7961g

[3cx-newb]

I am having an issue activating/registering this phone with the free 3CX pbx.

The front of the phone shows 7961, the back of the phone shows cp-7961g.

Between google and the walkthrough for this phone on the 3CX site, I thought I would be able to get it configured, but no luck.

Can anyone help?

I don't think the phone has any firmware on it (no SCCP or SIP) and I am wondering if that might be a problem or the problem.

Here is some information- I can get the phone to boot up and connect to a TFTP server and I can see packets in wireshark that it made a connection to the TFTP server.

I followed this guide- http://www.3cx.com/sip-phones/cisco-7940g-7960g/ and it doesn't say anything about CTL, SEP, or XML files, the TFTP program stated that it was looking for those 3 files. The download from the 3CX site didn't contain those 3 files. I googled and found some default CTL, SEP, and XML files and I created them in notepad++, this time TFTP showed that it grabbed the additional files it was looking for, but the phone says, configuring IP....updating CTL.....then CTL Update failed (it didn't do that before I added my 3 custom files), so it must be making progress, but still isn't registering.

The 3CX web gui/portal is not very responsive on my windows 10 laptop, not sure if it needs a reboot or if the laptop isn't powerful enough, this is just a test/experiment, so it shouldn't be an issue, but I do have another windows computer I can install this on if I determine that my laptop is the reason that it is running slow.

My questions are:

1- this phone is compatible with 3CX, so I must be doing something wrong, can someone confirm?
2- does it matter what the existing phone firmware is and at which level? I bought it used, it could be that it wasn't wiped properly and that I only have a partial config on here?
3- Do I need to create my own CTL, SEP, and XML files or should those already be on the phone?

Thanks in advance for any input/help.

 

[3cx-newb]

Your phone will try to download the two XML files (of the three you listed earlier), it needs those. Those are created by 3CX. One is a "generic" default file and the other, with the phones MAC, is specific to the set. Don't worry about any other files that the set is looking for...dialplan, tones etc., they are not required for basic operation.

Given that you have one phone at this time, i would suggest that you install the 3CX phone for windows on another computer (laptop?), or install it on an Android device, or iPhone. Make sure that it is able to register. Check the 3CX Server logs, they will tell you if the PBX is seeing any signs of an attempted registration, and if so, why it is failing.

Ok, I will try it on another computer. The phone did grab the files from the 3CX directory, so I know everything is talking to e/o, but there could be some other issue that is causing it to not complete 100%.

Thanks.

 

[3cx-newb]

Tried installing 3CX on a windows 7 machine and it seems to be more responsive (menus), but no change with the phone, still showing as unprovisioned and getting the same outcome that I was getting on the last 3CX test server. Logs are not helping, so I don't know where to start troubleshooting.

Thanks.

 

[nb]

Yes I read but I saw an image of a phone earlier that had a file name that started with SCCP...
then I saw that you got it from the internet.
Can you take your phone and take an image of your phone firmware it loads and tell me what it has inside?
This phones manually needs 3 or 4 fields to configure it to 3CX . registrar username, pass and auth id. Leave the provisioning out - you should be able to at least get it to work manually by entering the information via the phone directly.

 

[AramS_3CX]

Hi 3cx-newb,

As I can see your Cisco phone is not using the correct FW version.
The correct/supported FW version is 8-5-4, your phone is using 8-0-3 version.

Can you confirm that you did everything what is described in the guide?
I have feeling that you missed one of the steps.
Just to be sure:
1. Download the Pumpkin and point it (set the path) to your "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder ( C:\ProgramData\3CX\Instance1\Data\Http\Interface\provisioning\%%PROVSUBDIR%%);
2. Open Management Console, edit/add extension, put phone's correct MAC address, choose the correct model and press OK. The SEPMACADDRESS.cng.xml file will be automatically created in your "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder and you should see it there;
3. Download "Supported 3CX Cisco 79XX SIP Firmware files" using the link from the guide, unzip it and copy/paste all files into the same "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder.

