Specifications

ShoreTel Architecture Single System Management
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ShoreTel 14 Maintenance Guide 18
In a system with more than one ShoreTel server, the ShoreTel voice switches may contact an alternate
instance of the routing service if the primary instance is unreachable. ShoreTel servers have a
hierarchical relationship, with the Headquarters server at the top of the hierarchy. As you add DVSs to
the system using ShoreTel Director, you define the order of the servers in relation to the Headquarters
server and the various sites in your system.
Initially, the switches try to contact the nearest instance of the Distributed Routing Service in the
hierarchy. If that instance of DRS is unreachable, the switch contacts the instance of DRS at the parent
server in the hierarchy as a fallback.
If both instances of DRS are unreachable, the switch makes a best effort to route the call based on its
internal routing tables built from communicating with peer ShoreTel voice switches at the same site.
Additionally, if the call is an external call, the call may be routed out a local trunk even though it may
not be the lowest cost. If the call is an internal intersite call, it is redirected to the Backup Auto-
Attendant.
Single System Management
The ShoreTel system provides a browser-based network management tool called ShoreTel Director
that provides a single management interface for all voice services and applications across all
locations. Although there are multiple servers and switches to support the services and applications,
the ShoreTel system provides a single image system across your entire network.
Integrated management enables a change to propagate dynamically across the system each time a
modification is made on the ShoreTel system. When you add a new user to the system, that user
automatically receives a dialing plan, voicemail, an extension, a mail box, an Auto-Attendant profile,
and an email reminder to download the desktop software. In addition, you can add the user to a
Workgroup, if needed. You can add new users and place them in Workgroups from a single
management screen.
If a ShoreTel Service Appliance is used to implement ShoreTel Conferencing and Instant Messaging
Services, then these services are also fully integrated into the ShoreTel single image management
system.
The exceptions to this approach are ShoreTel Converged Conference Solution and the ShoreTel
Enterprise Contact Center Solution, which are managed separately through their own management
systems.
The ShoreTel system provides automated software distribution for all components on the system.
When you add a new ShoreTel voice switch to the system, it is automatically upgraded to the current
software release by the ShoreTel server. Existing ShoreTel voice switches download the current
software when you reboot the switches. (For details, see ShoreTel Voice Firmware Upgrades on page
63.) The Headquarters server does not upgrade Distributed Voice Servers; these must be upgraded
independently.
When you add a new user to the system, the user receives an email message containing URLs from
which desktop and web-based call control and unified messaging applications can be downloaded and
installed, or run.
For software upgrades at the Headquarters site, you simply install the new software on the ShoreTel
servers. Users are notified of the new software release and are automatically prompted to upgrade
their software, if an upgrade is required.