Cisco Certified Partners (organisations) in SIN

[sierra2469alpha]

Hi - with the move to the new office, I'm after any recommendations from anyone who has used a Cisco Certified Partner (mainly for VoIP) here in SIN. Having a bit of a problem finding an organisation that understands the vague notion of "professionalism".

Thanks in advance, Mr. P

[copperwhazoo]

I feel your pain...

Do you still need help with this?

[sierra2469alpha]

copperwhazoo - actually, yes.

The appointed SI is close to useless ("Sure, we configure everything here and just bring it into your office - all ready to go" - read: they did next to no config and the stuff they did was half wrong, they didn't test the fax FXS card which isn't working etc. etc.)

Unfortunately, we don't have native access to CME, so it's a bit difficult to delve into the guts of the boxes, but if you know something about it happy to organise a quick meeting to discuss.

Cheers, Mr. P

[jackyCK]

CISCO still have promotion?

[sierra2469alpha]

Promotion of ?????

[Asian_Geekette]

The appointed SI is close to useless ("Sure, we configure everything here and just bring it into your office - all ready to go" - read: they did next to no config and the stuff they did was half wrong, they didn't test the fax FXS card which isn't working etc. etc.)

Unfortunately, we don't have native access to CME, so it's a bit difficult to delve into the guts of the boxes, but if you know something about it happy to organise a quick meeting to discuss.

What do you mean by no native access? The passwords were not given to you? If you have the CME (I'm assuming you're talking about Cisco Call Manager Express) in your premises, you can just connect to the console port and do password recovery. Voila! You can now tweak the configuration.

Have you tried working with DC (one of the Gold Level Cisco Partners here in SG)?

Cheers,
Asian_Geekette

[sierra2469alpha]

Asian_Geekette - [nick_level_of_honour > 100, btw )

My primary SI is SingTel, who outsource it to a company I shall not name here for fear of massive retribution.

SingTel offer it as a "managed service", which means my Client needs to call SingTel, who then in turn call the outsourced provider, who then in turn call my Client, who then in turn call my company.

It's so arse-about - pardon the language - especially seeing I can give SingTel two other Clients with world-wide implementations.

In terms of asking for the password - tried that. They blankly said no, it's a managed service. Yet, they hardly manage it as we were trying to set up a VPN yesterday between Singapore and another site, whiere we were binding it to an ASA, and the locally provided SI said - oh, you said a router, i said no, you said ASA, Oh, <insert>.

Frack knows why I am paying SingTel so much $$$$ - when they have the opportunities for the rest of the Clients.

If you have some intel and are happy to be paid by the hour, please let me know via PM.

Sorry if you are feeling my pain!!!!

Cheers, Mr. P

[edit: spelling misttok!!]

[pixfirewall]

Asian_Geekette - [nick_level_of_honour > 100, btw )

My primary SI is SingTel, who outsource it to a company I shall not name here for fear of massive retribution.

SingTel offer it as a "managed service", which means my Client needs to call SingTel, who then in turn call the outsourced provider, who then in turn call my Client, who then in turn call my company.

It's so arse-about - pardon the language - especially seeing I can give SingTel two other Clients with world-wide implementations.

In terms of asking for the password - tried that. They blankly said no, it's a managed service. Yet, they hardly manage it as we were trying to set up a VPN yesterday between Singapore and another site, whiere we were binding it to an ASA, and the locally provided SI said - oh, you said a router, i said no, you said ASA, Oh, <insert>.

Frack knows why I am paying SingTel so much $$$$ - when they have the opportunities for the rest of the Clients.

If you have some intel and are happy to be paid by the hour, please let me know via PM.

Sorry if you are feeling my pain!!!!

Cheers, Mr. P

[edit: spelling misttok!!]

First and foremost, SingTel is a Telco company..its not they don't know about CME but they don't have a department on these stuff..that's way they outsource it and say to the customer they could do it..just to get your money.. There are many Cisco Certified partners that can do the job much better than SingTel.

I had an experience with SingTel service and it really suck.!! They outsource the jobs to a company that I don't know of..then when you ask assistance..they point you to this guy and the guy tell you call this guys and so on and so forth..really sucks man!!

SingTel knows their big and they don't have any real competitors in the business that's way they act this way.

Anyway talking about config part..better get service from AT&T, BT, NTT, AsiaNet if its managed service you want, these companies are Cisco Certified Gold Partners, they have departments that deal with VPN, VOIP, QOS, MPLS stuff which has far better technical expertise than SingTel could offer...

For managed services, normally the provider will not give the password you have to raise a ticket for them to add service or troubleshoot. And if you see the managed service done by SingTel is not good then go to another provider that could do the job in a much efficient way...stop paying of a bad service...

[Asian_Geekette]

sierra2469alpha,

Thanks for the compliment about my weird-sounding nick.

So, it's a managed services type of contract that you have there. In that case, you better check what will happen if you try to do password recovery there. Perhaps, breach of contract?

Will PM you...

[Asian_Geekette]

I agree with pixfirewall. If the SI doesn't provide you with the services you require (despite efforts to open trouble tickets or change management requests), better go to another SI.

[pixfirewall]

sierra2469alpha,

Thanks for the compliment about my weird-sounding nick.

So, it's a managed services type of contract that you have there. In that case, you better check what will happen if you try to do password recovery there. Perhaps, breach of contract?

Will PM you...

Actually it will be a breach in contract as per managed services is concerned.
Just switch to a new SI if you are not contented with their services..

[sierra2469alpha]

Pixfirewall and AsianGeekette - many thanks for the replies.

@ Pix - yes, they do outsource it DESPITE them telling me on first meeting they have a dedicated department of CCNE's. I will be raising that little gem at the PIR.

The interesting thing is how they SingTel and the SI seem almost use each other as excuses for not providing additional services which we would happily pay for (eg. voice VLAN back to another office, for example). SI says "not in SingTel contract", SingTel say "SI should do it". I say "how much to get it done?". They say "Check with SingTel"; SingTel say "must check with SI". Add to this my pain of ANOTHER SI for the Cisco network back in another country.

@ Asiangeekette - the SI is a multinational Cisco Certified Partner in APAC. I will be having a wee chat with the Cisco head of corporate sales here.

Thanks for both your help - will be in contact.

Mr. P

[pixfirewall]

Pixfirewall and AsianGeekette - many thanks for the replies.

@ Pix - yes, they do outsource it DESPITE them telling me on first meeting they have a dedicated department of CCNE's. I will be raising that little gem at the PIR.

The interesting thing is how they SingTel and the SI seem almost use each other as excuses for not providing additional services which we would happily pay for (eg. voice VLAN back to another office, for example). SI says "not in SingTel contract", SingTel say "SI should do it". I say "how much to get it done?". They say "Check with SingTel"; SingTel say "must check with SI". Add to this my pain of ANOTHER SI for the Cisco network back in another country.

@ Asiangeekette - the SI is a multinational Cisco Certified Partner in APAC. I will be having a wee chat with the Cisco head of corporate sales here.

Thanks for both your help - will be in contact.

Mr. P

SingTel - Finger pointing syndrome...hahaha...as mentioned its a pain when you need support from them as what I had experienced before...