This is the procedure which was used many times and works perfectly.
Please re-check and keep me informed.

 

[3cx-newb]

Hi 3cx-newb,

As I can see your Cisco phone is not using the correct FW version.
The correct/supported FW version is 8-5-4, your phone is using 8-0-3 version.

Can you confirm that you did everything what is described in the guide?
I have feeling that you missed one of the steps.
Just to be sure:
1. Download the Pumpkin and point it (set the path) to your "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder ( C:\ProgramData\3CX\Instance1\Data\Http\Interface\provisioning\%%PROVSUBDIR%%);
2. Open Management Console, edit/add extension, put phone's correct MAC address, choose the correct model and press OK. The SEPMACADDRESS.cng.xml file will be automatically created in your "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder and you should see it there;
3. Download "Supported 3CX Cisco 79XX SIP Firmware files" using the link from the guide, unzip it and copy/paste all files into the same "%%PROVSUBDIR%%" folder.

This is the procedure which was used many times and works perfectly.
Please re-check and keep me informed.

Yes, all of that sounds exactly like what I did/have been doing, the only thing that is not correct is the firmware. Even the XML file that 3CX creates, I can see that in the directory and I confirmed the MAC address is correct.

Here is the question that I still don't have a clear answer on....

If I completely factory wipe the phone (hard reset- 3497672850*#) should the phone grab ANY firmware in the tftp folder? I thought I tried this (before making this thread) and it never grabbed the 3CX firmware. Other forums said that it needs firmware before it can grab SIP firmware or it needs specific firmware before it can upgrade to a SIP firmware. The 8.0.3 firmware was what I was able to get on the phone after a hard reset, the 3CX files that I unzipped and placed in the provisioning folder (random characters for the folder name) seems to be ignored by the phone. Regardless, I will take a look and see if I can hard reset it and see if it will pick up the firmware w/o the 8.0.3 version on the phone.

 

[leejor]

If I completely factory wipe the phone (hard reset- 3497672850*#) should the phone grab ANY firmware in the tftp folder?

That is what I ended up doing with the phone(s) that I had. The only SIP software that I had, was that downloaded from 3CX as per the article on their site. the phone was previously used on a system using SCCP. I did not note what version it had been using.

Tried installing 3CX on a windows 7 machine and it seems to be more responsive (menus), but no change with the phone, still showing as unprovisioned and getting the same outcome that I was getting on the last 3CX test server. Logs are not helping, so I don't know where to start troubleshooting.

But, did you try, as I suggested, installing the 3CX Phone (as another extension) on another PC to see if it is able to register with the PBX?

Post some of the logs if they show an attempted registration attempt, if you are unclear on the meaning.

Boot up the 3CX server, wait a few minutes for everything to "come up". At that point there should not be many logs being generated. Power up the Cisco set so that it will attempt a registration. Check the log.

 

[3cx-newb]

If I completely factory wipe the phone (hard reset- 3497672850*#) should the phone grab ANY firmware in the tftp folder?

That is what I ended up doing with the phone(s) that I had. The only SIP software that I had, was that downloaded from 3CX as per the article on their site. the phone was previously used on a system using SCCP. I did not note what version it had been using.

Tried installing 3CX on a windows 7 machine and it seems to be more responsive (menus), but no change with the phone, still showing as unprovisioned and getting the same outcome that I was getting on the last 3CX test server. Logs are not helping, so I don't know where to start troubleshooting.

But, did you try, as I suggested, installing the 3CX Phone (as another extension) on another PC to see if it is able to register with the PBX?

Post some of the logs if they show an attempted registration attempt, if you are unclear on the meaning.

Boot up the 3CX server, wait a few minutes for everything to "come up". At that point there should not be many logs being generated. Power up the Cisco set so that it will attempt a registration. Check the log.

Not yet, by the time I got home and got 3CX installed on a new computer, I tried to see if it would register the cisco and it didn't, so I gave up for the night. However, yes, I will try it. It doesn't appear to be a 3CX issue, I think it has to be something with the firmware.

