7961g

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3cx-newb. I have used these phones a lot on SIP systems. Here are some pointers and some may be repeats from others here.

The best version of Cisco SIP loads is 8.5.4 as 3CX support said. It is not just an arbitrary comment. Older versions has issues and every time Cisco fixed one, they created another. I don't think they really want to be industry standard. 8.5.4 was the first version that did not break something when they fixed something.

When a Cisco is factory defaulted 123456789*0# it will look for the term61.loads file which is the first part of booting to its firmware. From memory the .loads file is a text file pointing to the relevant binary files. If you unpack a 8.5.4 sip archive, that file along with other version specific files will be preset. I can't give you exact file names as I am on holidays away from the office.

A good way to get the firmware on outside of the 3CX environment is to use tftpd32 as your tftp server. Configure your dhcp scope option 66 to the ip address of your tftpd32 machine. Put your Cisco binaries into a directory and configure tftpd32 to point to that directory. When you default the phone, you should see it downloading the files via tftp from the directory. It boots several times during this process. When it it booted it will say unprovisioned (from memory) which sounds like you have got this far. You can then go into the phone menu to set things manually. Everything is readonly. To switch to readwrite (once again from memory) press *#. You should see the padlock icon on screen open. You can then manually configure settings to at least see if you are going to be able to get things going. Once the phone is registered and received calls, you will need to build a dialplan.xml file that allows you to call out.

Avoid using the hard reset command. If you have not already done so, this can brick you phone. It should only be used in emergencies as a last resort. 123456789*0# will get it back to factory. Sometimes the firmware update procedure can be painfully long.

I have never set up a 7941, or 7961 on 3CX, but I have done it many times on other SIP systems. I have even written my own provisioning file and software. I don't like using these phones on good systems. I much prefer Yealink and these work brilliantly on 3CX. However, there are many Ciscos around and sometimes getting them to work is the decider to get a Cisco call manager replacement deal over the line. If the Cisco sip firmware is installed and you have a good dialplan.xml file, it should work fine.
 
datamerge said:
3cx-newb. I have used these phones a lot on SIP systems. Here are some pointers and some may be repeats from others here.

The best version of Cisco SIP loads is 8.5.4 as 3CX support said. It is not just an arbitrary comment. Older versions has issues and every time Cisco fixed one, they created another. I don't think they really want to be industry standard. 8.5.4 was the first version that did not break something when they fixed something.

When a Cisco is factory defaulted 123456789*0# it will look for the term61.loads file which is the first part of booting to its firmware. From memory the .loads file is a text file pointing to the relevant binary files. If you unpack a 8.5.4 sip archive, that file along with other version specific files will be preset. I can't give you exact file names as I am on holidays away from the office.

A good way to get the firmware on outside of the 3CX environment is to use tftpd32 as your tftp server. Configure your dhcp scope option 66 to the ip address of your tftpd32 machine. Put your Cisco binaries into a directory and configure tftpd32 to point to that directory. When you default the phone, you should see it downloading the files via tftp from the directory. It boots several times during this process. When it it booted it will say unprovisioned (from memory) which sounds like you have got this far. You can then go into the phone menu to set things manually. Everything is readonly. To switch to readwrite (once again from memory) press *#. You should see the padlock icon on screen open. You can then manually configure settings to at least see if you are going to be able to get things going. Once the phone is registered and received calls, you will need to build a dialplan.xml file that allows you to call out.

Avoid using the hard reset command. If you have not already done so, this can brick you phone. It should only be used in emergencies as a last resort. 123456789*0# will get it back to factory. Sometimes the firmware update procedure can be painfully long.

I have never set up a 7941, or 7961 on 3CX, but I have done it many times on other SIP systems. I have even written my own provisioning file and software. I don't like using these phones on good systems. I much prefer Yealink and these work brilliantly on 3CX. However, there are many Ciscos around and sometimes getting them to work is the decider to get a Cisco call manager replacement deal over the line. If the Cisco sip firmware is installed and you have a good dialplan.xml file, it should work fine.

Thank you for the information. I have no problem using the 8.5.4 SIP firmware, but I can't get it to load. I will tyr with TFTP32 tomorrow, but I hope I didn't brick the phone, I am now at a point where the phone lights up, but nothing pops up on the screen.

I will keep trying, but I am not in any hurry, please post a link to your files/site when you can.

Also, I am not 100% stuck on using this cisco 7961g, but I had it so I figured I would try, the real reason I like it is due to how it sits on the desk...I like that it has an adjustable stand and stands almost upright. My yea link IP phone looks like a cisco phone, but is doesn't stand upright and if I try to prop it up, the hand set doesn't have a hook and slides off hook.

Thanks again for the info.

Thanks.
 
Maybe this is bricked.. Just go on ebay and buy a used one for 30 bucks... Instead of spending more time on this.. sometimes it happens.
 
nickybrg said:
Maybe this is bricked.. Just go on ebay and buy a used one for 30 bucks... Instead of spending more time on this.. sometimes it happens.

