Extracting / Pushing a Device's XML Configuration

[Patrick Born]

Ever find yourself wishing that you could save the configuration of a SPA phone, ATA, or IP PBX, and then restore it later?

[Edit October 2nd 2009: not supported by PAP2T, SPA2102, or SPA3102 devices]

Of course you can use the SPA9000 Setup Wizard to save and restore SPA9xx IP phone backups in a SPA9000 Voice System deployment.

But what if you just want to tweak a device's configuration and then restore it, and you don't want to use the Wizard?

You will need:

  - a TFTP server [search for a free one on the Internet]

  - a simple text editor that does not insert characters on its own [vim, for example]

Sometimes I find it very useful to extract the XML configuration from a device with the following command:

http://<IP_of_device>/admin/spacfg.xml

For example: http://192.168.0.45/admin/spacfg.xml [where the SPA device's IP address is 192.168.0.45]

I then copy and paste the output into a plain text file.

I like to name the file for the device I'm working with, for example: SPA962_feb172009.xml.

I edit the file with vi or vim, but not NotePad because it can insert unwanted characters.

Assume I called the file SPA962_feb172009.xml

I can now edit SPA962_feb172009.xml and then push the modified configuration back to the device with the following command:

http://<IP_of_device>/admin/resync?tftp://<IP_of_TFTP_server>/SPA962_feb172009.xml

Example: Assume IP address of the:

  SPA device is 192.168.0.45

  TFTP server is 192.168.0.200

The URL would be:

http://192.168.0.45/admin/resyn?tftp://192.168.0.200/SPA962_feb172009.xml

The device will request the file name that I specified, retrieve the file from the TFTP server, reboot, load, and run the new configuration.

Enjoy.

<end>

[Reilly Chase]

Hi,

This article says it does not work for SPA3102, but SPA3102 can do all the same things with slightly different syntax for the XML config download (config.xml instead of spacfg.xml)

Download SPA3102 Current XML Config

http://<IP of SPA3102>/admin/config.xml

Provision SPA3102 Remotely [Resync]

http://<IP of SPA3102>/admin/resync?tftp://<IP of TFTP or HTML SERVER>/< YOUR NEW CONFIG.xml>

Upgrade SPA3102 Firmware remotely

http://<IP of SPA3102>/admin/upgrade?tftp://<IP of TFTP or HTML SERVER>/<firmware.bin>

[Dan Lukes]

SPA3102 is ATAs, Gateways and Accessories device, this document describe SPA IP Phones behavior thus it doesn't apply to SPA3102.

For ATAs behavior (including SPA3102) see SPA ATA: Saving Configuration for Analysis Using admin/config.xml

[mbutler099]

What if you do not know the initial admin password?

It will not allow me to resync without it.

[Dan Lukes]

What you mean "initial admin password" ? Default password is well known for retail unit, so just reset unit to factory default.

If your unit is RC, it has been manufactured for particular OEM. Ask seller for password.

[mbutler099]

The phone was purchased third hand through an ebay auction. An Admin Password was set by a previous owner. There is no way to obtain that password, so there is no way to reset the phone to factory, as it keeps asking for an admin password.

If anyone knows of a way to push a new password to the phone, or knows of an "override" password, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Dan Lukes]

Yes, it's possible to lock unit against unauthorized reset to factory default. Admin password is required in such case for reset.

It's intentional (and valuable) security feature of the phone. As the matter of this feature is - no access to configuration from unauthorized person - it's not possible to have public backdoor allowing a rogue user to jump the barrier.

Only Cisco can help you (call Support Center), but I'm pretty sure they will not help you to unlock phone intentional locked by it's administrator. Moreover, I'm almost sure you got RC unit. Those unit are not for resale and even reset to factory default will not help you.

So sorry I have no good news for you, but that it is. You has been cheated by seller. 

[mbutler099]

UGH!!!!!!!!!!

The display has all four(4) lines reading:    104-ZpizzaCary

So I guess these phones are useless to me, as I can not reprogram them for my use..

Thanks