Cisco Systems
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/conferencing/video-conferencing/index.html
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Cisco is one of the most innovative tech organizations in the world. Their collaboration solutions products don’t fall short of these standards. Cisco bought over Tandberg video conferencing systems and also developed their own endpoints. Taking design and style into consideration, Cisco is the Apple Inc. in the video conferencing world.
Firmware upgrades and when to perform it
How to perform a Firmware upgrade on your Polycom unit -
Important: please note that a valid upgrade key (Release key) is required to upgrade the firmware version to a higher version. For example an upgrade from 6.3.3 to 7.3.2 will require a valid key but versions within 6 can be freely upgraded without any restrictions. You will need to contact support to get this upgrade key.
Step 1 : Download the required version from the Cisco support website (software.cisco.com). Furthermore you will require a partner login ID to perform this step.
Step 2 : On the web interface under the maintenance tab, select software upgrade. This will redirect you to another page in which you will be required to select the firmware that you downloaded. Once selected just proceed with the upgrade. The system will restart and you are done.
(All rights to the Graphical user interface reserved to Cisco Inc.)
When to perform a Firmware upgrade
The same concept applies here as well. If the system does not function according to how it is supposed to, the first step to troubleshoot the issue is to perform a firmware upgrade.
1) When the system is slow to respond – if your customer is complaining that the system is slow when users input a command, the first step is to upgrade the firmware. However, if the unit is still slow, then a factory reset is on the cards.
2) The camera does not turn when the system is initiated – this problem rarely occurs but I have experienced it before. A firmware upgrade may resolve this issue.
3) SpeakerTrack system does not function properly – having the latest firmware installed on the codec helps with the performance of the SpeakerTrack system. However, if a problem persists after the firmware upgrade, you will need to check the settings of the system.
The above are some common issues that I have encountered. However as mentioned earlier a firmware upgrade is the first step to solving the issue.
Factory Resets and when to perform it
Before performing a factory reset its best to take a backup of the profile and the local directory to avoid needing to configure the system from scratch.
Option 1
Step 1: take a backup of the profile, which is basically the running configuration of the unit. After the factory reset has been completed, you just need to upload the profile through the web interface. It is best to take a picture of the network settings before you perform the factory reset. This will help you with the initial configurations.
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(All rights to the Graphical user interface reserved to Cisco Inc.)
Step 2: under maintenance select “System recovery” and under that page select “Factory reset” and just follow the steps to factory reset your Cisco system.
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(All rights to the Graphical user interface reserved to Cisco Inc.)
Step 3: enter the necessary LAN settings through the graphical user interface on the display and then you will be able to access the system over the web interface. Upload the profile and directory and you are done.
Option 2
Use Putty to Telnet or SSH into the unit and type in the following command in the cmd -
xcommand systemunit FactoryReset Confirm: Yes
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Option 3
Use the power button on the SX20 & SX80 to perform the reset - watch (https:// supportforums.cisco.com /video/12493756/factory-reset-sx20-codec.)
This option can be used if you don't have access to the device over the network (web interface).
When to perform a factory reset
If the system is not functioning as it should, a factory reset should be performed when all else options have been exhausted by the engineer. The most common situations are –
1) When the system has been hacked and the administrative password has been changed – in this situation the only way to perform the factory reset is to use the physical power button since the administrative password is unknown.
2) When the system is unable to make and receive calls – once the network settings have been checked and the firmware upgrade has been performed the only other alternative is to perform the factory reset.
3) The web interface can’t be accessed after a firmware upgrade – I have experienced this issue before. If the firmware that was uploaded is corrupted then the system will not function properly. Since the web interface is inaccessible the only other option is to use the physical button to perform the factory reset.
Common issues on Cisco Systems
1) The System is unable to make and receive calls – check the call settings, check the network settings, check the network port, upgrade the firmware and when all else fails, perform a factory reset to recover your system.
2) The System does not respond to controller inputs – check the battery on the controller. Use your mobile phone camera to check if the IR can be seen. If the customer has another similar controller, see if the system responds to that. If all else fails you will need to do a RMA for the unit.
3) The System has been hacked by 3rd party individuals – as mentioned earlier, if proper security procedures are not imparted on the network, the VC systems are susceptible to intruders. When the system has been compromised it is best to perform a factory reset and provide the client with the necessary security measures to secure their network from unauthorized access.
4) SpeakerTrack system does not function correctly – it took me a few weeks to resolve this issue. There are many parameters on the Cisco web interface that can control every aspect of your device. The problem with all these parameters is that you need to be trained by Cisco to understand all those controls. When the SpeakerTrack system creates problems, the best option is to keep all the parameters on “Auto” and let the system do the work for you. Perform a firmware upgrade and if the issue still persists, you will need Cisco technical support.
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Note the "Search" option on the web interface. This is very useful to search for options on the system.
(All rights to the Graphical user interface reserved to Cisco Inc.)
Cisco SX series solutions
(http://blogs.cisco.com/ciscoit/b-c-07232014-cisco-sx-series-adding-tp-to-every-screen)
SX10 - When it comes to design, Cisco is the Apple in the video conference world. The SX10 is no exception. The SX10 is great for huddle rooms and small meeting rooms. The system functions well and the responsiveness is impressive. The camera quality is excellent as well. The system hardly takes up space and can be mounted on top of the display.
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(http://www.ipphone-warehouse.com/Cisco-CTS-SX10-K9-p/cts-sx10-k9.htm)
SX20 - More suited for small to medium size meeting rooms. The SX20 can support two displays and the camera has more optical power in comparison to the SX10.
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SX80 - Perfectly suited for large boardroom. The SX80 is excellent for integrated room solutions. The system can work well with other audio visual systems and provide customers an immersive experience if the integration is done well.
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