Center on Wednesday---Join Jim Hall for a PD Session on Contact Center Soup to Nuts and get your answers!

Voice and Data Professional Sessions

Nuggets of Knowledge for Newcomers presented by Gail Baugher, Global Knowledge     (B)

CALLING ALL NEWCOMERS to switch administration! Are you a bit confused about all those LD numbers and wonder what happens in each and wonder which ones YOU really need? Do you need to change passwords, but don’t know how? Isn’t there a shortcut to programming phones?  Do all phones have to ring four times before they forward?  What are all those SCH messages, and isn’t there a shortcut to looking them up?  Can I backspace?  What do all those mnemonics mean?  If you need quick, must-know nuggets of knowledge for newcomers, then join us for heaps of helpful hints and handouts!

Universal Service and Other Public Policy Issues in Communications Today presented by Jeri Semer, ACUTA   (B)

This session will provide an update on current U.S. federal regulatory issues that will have an impact on information and communications technology professionals and their organizations. Some of the issues that will be discussed are potential changes in the Universal Service program that could affect your bottom line, “Net Neutrality” legislation, rules regarding the preservation of electronically stored information, E-911, recent changes in the Do Not Call registry, and other up-to-the-minute public policy developments.

Leverage Your Assets with the Power of Speech presented by Terry Griffin, Nuance   (B, I)

The challenge of any organization is to provide adequate services and support to its staff and customers while contending with a restricted budget. Any catalyst in providing accelerated service deliverance and improved productivity while reducing costs must be considered.

Given these challenging conditions, what’s the best way for organizations like yours to assure consistent business processes while enhancing employee communications—whether it’s business as usual or a crisis situation? You can start by speech-enabling your directory listing. A speech-enabled directory lays the foundation for a number of applications including automated call routing, automated password reset, information retrieval, broadcast messaging, emergency notification, and more—that enhance organizational communications and support your disaster recovery and business continuity plans. At the same time, a speech-enabled directory can serve as a secure front-end to productivity-boosting applications and as a repository for business rules that control individual access.

Consolidating Mobile Communications presented by Alan Grassia, Iroquois Gas Transmission Systems    (B, I)

Attendees will learn how Iroquois Gas was able to consolidate mobile voice and data services into a single unified solution for the company’s executives and managers. You’ll learn how to determine requirements, design the solution platform, project costs, coach your internal customers and plan for the future. Attendees will realize that it is possible for small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) to deliver an effective solution without a large IT staff and ballooning budgets.

Cell Phones and the IRS presented by Jeri Semer, ACUTA    (B)

Is your company in compliance with U.S. law regarding company-owned cell phones? The tax treatment of company-owned cell phones is an important issue to address in your organization's cell phone use policy. Without the proper policies and procedures in place, company-issued cell phones can become taxable income to the employee. This session will discuss the IRS policies on cell phones as taxable income, and how your company policies can address this important issue. In addition, information will be provided about a bill that was recently introduced in Congress that could offer relief from this accounting and record-keeping nightmare.

1st Impressions Count - Leveraging Your Receptionists presented by Craig Murray, Datapulse

Enterprises are continuously striving to ensure they make that great first impression.  Calls coming into your switchboard environment are the most important calls you receive so you should aim to make the callers experience as good as possible.

This session will be looking at the problems faced in switchboard environments and what impact these can have on your business. How can you increase the call transaction speed while still providing better service to customers calling into you organization?

You only get one chance to make a good first impression!  Areas under discussion will be:

• Instant access to an accurate directory
• Increase call transaction speed
• Personalized Greetings
• Prioritize urgent/VIP calls
• Compatibility with both digital and IP networks
• Reporting tools to enable greater management of calls
• Presence enabled Directories

You're Already A Data Expert; Data Fundamentals for the Voice Expert presented by Rob Pytell, Telesource    (B)

Voice=Data, Data=Voice. It sounds good on paper, but for the voice professional the data world often seems foreign. This session will provide a framework of the fundamentals of data for the Voice Professional. By covering the basics of the OSI and the TCP/IP models, LANs, WANs, hubs, switches, routers, Mac addresses, and other things that may seem from a different world, then putting them in context to the world of voice that we know so well, you will come out with a better understanding of where voice fits in the data world and vice versa. After all, voice really does = data, and data = voice.

