Bulk RPS Reprovision

[JustinB-PedEnt]

We will be switching back to 3CX from another system. Our remote staff have router phones that are registered with Yealink's RPS to the old system. I have questions about the correct process for getting the RPS entries updated to point to 3CX in time for the Go-Live.

The plan was to Disable RPS Provisioning in 3CX and import all extensions and hardware ahead of time.

1. Is disabling RPS even necessary or would any new entries fail because the phones are already registered to the other system's server?
2. Will the old RPS entries need to be removed before 3CX can register them, either by the old provider or with a Yealink MAC Removal ticket? When is the appropriate time to do this?
3. If phones are added to 3CX with RPS disabled, is there a way in 3CX to register them all at once afterwards, or do I need to acquire portal access for RPS/YMCS for this?

Additionally - The remote phones should be on current or recent firmware. Can I expect 3CX to push the correct "3CX flavored" firmware versions upon provisioning?

Thank you,

 

[bitn2]

1. Its not necessary.
2. Yes, they need to be removed by Yealink
3. No, the easierst way is to use RPS

If you set the beta function to update the phones, they should get the correct firmware. But i would install the correct firmware by yourself-

 

[JustinB-PedEnt]

Thanks @bitn2. I think I followed the right steps to request RPS access from Yealink.

If you set the beta function to update the phones, they should get the correct firmware. But i would install the correct firmware by yourself

I appreciate you confirming. I was pretty sure I saw this beta option announced but couldn't find the article in a search. The troublesome part of these remote users' phones is that I don't have direct WebUI access to most of them. There are obstacles preventing the use of other computers on their home networks for WebUI access. I can take a phone home to test the reprovision/firmware update with.

 

[KyriacosS_3CX]

Hi, the automatic update feature is documented here https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/ip-phones/#h.qeu3049xbhg6 , might need to scroll down a little from where this link loads.

Keep in mind that this will work if the phones are at a firmware level that allows the update - if they have very old firmware a direct jump might not be possible. As you mention, this is something to test quickly first, but if your phones are "compatible" it can be a real time saver on any bigish instal.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Also a fair bit of warning regarding remote workers: 3CX requires the use of the 3CX SBC.

The good news is that some models support having the 3CX SBC built into their firmware (we call them router phones), study the support guides here to learn which ones are capable of this and upgrade to our firmware before you attempt provisioning. You might want to specifically give your remote workers router-capable models.

Note 1: RPS only works for current models. We will not support RPS on end of life stuff like T4S, T4G, or older ones for example.
Note 2: You always have access to the 3CX Android, iOS, Webclient, and Desktop apps for remote users too in case you need it.

 

[JustinB-PedEnt]

Also a fair bit of warning regarding remote workers: 3CX requires the use of the 3CX SBC.

The good news is that some models support having the 3CX SBC built into their firmware (we call them router phones), study the support guides here to learn which ones are capable of this and upgrade to our firmware before you attempt provisioning. You might want to specifically give your remote workers router-capable models.

Note 1: RPS only works for current models. We will not support RPS on end of life stuff like T4S, T4G, or older ones for example.
Note 2: You always have access to the 3CX Android, iOS, Webclient, and Desktop apps for remote users too in case you need it.

Very good points, thank you!
At one time we did have T46 models deployed with STUN but replaced them all with T5xW models when Router Phone functionality was added. Great feature! Our staff are mostly on thin client workstations that can't reliably run softphones currently, but we do love the desktop app for monitoring Queue Callers and performing pickup/transfer functions.

I was wondering - Does 3CX support registering new devices to my company's RPS/YMCS account rather than one managed by 3CX? I imagine it would just require changing the credentials used in the API calls. If not, is this a feature that might be considered in the future?

 

[JohnS_3CX]

I imagine it would just require changing the credentials used in the API calls?

Sounds simple right?

That's not how we do it though, it goes through our infrastructure for security and redundancy so, no that would not be doable.

If you want to use your own RPS you are free to do so by disabling ours on your PBX but obviously this would mean you need to do more manual work managing your own entries.

Also be advised we do not keep the RPS entries forever: as soon as your device provisions and registers we clean up the RPS entry immediately or if it never registers we will only keep it there for a maximum duration of 2 weeks. After that the entries are deleted. We will also delete it immediately if you delete the phone from the PBX. We won't hold your MAC address hostage

 

[Ronaldvdv]

We won't hold your MAC address hostage

I think this is a good practice, I whised more companies did this. However, sometimes the phone loses its config. Now we need to delete the phone and recreate it again with the real possibility that the settings are not exactly as they were. It would be nice to be able to enter the phone in RPS again for re-configuration.

 

[JustinB-PedEnt]

I agree it would be helpful. I'd like to see even just a button to "Re-Register RPS" rather than deleting and re-adding. Sometimes when troubleshooting it's easier to have remote users just factory reset their phones knowing that the RPS will automatically point it back to the right config. At least now I'm aware that the records get wiped after 2 weeks.
What would be really useful is if Yealink added the option to their phones to Factory Reset but Keep WiFi Config

 

[Richard10]

I'd like to see even just a button to "Re-Register RPS" rather than deleting and re-adding.

I came here to basically ask for this!