Pc Ports on Cisco IP phones

[Phillip Harding]

All,

I have a question about the PC port on Cisco IP phones (in particular the 7962G, 7942 and 7911).  We are in the process of a large VOIP deployment and will need to run new CAT 5e/6 cabling to areas where there are limited data connections as well there current analog connections.  I've always heard that Cisco does not recommend running a printer or copier off of the PC port on these phones.  However there are others saying the phone is a switch and you can run printers (HP & Cannon) in our case.  Has anyone had any experience with this or do you know what Cisco recommends.  Our voice/data networks are segmented by VLAN as well as our printers in some offices.  Please advise.  Thanks!  Phillip

[paolo bevilacqua]

You can place anything you want behind an IP phone.

The reason why Cisco recommends against placing infrastructure devices behind it, is that if someone messes with his phone, or it has glitch, the device also becomes, at least temporarly, unavailable.

So I would personally place printers and copiers on a dedicated switch port.