Configure Cisco 7841 Phone

[OTGL]

We just purchased 4 Cisco 7841 phones and when booted up they are looking for an "activation code". We do not have a corporate network just small office wanting to hook them up to Ring Central. The phones seem to be looking for something when they boot up. How do we get them ready to provision? Thanks

[Jaime Valencia]

What is the exact PN you bought? Or what FW version are they running?

If you wanted the devices to be used with a 3rd party call control, you had to buy the 3PCC/MPP variant which have a config GUI and a different firmware than regular phones.

If you bought enterprise devices, those are meant to be used with Cisco call control and you can register those with 3rd party call control, but it's not going to be through a GUI, but via manually formatting configuration files.

[Darren SFI]

I believe I have the same problem.  I have CP-7841-K9= V02 phones.  You said there is a way to register with 3rd party call control by manually formatting configuration files?  Where can I find instructions for doing that?  I am trying to use AT&T/Ring Central.  I have manual provisioning instructions from them.  Thanks!

[Roger Kallberg]

Your best option is to have the MPP firmware on the phones as that is what is recommended. Managing the configuration manually with enterprise firmware is not really scalable or easy for that sake and you might or might not even give you full functionality.

[Darren SFI]

Thanks for your reply.  From my reading of various forums, it is no longer possible to convert to the MPP firmware.  Is that correct?  If not, where can I find the latest instructions to convert?  It seems things have changed over the years.

[Roger Kallberg]

It is most definitely possible to convert phones to MPP firmware. For additional information please see this page. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/collaboration-endpoints/unified-ip-phone-7800-series/guide-c07-742786.html