Open Forum - Successful Career Tracking for the Voice Professional moderated by John Tichenor, Chadbourne & Parke and NEARMUG

Both Nortel and Siemens have recently announced more layoffs. Where do these employees go and what happens to them? What are some strategies to pursue to protect yourself in the event of a layoff?  A look into the crystal ball for telecom professionals shows both sunshine and clouds. Please join us for a lively discussion where all participants will be asked to share their ides on how to stay on the path to success. In a industry that is changing at a tremendous pace, it will be interesting to listen and share comments on how changes in the industry shape our personal career tracks.

How Call Accounting Can Benefit Your Organization presented by Jon Giberson, Connections    (B)

You will learn how a call accounting system can help you understand the technical and financial health of your voice network, how to use this valuable tool to deliver Business Intelligence to every department in your organization, how to develop allies within your organization to get it approved, how to show a dramatic ROI, and how to purchase a system intelligently.  You will take away from this session Sample Telephone Policies, and a “Cost To Talk” worksheet.

The Champion Within presented by Don Sturiano, A1 Teletronics  (B, I, A)

This workshop will help you to identify the motivating factors that drive you to succeed. It will also teach you the principles of goal setting, overcoming obstacles, recognizing strengths and weakness, communicating your goals and ideas to others. Managers and supervisors will also benefit by learning how to apply these principles when leading others. These lessons can be applied in both your personal and professional arena.

Conversation Recording Methods for Nortel IP, Digital and Analog Phone Users presented by Bob Dudas, Telstrat   (B, I)

This session will describe the different methods of implementing conversation recording onto Meridian 1, CS 1000, SL-100, CS 2100, BCM, and Norstar voice networks – regardless of the manufacturer behind the recording solution. Whether implementing a conversation recording solution via trunk tap, line tap, DN in monitor mode, ‘in-skin’ solution, or obtaining VoIP data for IP phones, the pros and cons associated with each interface method will be discussed.  Some examples:

• Trunk taps can’t record DN-to-DN calls
• The recording solution in DN monitoring mode can’t record while allowing live monitoring by a supervisor
• Implementing conversation recording for local and remote IP phones can negatively impact the data network
• and much more!  

Participants will obtain information to place themselves in a position to determine the groundwork for upgrading or deploying conversation recording systems today, and into the future, based on their recorded terminals/phones, network architecture, and application requirements.

Controlling Costs While Managing Multi Vendor Systems presented by Todd Remely, Unimax Systems Corporation

Today, many enterprises run multiple vendors' communications systems, and as long as mergers and acquisitions continue to be a part of business, this multi-vendor environment will be the rule. Furthermore, enterprises have embarked on a gradual replacement of TDM systems with IP-based systems, adding another layer of diversity and complexity to the environment. Effectively administering such a patchwork of telephone and voice mail systems is challenging, but success can yield 4 critical benefits to the enterprise: 

1. Lower operational expenses 
2. Improved security and accountability 
3. Improved internal customer service 
4. Increased visibility and control across multi-vendor environments

In this presentation, a subject matter expert from Unimax Systems Corporation will help audience members understand how to effectively administer multi-vendor systems and realize these benefits. Additionally, this technologist will describe real-life examples of transforming these objectives from goals into realities.

Our speaker will also respond to audience questions and comments throughout the presentation. Audience members will leave the session with an understanding of how to control costs while improving security, accountability, control, visibility and internal customer service in a multi-vendor, multi-platform environment. Don’t miss this educational session!