Configuring Aastra 53i, 55i and 57i SIP phones for 3CX Phone system

IMPORTANT This guide has been tested with firmware version 2.2.0.166. Be aware that different firmware revisions may have different web interface formats and functionality. See compatibility list for latest phone firmware revisions that we have tested with 3CX Phone System.

  1. Ensure that you have created the extension that you wish to use with the phone in 3CX Phone System first. Take note of the Extension Number, the Authentication ID, and the Authentication password that you have entered for this extension
  2. Connect the Aastra SIP phone to the network and main power supply. The phone will boot up, and providing you have DHCP installed on your network, will obtain an IP. To find the IP, using the phone keypad, go to options/phone status (option 11)/network port 1 and view its IP address.
  3. Now you can access the phone’s web configuration page by going to http://x.x.x.x where x.x.x.x is the IP address of the phone from step 2.
  4. The factory default username and password for accessing web configuration on Aastra phones is “Admin” and “22222”. In “Advanced Settings”, then “Network” tab you can see that DHCP is enabled by default - configure this according to preference (refer to screenshot 1).


    Aastra SIP phones Network settings


    Aastra SIP phones Global SIP settings part 1
  5. Next step is to configure the “Global SIP” settings. You will only need to configure the section labeled “Basic SIP Network Settings” in this page (refer to screenshot 2).
    a. Set the “Proxy server” field to the IP address or FQDN of the server on which the 3CX Phone System is installed
    b. Set the “proxy port” to 5060. Please note that if the SIP port has been changed from the default on the 3CX Phone System (in General Settings), this value must be changed accordingly.
    c. Set the “Registrar server” and “Registrar port” to the same values as in steps a and b.
    d. Set the Registration period to a value suitable for your company. For testing purposes you may want to use 60 seconds, but once configuration is tested a larger value would be more appropriate to limit unnecessary network traffic. A good setting for general use could be 3600 seconds (1 hour).


    Aastra SIP phones Global SIP settings part 2
  6. In RTP Settings section enable “Basic codecs” (refer to screenshot 3).
  7. Enable “Force RFC2833 out-of-band DTMF”>
  8. Set “DTMF method” to RTP
  9. Press “Save settings” to save configuration in current page.


    Aastra SIP phones LINE 1 settings
  10. Next step is configuring Line 1 page of advance settings (refer to screenshot 4). Screen Name is really trivial so no matter what you insert there is no direct effect on the functionality of the phone. The user’s first and last name for this extension is a reasonable choice here.
  11. Set phone number with the extension number that you set in 3CX Phone.
  12. Set “authentication name” as “password” to the same values you have configured in 3CX phone system as “Authentication ID” and “Authentication password”.
  13. Next step is to configure the “Basic SIP Network” settings.
    a. Set the “Proxy server” field to the IP address or FQDN of the server on which the 3CX Phone System is installed. If entering an FQDN, review this FAQ
     b. Set the “proxy port” to 5060. Please note that if the SIP port has been changed from the default on the 3CX Phone System (in General Settings), this value must be changed accordingly.
    c. Set the “Registrar server” and “Registrar port” to the same values as in steps a and b.
    d. Set the Registration period to a value suitable for your company. For testing purposes you may want to use 60 seconds, but once configuration is tested a larger value would be more appropriate to limit unnecessary network traffic. A good setting for general use could be 3600 seconds (1 hour).
  14. In RTP settings set “DTMF method” to RTP
  15. Press “Save settings” to save configuration in current page.


    Aastra SIP phones Reset/Restart page
  16. To configure Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) functionality on the Aastra phones, go under Advanced Settings, go to "Global SIP". From there go to "Advanced SIP Settings". Under Advanced SIP Settings go to "Explicit MWI Subscription" and enable that. In the following setting "explicit MWI Timeout" you must define a value that you feel is suitable for you network. Suggested value would be 1800 (half an hour).
    NOTE: This feature (MWI) is not available in the Free Version of 3CX Phone System. The MWI feature is available in all other versions.


    Aastra SIP phones Message Waiting Indicator settings
  17. Configuration is now complete. You must restart the phone before the new settings will take effect. To do that you must go to “Operation Section” from the left pane, then “Reset”. This brings you to the page displayed in Screenshot 5. Click the “Restart” button and wait until the phone reboots.
  18. After the phone has rebooted, switch to the 3CX Phone System Management Console, and click on the Phone System -> “Line Status” (This is the default page). In the section “Extensions”, the phone’s extension will be listed with a green status light.

SIP Phone Configuration Guides