How to configure tftp server address on phone cp-7841-3pcc-k9= ?

[michael-almandeel]

Hi guys, I got the above phone and I am trying to set it up to work with an asterisk server. From what I have read, the only way to do this is by using a SEPMAC.cnf.xml that we configure the phone to download from a tftp server that hosts it. The problem I'm having is that I cannot find any way to configure the phone with the tftp address. I looked in both the web ui hosted by the phone and the settings on the phone itself. I found a video that supposedly had instructions to do it, but it seems the menu's are different and what they did is not possible with this model. How can I configure that tftp server address, or is there perhaps a different way altogether to do this? I just want the phone to register with the asterisk server, and if i were to use a cucm, to simply place calls with it as a gateway without registering(I understand this would require a seperate config file for the cucm and asterisk). Please help.

[Jens Albrecht]

Phones can find the TFTP server through DHCP option 150.

If you use a Cisco device as DHCP server then this option can be configured under the DHCP pool with the command "option 150 ip A.B.C.D". Of course, you can also configure this option for the pool if you use a Windows or Linux machine as DHCP server.

Hence DHCP will do this job for you if you add this option to the corresponding pool for your phones.

[michael-almandeel]

Thank you Jens. If I configure the phone to use option 150, will it still make the dhcp request if the phone is using a static address?

[Jens Albrecht]

No, if you set a static IP address then DHCP will not be used.
The option 150 information is part of the DHCP offer message so that you need to use DHCP on the phone to get an address.

[michael-almandeel]

Ok, I guess I can just configure the dhcp address pool with only one address(the phones static address). Fingers crossed! Thanks for your help, Jens.

[michael-almandeel]

I just checked wireshark. I see the phone is making an arp advertisement broadcast, but it isnt making any sort of dhcp request. It is using a static address. Is there a way to cause it to make the 150 request without obtaining an ip address with dhcp?

[Jens Albrecht]

The phone is either using static settings or DHCP. You cannot mix and match as you like.

If you prefer static settings, then you can also configure the TFTP server address on the phone just like other IP settings.

So if when you are entering the IPv4 Setup Menu Options, there is a setting "Alternate TFTP" which you have to turn on.
Then you can enter the IP address of your TFTP server under "TFTP Server 1" and save all entries.

Nevertheless, in general DHCP is the prefered way to provide such options but if you have just a single phone the static setting might be easier for you.

HTH!

[Leo Laohoo]

Hold on. 

If the phone is already on 3PCC/MPP firmware, enter the IP address into a browser to start configuring the phone.

Did someone convert this phone to Enterprise firmware?

[michael-almandeel]

The phone as far as I know is in factory condition. I was able to setup the tftp/dhcp on my linux box, and expected to look at the wireshark traffic of the tftp request to see what file the phone was trying to download. i created the subdirectories and renamed and moved my config file into the directory it was requesting on my linux box, and rebooted everything. Now, for some reason the phone isnt making the tftp request at all, and is not even trying to register with asterisk, and i expected my config file would instruct it to do. I will post that file here, hopefully someone can tell me what is wrong. Thanks guys. 

note: the attached file is the earlier version before renaming to what the phone tried to d/l, but the contents are identicle.

[Leo Laohoo]

If the phone is booting up in 3PCC/MPP firmware, enter the IP address in a browser to configure it.  DHCP Option 150 would not work in 3PCC/MPP firmware.

If the browser comes up with pages with no way to enter any configuration, then the phone has been converted to Enterprise image and DHCP Option 150 would work.