Probably not a good idea to spend 30 dollars on a phone that won't work. Let's assume my phone is bricked, all the times I tried to get it to work before that, failed. I know that I followed the guide posted on this site 100%. I supposed I could have a bad phone, but I have to assume there would have been some other obvious signs of a bad phone....but maybe not.

EDIT- It isn't the money, I just don't want another paperweight.
 
Well what is not worth it is spending more time on something that should work..
Last time I bought 6 from telaviv for a friend of mine - bamm - all worked out of the box.. 30 dollars each... It was a package.. There goes his small office done for 200 bucks..

However here on this forum with your current phone we cannot help you further.. If you followed the guide, you need to try with another phone.
 
nickybrg said:
Well what is not worth it is spending more time on something that should work..
Last time I bought 6 from telaviv for a friend of mine - bamm - all worked out of the box.. 30 dollars each... It was a package.. There goes his small office done for 200 bucks..

However here on this forum with your current phone we cannot help you further.. If you followed the guide, you need to try with another phone.

-----UPDATE-------

I purchased another phone, followed the guide, the new phone just says registering in the bottom left. I checked the firmware on the phone, it shows SCCP, which is fine, according to what people are saying on here, because it should grab the SIP firmware from the TFTP server/3CX. Not sure why it isn't grabbing the SIP firmware, but I followed the guide. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

Thanks.
 
OK, this is just a hunch but I am assuming you have already setup Option 66 and put the TFTP server IP there. Trying also adding DHCP Option 150 and giving it the same IP you gave the Option 66.

I've never had this issue myself but its worth a shot.
 
NickD_3CX said:
OK, this is just a hunch but I am assuming you have already setup Option 66 and put the TFTP server IP there. Trying also adding DHCP Option 150 and giving it the same IP you gave the Option 66.

I've never had this issue myself but its worth a shot.

What does that test/confirm?
 
As I said it confirms nothing, I was reading through some Cisco forums though and I came across someone saying that sometimes these phones don't keep the TFTP address through Option 66 but do so with Option 150 which Cisco prefers for these things.

I did say it is just a hunch.
 
NickD_3CX said:
As I said it confirms nothing, I was reading through some Cisco forums though and I came across someone saying that sometimes these phones don't keep the TFTP address through Option 66 but do so with Option 150 which Cisco prefers for these things.

I did say it is just a hunch.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I read the same thing, however, my phone is contacting the TFTP server, which is why the current option appears to be working fine.
 
Anyone else have any other suggestions? I feel confident saying I don't have two broken phones.

Thanks.
 
As per my previous post. Use tftpd32 on a PC and configure your scope option 66 to point to this computer. Ensure your sip binaries are on the computer in the directory tftpd32 is pointing to. You will see the requests for file downloads in realtime on the tftpd32 status window and you will easily be able to a) ensure your phones are going where the dhcp scope points them b) downloading the files you have placed in the directory.

Your phones won't try to pick up a new SIP binary until you use the 123456789*0# sequence at boot. If they are booting to SCCP and stuck at registering, then they have booted normally on their existing incorrect firmware.

Mark
 
datamerge said:
As per my previous post. Use tftpd32 on a PC and configure your scope option 66 to point to this computer. Ensure your sip binaries are on the computer in the directory tftpd32 is pointing to. You will see the requests for file downloads in realtime on the tftpd32 status window and you will easily be able to a) ensure your phones are going where the dhcp scope points them b) downloading the files you have placed in the directory.

Your phones won't try to pick up a new SIP binary until you use the 123456789*0# sequence at boot. If they are booting to SCCP and stuck at registering, then they have booted normally on their existing incorrect firmware.

Mark

Ok, I will try this. Thanks.
 
datamerge said:
As per my previous post. Use tftpd32 on a PC and configure your scope option 66 to point to this computer. Ensure your sip binaries are on the computer in the directory tftpd32 is pointing to. You will see the requests for file downloads in realtime on the tftpd32 status window and you will easily be able to a) ensure your phones are going where the dhcp scope points them b) downloading the files you have placed in the directory.

Your phones won't try to pick up a new SIP binary until you use the 123456789*0# sequence at boot. If they are booting to SCCP and stuck at registering, then they have booted normally on their existing incorrect firmware.

Mark

when i try this on the original phone, it shows the orange lights cycling through the buttons, but then the phone just sits there....no lights, no activity.....nothing not sure if that indicates a bricked phone.

i am going to try it with the second phone i purchased in a little bit, i am going to see if anything changes on the first phone i am testing with.

thanks.

edit- after submitting this post, the green speaker icon light light up green, the top right speed dial button blinked 1 time, orange and everything is blank again. tftf32 showed the phone checking in with term61 file (partially saw it) then it flashed and went away.
 
second phone sits on registering, i see it check into tftp32 but it doesn't seem to want to download anything.
 
i'm officially giving up, thank you to everyone who helped.
 
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