Hot Desking across Multiple Nodes, within LAN

[sgates]

I am hoping that someone can help. We recently installed a Mitel System in two of our locations. The locations are connected via a LAN, and there is a Mitel 5000 controller at both locations. We have several users that have offices in both locations, and wanted to be able to use the hot desking feature with them. We are being told that this is not possible across multiple nodes, but I am hopeful that someone has a solution for us that will work as we are within the same network. Our organizational leaders have offices in both spots and this is one of the features that sold them on the system, being able to use the same extension. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as our installer has been unable to figure this out. 

[pexecutone]

Are the two systems linked together? Because it is possible to import Hotdesk Profiles. They would have to log into the profile from the phone they are at. Each system has to import/export for them to extension call from each location. If there is a duplicate extension then the systems will not import/export that extension.

[Tech Electronics]

sgates,

Can you explain a little more on how it was engineered?

1. Is this centralized voice mail? Meaning, both sites use the same voice mail system.
2. Are both of their office phones the same model? 5330e etc..
3. Are both of their office phones off the same system? Meaning, does their second phone go across to the other site to come online. Since you are having this issue I am going to go with no.
4. Would Dynamic Extension Express work for this solution? Meaning, would they accept when one phone rings so does the other one.
5. Do you have a Phone Manager server?

Let's start there and see what we can figure out.

Thanks,

TE

[DND ON]

You cannot hot desk between nodes, but there easy ways to work around that limitation.

As TE mentioned, you can use Dynamic Extension Express to twin phones on different nodes. If people are sharing desks, you can create hot desk profiles and twin them back to the main phone.

If they are not sharing desks, simply license the Node 2 phone to the Node 1 controller, then you can hot desk between sites.

[NTEDave]

If the phones are dedicated to a certain member of staff just use Dynamic Extn Express

If you are "Hotdesking" so a member of staff could be sat anywhere I have used ACD groups. So a users extn number is actually an ACD Hunt Group (All controllers need the Remote ACD Hunt Groups license which is thankfully quite cheap) you can log into this Hunt Group from anywhere on your mitel network and receive your calls. Set Recalls on the group to get to your mailbox, set the mailbox to alert the extn you sit at most or configure remote messaging to send VMs to your Mobile, or VM to Email.

[sgates]

Are the two systems linked together? Because it is possible to import Hotdesk Profiles. They would have to log into the profile from the phone they are at. Each system has to import/export for them to extension call from each location. If there is a duplicate extension then the systems will not import/export that extension.

The two systems are linked together. How would one import the profiles?

[sgates]

sgates,

Can you explain a little more on how it was engineered?

1. Is this centralized voice mail? Meaning, both sites use the same voice mail system.
2. Are both of their office phones the same model? 5330e etc..
3. Are both of their office phones off the same system? Meaning, does their second phone go across to the other site to come online. Since you are having this issue I am going to go with no.
4. Would Dynamic Extension Express work for this solution? Meaning, would they accept when one phone rings so does the other one.
5. Do you have a Phone Manager server?

Let's start there and see what we can figure out.

Thanks,

TE

In answer to your questions.

1) No they do not use the same voice mail system.

2) Yes both phones are 5360 IP

3) No they have phones on each side that are programmed with the extension for that side. That is causing issues as when people call the extension in each location they only reach the phone in that location. This question did make me think though that we could set up phantom extensions for two phones in one location. One phone would go to each location and then they would hotdesk in. Although this would mean 911 wasn't accurate, it seems like in theory this would work and be a simple extension.

4) Dynamic Express Extension is an option and if nothing else works that may be our option.

5) Our installer tells us that we do not, but wasn't sure what I was talking about.

[sgates]

If the phones are dedicated to a certain member of staff just use Dynamic Extn Express

If you are "Hotdesking" so a member of staff could be sat anywhere I have used ACD groups. So a users extn number is actually an ACD Hunt Group (All controllers need the Remote ACD Hunt Groups license which is thankfully quite cheap) you can log into this Hunt Group from anywhere on your mitel network and receive your calls. Set Recalls on the group to get to your mailbox, set the mailbox to alert the extn you sit at most or configure remote messaging to send VMs to your Mobile, or VM to Email.

This is an option that I have mentioned to our installer, and we are looking into this as well.

[sgates]

You cannot hot desk between nodes, but there easy ways to work around that limitation.

As TE mentioned, you can use Dynamic Extension Express to twin phones on different nodes. If people are sharing desks, you can create hot desk profiles and twin them back to the main phone.

If they are not sharing desks, simply license the Node 2 phone to the Node 1 controller, then you can hot desk between sites.

We are going to try both of these options - Thanks!

[Tech Electronics]

In answer to your questions.

1) No they do not use the same voice mail system.

2) Yes both phones are 5360 IP

3) No they have phones on each side that are programmed with the extension for that side. That is causing issues as when people call the extension in each location they only reach the phone in that location. This question did make me think though that we could set up phantom extensions for two phones in one location. One phone would go to each location and then they would hotdesk in. Although this would mean 911 wasn't accurate, it seems like in theory this would work and be a simple extension.

4) Dynamic Express Extension is an option and if nothing else works that may be our option.

5) Our installer tells us that we do not, but wasn't sure what I was talking about.

1. With disassociated voice mails systems figuring out which side they are getting it from could be an issue; also they would have two separate voice mail boxes that they have to keep up with. Do you have the ability to forward messages between voice mail boxes on each site?

2. That is good so their keymap should look the same.

3. Separated phones is fine especially for redundancy purposes in case one side goes down the other phone will remain working. Also if the network connection is dropped between sites the phones stay up and working.

4. DEE works fine if one site is their main site. You should make sure that the voice mail box it goes to is the one at the main site. Have the secondary phone receive the message indications for that voice mail box. Keep in mind that unless you paid for it they can't send messages between voice mail systems.

5. No worries it would just open up a few options, but it isn't really needed to solve the major issue.

So, after going over everything I would just setup Dynamic Extension Express with their main office phone if they have one. If not than just pick one that makes the most sense and eliminate the mailbox off the secondary one. Make sure not to give them a Dynamic Extension Express key on their phone, but give them a handoff key if they also are tying their cell phone to it. Don't forget to associate the secondary phone so that you receive the message indicator when a voice mail is left in the main phones mailbox.

Thanks,

TE

[Msaby]

Just a suggestion here.  If there are only a few hot desk users that need to hot desk across the node.  You can create remote IP phones off the system that contains the hot desk account.  Place the remote phone in location 2 and then your users can Hot Desk into either locations.  If the phone system goes down in location 2 those phones will remain.  The reverse is obviously true if the system with the Hot Desk account goes down you will lose those  extensions. The issue you will run into with this setup is the 911 and using a Hot Desk account.

Mike

[DND ON]

911 may, or may not, be an issue. Depends on the type of service in place and what the carrier allows.