These phones are outdated and no longer supported by 3CX. This guide is available for informational purposes only and will not be updated.

Provisioning of CISCO 79XX Series

Applies to Cisco 7940, 7941, 7960, 7961

CISCO 79XX Series - Supported Models

Step 1: Download Firmware & Copy to Provisioning Directory

These phones can not be used from a remote location or in combination with a 3CX in the cloud and have been tested with 3CX Phone System V15 SP1 with the following firmware only:

  • Cisco 7940 - SIP Firmware 8.5.4s
  • Cisco 7941 - SIP Firmware 8.5.4s
  • Cisco 7960 - SIP Firmware 8.5.4s
  • Cisco 7961 - SIP Firmware 8.5.4s

Therefore you need to ensure that the phones are running this firmware. In case the defined version of the firmware is not installed, manually update the firmware before proceeding. When upgrading a Cisco 79XX IP phone firmware version prior to 8.3.3, you must first upgrade to 8.5.2 before you upgrade to 8.5.4s which is outside of the scope of this document!

  1. Download the Cisco 79XX support files.
  2. Find the provisioning folder of your 3CX Install – by default it is something like:

    C:\ProgramData\3CX\Instance1\Data\Http\Interface\provisioning\XXXXXX.

    Where
    XXXXXX is the randomly generated folder name of 8 to 12 characters.
  3. Place the whole content of the zip into this folder. This bundle will also change your phone to use SIP and updates the firmware to 8.5.4.s.

Step 2: Configure TFTP Server

Access this guide that shows you how to configure a TFTP server for 3CX.

Step 3: Provisioning your Cisco 79xx series with 3CX.

  • Phones previously provisioned via 3CX - If the phone was previously provisioned via 3CX, then you can go to the phones web interface from the management console, PROVIDED THEY ARE ON THE SAME NETWORK! Use the user name and password configured in the management console.
  • Phones not provisioned or provisioned on another system - You will have to obtain the IP via the phone interface and use that. Ensure that you change the default user name and password in the phone (in some cases admin admin!) to something A LOT more secure.
  • Copy this file now manual into the provisioning folder (TFTP root directory) e.g.: C:\ProgramData\3CX\Instance1\Data\Http\Interface\provisioning\XXXXXX

Retrieve information from your 3CX Installation

Retrieving information from your 3CX Installation

  1. Go to the “User” for which you want to add the phone.
  2. Go to the “IP Phone” tab. Click “Configure a phone” to add a phone.
  3. Select the option “Outside the Office” and click “Next”.
  4. Select “Normal Phone” and enable the option to “Configure your phone manually without provisioning”
  5. Now, choose the router phone behind through which this phone will connect.
  6. A pop-up window will appear with the Authentication ID and Password. Depending on your installation you will also see:
  1. If on the local network: The 3CX Phone System FQDN and Port number
  2. If in the cloud: The SBC or Router phone’s IP address and Port number.  

        Take a note of them.

Manual registration via the Cisco 79xx series web interface

  1. Open the web interface of your Cisco 79xx device (user: admin, password: 22222).
  2. You will need to enter the information from 3CX to complete the manual configuration:
  1. Extension number
  2. Authentication ID
  3. Authentication Password
  4. Your PBX’s FQDN
  5. SIP Port
  6. Local IP Address of your 3CX SBC
  7. Port of your 3CX SBC
  1. Reboot the device.
  2. Copy this file now manual into the provisioning folder (TFTP root directory) e.g.: C:\ProgramData\3CX\Instance1\Data\Http\Interface\provisioning\XXXXXX

Additional step for 7940 and 7960

As a one time requirement the SIPdefault.cnf is also needed within the TFTP root directory. To generate this file, take the “Provisioning Link” of the extension and replace the SIPXXXXXXXXXXXX.cnf with SIPDefault.cnf. http://pbx.mybusiness.local/provisioning/pc56bscs195k/SIPDefault.cnf

Cisco 79XX Series - Provisioning Link

Step 4: Set the provisioning link using DHCP Option 66

The phone needs to know where to pick up the firmware files and configuration information. The best way to do this is by setting option 66 in your DHCP server. Follow this guide on how to configure a phone using DHCP Option 66. When requested to enter the string value use this format:

“IP-Of-3CX-PBX” e.g. “192.168.3.158”.

Known Limitations

Known limitations of Cisco 7940, 7941, 7960, 7961 are:

  • No PnP Support
  • No STUN Support
  • No SBC Support
  • No Full CTI Support (Make Call Only with no Auto Answer)
  • No BLF Functionality
  • No Company Phone Book
  • No Blind Transfer (7961 7941)
  • No local conference  (7961 7941 dial codes need to be used)
  • No Attended Transfer (7960 7940)
  • No Distinctive Ringing for external, queues or ivrs
  • Time Zone Support (NTP Server set to public IP)
  • Manual DST Support
  • No LCD Language Support
  • Can not be used for Assign and Clear Operation

See also

Last Updated

This document was last updated on 30th May 2023

https://www.3cx.com/sip-phones/cisco-7940g-7960g/