Questions

Provisioning IP phones for use with 3CX involves configuring them to work seamlessly with your phone system. Here are the key methods for provisioning IP phones:

1. Manual Provisioning:

   • Step 1: Add Phone's MAC Address on the PBX:
     • Log in to your 3CX PBX web portal.
     • Navigate to Auto Provisioning > Phones.
     • Click Add to include the IP phone in the PBX.
     • Configure the phone details:
       • Vendor: Select the phone vendor.
       • Model: Choose the specific phone model.
       • MAC Address: Enter the unique MAC address of the IP phone.
     • In the Options section, set up auto provision settings (template, provisioning method, and provisioning link).
     • Assign an extension to the IP phone.
     • Click Save to generate a configuration file for the phone.
   • Step 2: Configure Provisioning Server Address on the Phone:
     • Access the IP phone's web interface.
     • Locate the provisioning settings (usually under network or advanced settings).
     • Enter the provisioning URL provided by 3CX.
     • Save the changes.
   • Methods for Sending Provisioning Link:
     • RPS (Remote Provisioning Service): The phone connects to the vendor's RPS server to obtain the provisioning URL. Works for both cloud and on-premise installations.
     • PnP (Plug and Play): The phone broadcasts a message, picked up by the 3CX server. Admins can then assign the phone to an extension. Suitable for on-premise setups and installations with an SBC (Session Border Controller).
     • DHCP Option 66: For larger networks, configure the base URL in DHCP Option 66. Phones query this field during IP assignment and retrieve the provisioning URL. Note that all phones must be from the same vendor due to varying URL formats.

2. Router Phones (SBC):

   • When 3CX is hosted in the cloud, you need at least one router phone or an SBC (Session Border Controller) in the network where IP phones are located.
   • A router phone is a regular IP phone running the SBC onboard. Leading IP vendors (such as Fanvil, Snom, and Yealink) have ported 3CX's SBC code to their powerful phones.
   • The router phone acts as a proxy for voice traffic to your hosted 3CX, ensuring:
     • Encryption of all voice traffic for security.
     • Call reconnection in case of dropouts.
     • Combination of SIP (signaling) and RTP (media) VoIP packets.

Provisioning IP phones involves manual setup, configuring provisioning URLs, and considering router phones or SBCs for optimal performance.