Solved Fanvil X6U Blank BLF Pages

[Boilermatic]

Hello,
I'm wrapping up a new v18 installation of about 20 Fanvil X6U phones. I usually go with Yealink, but wanted to go with Fanvil because 3CX touts maximum compatibility. Unlike the Yealink devices, this installation was less than smooth.

Some info for reference:

• Half the devices didn't use LLDP and had to be forced to the correct VLAN. The rest picked up the VLAN correctly.
• Of the half that didn't pickup the correct VLAN, somehow, they did show up on the 3CX server new phone list.
  • I'm not sure how this is possible, unless the phone grabbed a DHCP address from the untagged VLAN and then detected the LLDP VLAN and switched VLANs retaining the untagged VLAN assigned IP address? But those phones with the untagged IP scheme did not have a VLAN set in their settings so, again, I have no clue how 3CX was able to see them (mDNS perhaps, with my Unifi network mDNS reflector service? I have routing between LANs, so that idea seems plausible, I just don't know if mDNS is one of 3CX's discovery mechanisms.)
• About 8 of the 20 phones, regardless of original VLAN acquisition, would not accept the 3CX approved firmware (version 2.4.12).
  • For 7 of those 8 phones, I was able to login to the phone webpage using the 3cx assigned password, download the firmware from 3CX's website, and manually upgrade the phone's firmware.
  • The last phone is still stuck on the old firmware and won't take the 3CX firmware at all.

But the main topic of discussion here is that after creating BLF assignments, some of the phones display the correct quantity of BLF pages (2 pages in my setup), but most have 3 additional blank pages. If I delete the extra pages manually on the phone, they return again at the next provision. Why do some of the phones have the correct two pages and others have these annoying blank pages? My customer is not happy so far and I'm running out of ammo for damage control. I feel I've made an unfortunate mistake going with Fanvil but, with the way 3cx presents phone compatibility, I thought I was making a good choice, with Fanvil the only manufacturer on the "Preferred" list:

"Preferred IP Phones
These companies work hand in hand with us to ensure a fast response to firmware related matters and test immediately against our latest releases. They are stable and the easiest to support."

"Supported
These companies support 3CX and will generally respond in a reasonably timely fashion firmware related matters. They are stable and easy to support."

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hello @Boilermatic

About 8 of the 20 phones, regardless of original VLAN acquisition, would not accept the 3CX approved firmware (version 2.4.12)

In our guides we recommend following this order:

• Step 1: Upgrade to the Required firmware (first and before doing anything else)
• Step 2: Factory Reset the IP Phone (to make sure there are no lingering FW oddities)
• Step 3: Provisioning the phone (the final step once the above prerequisites are done)

We really don't know if the phone can upgrade from 3CX if you provision with an older version.
We assume you will follow the guide, and expect that the next release coming out after you've done the above, should be able to deploy via 3CX. If you followed a different order then we cannot guarantee success.

The last phone is still stuck on the old firmware and won't take the 3CX firmware at all

IP phones sometimes require that you install an "in-between" version before you reach a higher version. This has been observed with other brands too in the past. Give that a try first, using older versions from here. This might be the reason a phone with much older firmware might manage to provision, but not manage to upgrade.

I'm not sure how this is possible, unless the phone grabbed a DHCP address from the untagged VLAN and then detected the LLDP VLAN and switched VLANs retaining the untagged VLAN assigned IP address?

As for the VLAN issues, I'm not sure either. We assume each customer will have their own unique network setup, and so long as the traffic can flow, there shouldn't be any hurdles. We can't provide you with any support on the networking side of things though..

Any insight would be appreciated.

Preferred just means 3CX has a fast response from them when it comes to firmware related matters that we report. They also test their devices immediately against our latest PBX release. The other companies also provide excellent devices, but they usually have a longer firmware release and test schedule. This does not inform you as to whether you will come across issues in your specific network environment, you will need to look into it further as it could potentially happen with either brand. It's really unrelated to the preferred status.

But the main topic of discussion here is that after creating BLF assignments

Tell us the following please:

• Which phone model shows blank pages?
• What firmware version is that specific one running?
• Are you using default templates or did you make custom ones?
• Was the phone provisioned by 3CX as per the guide or did you manually provision it?
• Is it provisioned as a Hotdesking phone or assigned directly to an extension?

 

[Boilermatic]

Tell us the following please:

• Which phone model shows blank pages?
• What firmware version is that specific one running?
• Are you using default templates or did you make custom ones?
• Was the phone provisioned by 3CX as per the guide or did you manually provision it?
• Is it provisioned as a Hotdesking phone or assigned directly to an extension?

• These are all Fanvil X6U model phones.
• They are all on firmware 2.4.12.
• We are using the default 3CX templates, no customization of any system configs.
• Phones were provisioned by 3CX as per the guides for that model phone.
• All phones are assigned to individual extensions.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hi @Boilermatic

The X7C for example, has logic that defines the number of pages depending on the the number of BLFs used.
The X6U does not, so the default 5 pages are enabled.

It might be possible to improve this in the future by following the same logic as the X7C. If the phone allows it we will consider this improvement for a future update.

 

[Boilermatic]

It was working at first. I then continued to set other options such as time formats and transfer type (blind/attended) and, after re-provisioning, the extra pages showed up.

 

[Boilermatic]

Hey @JohnS_3CX I just wanted to update you.

I had to setup another X6U in the same site. So what happens is, the phone is detected and was provisioned, with the factory delivered firmware 2.2.11 and the BLF pages did not have unused pages - the expected behavior, nice and clean. Then, after I updated the phone with the 3CX provided firmware, version 2.4.12, the blank pages were added. So it looks like the logic you’re talking about was there, but was lost somewhere in 3CX’s last firmware release (or somewhere in-between). Being that these are modern Fanvil model phones, as indicated by 3CX to have the highest level of support, I’m respectfully requesting that this issue be resolved as promptly as possible, to restore the correct BLF page compilation functionality.

 

[NickD_3CX]

Hi!

Indeed we shall be looking into it at the earliest time possible, which will possibly be either some time close to Xmas or after the Xmas holidays.
If something can be done, we shall do it in the template, else we shall discuss with Fanvil if this is something that needs to be done in the firmware, in which case it will take longer most likely.

Either way, thank you for reporting it, we shall do whatever is within our ability at the earliest time possible.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hi all,

A new template update should appear today which includes the Fanvil BLF pagination for models X4, X4U,X5U,X6,X6U.