EDIT- the other odd thing is that I can't hard reset it now...by the time I type 4 or 5 characters the phone continues to boot up. I never had a problem, before, but now I am having an issue. I am pressing # until I see the speed dial buttons flash in the orange pattern, but like I said, I can't type in the full hard reset code, it continues to boot. It allows me to type the soft reset....123456789*0# w/o any issues, but it doesn't want to take the hard reset command....odd (which means I am not able to test what I want to test).

 

[leejor]

You shouldn't have to keep doing a hard reset like that. On boot up it should try to get new firmware by default as long as it has the IP of the tftp server. I made the mistake of doing a hard reset (once too often) on the colour screen model (can't remember the model number at the moment), and it now just shows a blank screen. I haven't had the time to pursue it.

 

[3cx-newb]

You shouldn't have to keep doing a hard reset like that. On boot up it should try to get new firmware by default as long as it has the IP of the tftp server. I made the mistake of doing a hard reset (once too often) on the colour screen model (can't remember the model number at the moment), and it now just shows a blank screen. I haven't had the time to pursue it.

Got it, well, it isn't grabbing the new firmware...

However, something new is now happening...

it tries to grab terms61.default and it appears to get it, but now I see the famous 'bullseye' in the bottom left...I have never seen that before. From there, it just loops and does the same thing over and over.

 

[leejor]

There is some interesting info at this link.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11583731/cisco-7961-ip-phone-showing-blank-screen-after-factory-reset

I went through a lot of the Cisco forums when I was working with the phones and picked up some useful information, a lot of which, unfortunately, has been forgotten as I don't work with these sets on a regular basis. It's my Cisco 7970 that is doing the blank screen thing and even though I can see it successfully download a file from the tftp server, it has been suggested that I need to try an older load, which I have yet to acquire.

 

[3cx-newb]

There is some interesting info at this link.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11583731/cisco-7961-ip-phone-showing-blank-screen-after-factory-reset

I went through a lot of the Cisco forums when I was working with the phones and picked up some useful information, a lot of which, unfortunately, has been forgotten as I don't work with these sets on a regular basis. It's my Cisco 7970 that is doing the blank screen thing and even though I can see it successfully download a file from the tftp server, it has been suggested that I need to try an older load, which I have yet to acquire.

Ok, I will take a look, but I am getting conflicting information.

One person says it should grab the firmware. Another says it needs a specific firmware. Someone says 3CX is compatible, others say you have to make your own files. Unfortunately for those that want to get this phone working, the information out there isn't uniform.

At the end of all this I wanted to document what it took to get it working, but I have no idea what works and what doesn't work (I am being a little sarcastic here).

EDIT- Yeah, I have been there already, that is where I originally found the hard reset number. :lol:

EDIT2- I guess I had the wrong hard reset number....this number reset it (hard reset) 3491672850*# I was using 3497672850 *# (I guess the first 7 is a typo, it should be a 1).

Now that I did that....the screen isn't coming back on...can't see the dark color/background. The lights come up when I plug in the network cable, but nothing on the screen....great.

 

[andreaschr]

Hi 3cx-newb

I have read what you have done with cisco 7961 and i think is ok.
Can you try to configure a 3CX Phone Client (windows , android , Iphone) anything and tell us if is working ?
Probably the issue is not the Cisco 7961 but some misconfiguration On the PBX

 

[leejor]

One person says it should grab the firmware. Another says it needs a specific firmware. Someone says 3CX is compatible, others say you have to make your own files. Unfortunately for those that want to get this phone working, the information out there isn't uniform.

All I can relate is my experience with the 7940, 7960 and 7961. At no time did I download/install anything other than the files listed on the 3CX site (for using the Cisco sets). I followed the instructions. I did find that with one set it did not upgrade to the SIP firmware until a hard reset, but that was only done one time, the rest only required the soft reset.

The issue I still have with the 7970 is completely different, (as far as i know, is not supported by 3CX, or, at least, wasn't at the time), I was simply trying to get a SIP load (from the Cisco site) into it.

 

[3cx-newb]

I tried installing a soft phone...the windows client doesn't see any pbx, apparently it does a quick autodiscovery, because I saw that message as soon as I launched the client.

I installed this on the same computer that the server is running on, not sure if that can cause issues. If it does, I will need to try another computer. If it doesn't, then apparently something is wrong with my 3CX server install.

I will try the 7961g, tonight, it has been off since my post from yesterday night.

 

[leejor]

I have seen reports of it working when the 3CX Phone is installed on the same PC as the PBX is running, but that isn't going to prove much one way or the other, I'm not a big fan of doing that to begin with.

You want to see if another device is able to register. the only way to properly test that is to install the phone on a device external to the PBX, on another PC on the network.

 

[3cx-newb]

I have seen reports of it working when the 3CX Phone is installed on the same PC as the PBX is running, but that isn't going to prove much one way or the other, I'm not a big fan of doing that to begin with.

You want to see if another device is able to register. the only way to properly test that is to install the phone on a device external to the PBX, on another PC on the network.

Ok, I might have jumped the gun a little...I thought it was looking for a PBX server on the network (for the soft phone) but it was just looking for a configuration file. I don't have a file, how do I manually get it connected to the PBX server (I am still running it on another computer on the network, I won't test it on the PBX).

BTW, I did read the instructions, I don't have an email server setup and I am using a fake/test email with the user extensions.

Thanks.

 

[leejor]

You can manually configure the 3CX phone. I assume you have created an extension in the PBX, a different one from the one to be assigned to the Cisco set (I hope).

When you created the extension you got a password, or you created one. You need that, the extension number and the IP of the PC running the server, that's about it for an internal extension. On the phone you create a new account (profile). You put the extension number in both the Extension ID and the User ID. Password goes...wait for it...in the Password space. The IP of the 3CX server goes in the Local PBX address. That should be all that is required for basic (local) operation. If you decide to take the PC outside the local LAN, well...there are a few more things that will have to be added in the Phone, and on your network, or it won't work.

http://www.3cx.com/blog/3cxphone/windows/configuring/

 

[3cx-newb]

You can manually configure the 3CX phone. I assume you have created an extension in the PBX, a different one from the one to be assigned to the Cisco set (I hope).

When you created the extension you got a password, or you created one. You need that, the extension number and the IP of the PC running the server, that's about it for an internal extension. On the phone you create a new account (profile). You put the extension number in both the Extension ID and the User ID. Password goes...wait for it...in the Password space. The IP of the 3CX server goes in the Local PBX address. That should be all that is required for basic (local) operation. If you decide to take the PC outside the local LAN, well...there are a few more things that will have to be added in the Phone, and on your network, or it won't work.

http://www.3cx.com/blog/3cxphone/windows/configuring/

Yeah, I have all that information, I tried adding it by pressing the + icon in the software, but when I hit OK nothing was under the accounts section, so I assumed it was wrong, not sure where else I can go in the soft phone software to setup the user. (did this before making any posts because it seemed the most obvious....but it didn't take the values, I will try again...)

EDIT- The link you provided is not correct, it didn't ask me that, never saw that pop up. Looks like the documentation on this site needs to be updated/corrected.

EDIT2- Got it working (the profile), however, it isn't connecting to the server.

EDIT3- OK, got it provisioned on the soft phone, I guess the PBX is working fine....now back to the cisco. Might not try any more tonight, not sure...

 

[3cx-newb]

This is all I get from the phone, now...

Green speaker light comes on, then the upper right hand speed dial button blinks orange once, and then everything is off as if the phone is not plugged in/getting power.

 

[3cx-newb]

I just connected a Yea Link T28p and it registered in about 2 minutes (counting the time it took to download the files from the TFTF server and initialize. I was able to test with the softphone. I could call from softphone to the Yea Link and from the Yea Link to the sopftphone. PBX seems to be working fine.

If only the cisco phone worked that well.