Configuring IP Phones

Introduction

With 3CX you can easily configure deskphones. Supported IP Phones are tested and auto-configured with 3CX.  3CX can provision these phones via:

• RPS - This is the easiest way to configure a phone. It works for both cloud and on premise installs.
• HTTPS Provisioning link - Provisioned via the phone web interface. This is the method to use for legacy phones (e.g. Polycom, Cisco, or Aastra).
• PnP or Option 66 can be used for on premise installs with a larger number of phones. This must be done from the management console.

Router Phones or SBC

If your 3CX is hosted in the cloud, you need to have at least one so-called “router phone” or an SBC in the network on which the IP Phones are located. This router phone (or the SBC) will proxy all the voice traffic to your hosted 3CX and:

• Encrypt all voice traffic for security.
• Combine SIP (signaling) and RTP (media) VoIP Packets to overcome firewall/networking issues.
• Save bandwidth by setting up internal calls between local phones directly.

A router phone can function as a normal phone but will also act as an SBC. The following models can be configured as router phones:

• Fanvil V64, V65, V62, X4U-V2, X5U-V2, X6U-V2, X7-V2, X7C-V2, X210-V2 and X210i-V2
• Snom D862, D865
• Yealink T53, T53C, T53W, T54W, T57W
• See the latest list of router phones here

Alternatively, for larger networks, you can install a dedicated SBC. To install a 3CX SBC on Windows, Debian or a Raspberry Pi, read  this document.

IP Phones for 3CX in the Cloud

If your 3CX runs in the cloud (always the case for FREE, Small Business) then follow these steps:

1. Go to the “User” for which you want to add a phone.
2. Go to the “IP Phone” tab. Click “Configure a phone” to add a phone.
3. If this is the first phone you are setting up in this location, you must select “Router Phone”. This router phone will proxy all traffic in order to encrypt voice traffic and overcome any firewall issues.
4. If you already have a router phone or a 3CX SBC up and running, then you can select “Normal Phone” and choose the router phone or SBC this phone will use to connect. 
5. Now select the appropriate phone model from the dropdown menu.
6. Enter the phone’s MAC address without dashes or colons, and click “Add phone”.
7. Connect the phone to the network within 14 days. If it is already connected, restart it. The phone will be configured automatically and restarted.

IP Phones for 3CX On-Premise Installations

If your 3CX is installed on-premise then follow these steps.

1. Go to the “User” for which you want to add a phone.
2. Go to the “IP Phone” tab. Click “Configure a phone” to add a phone.
3. Now you need to know whether this phone will be located on the same local network as 3CX, or whether it is a remote phone, i.e. a phone located outside of the network on which 3CX is installed. For example a user working from home or a phone in a remote office. Click “Next”.
4. Remote phones only: If this is the first phone you are setting up in this location, you must use a “Router Phone”. If you already have a router phone or an SBC up and running, then you can select “Normal Phone”. You will need to choose the router phone or SBC this phone will use to connect.
5. Now select the appropriate phone model from the dropdown menu. Enter the phone’s MAC address without dashes or colons, and click “Add phone”.
6. Connect the phone to the network within 14 days. If it is already connected, restart it. The phone will be configured automatically and restarted.

If your phone does not support RPS or if you don't want to use RPS, you have to enter the provisioning URL into the phone via its web interface. The phone will be configured automatically and then restart. Use the DHCP option 66 if you have a large number of identical legacy phones (as the URL is different for each phone).

Configure an IP Phone Manually

Some older phones cannot be provisioned automatically via 3CX. These phones must be configured manually using an auth ID, a password and the FQDN of the 3CX server (if the phone is on the local network) or the IP of the SBC or router phone (if the phone is in the cloud).

1. Go to the “User” for which you want to add a phone.
2. Go to the “IP Phone” tab. Click “Configure a phone” to add a phone.
3. Now you select where this phone will be located on the same local network as 3CX, or whether it is a remote phone. Click “Next”.
4. Select “Normal Phone” and enable the option to “Configure your phone manually without provisioning”
5. If the phone is remote, choose the router phone behind through which this phone will connect.
6. Now a dialog will show the configuration details:

1. Authentication ID
2. Password
3. 3CX FQDN and Port.
4. If the phone is remote, the SBC or Router phone’s IP address and Port will also be shown.

7. Now login to the phone’s web interface and insert these details. We have documented these last steps for the most popular legacy phones:

1. Avaya 9601, 9608G, 9611G, 9621G and 9641G
2. Fanvil X1, X3, X5, C400, C600 and iW30
3. Grandstream GXP IP phones: GXP 1160, 1165, 1400, 1405, 1450, 2100, 2110, 2120, 2124
4. Polycom VVX Series (EOL): 300, 310, 400, 410, 500, 600
5. Snom 300, 320, 360, 370, 820, 821, 870 and Meeting Point
6. Yealink T19P, T20P, T21P, T22P, T26P, T28P, T32G, T38G

Configuring a DECT Phone

3CX also supports the use of DECT Phones. DECT phones are wireless phones which have a number of advantages over Wi-Fi phones:

• DECT is very reliable and independent of your Wi-Fi  
• No need for staff to use personal phones
• Cheap, long lasting, easily replaced hardware
• Long battery life
• Scale up according to business needs

DECT IP Phones can support a number of base stations and between 5 to 100 handsets depending on vendor and model. You would need multiple base stations in case you have a big office. To configure a DECT Phone, you need to first configure a base station and then assign the handsets to each user.

1. Go to “Admin > Voice and Chat”
2. Click on “+Add Dect”
3. Select your model and enter the base station’s MAC address.
4. If your instance is in the cloud, select a router phone or SBC behind which it will work
5. Assign the users and click on “Add DECT Base Station”. You will be able to assign more users after the set-up.
6. A pop-up window will appear with the “Provisioning URL”. You need to copy this and enter it to the DECT base station web interface.
7. Save and reboot.

Note: You can connect the handsets to the station either prior or after the configuration manually for the phone’s web interface. Follow these guides for specific instructions per DECT model:

• snom DECT phone: M300, M400, M900
• Yealink DECT phone: W70, W80, W90
• Gigaset DECT phone: N670 IP PRO, N870 IP PRO

IP Phone Management

Updating the firmware

You can update your Fanvil, Yealink, and Snom IP phones 3CX-tested firmware right from the 3CX Admin interface. To upgrade your IP phones to the latest 3CX-tested firmware:

1. Every 2 hours 3CX will check if there is a new 3CX tested firmware for any IP phones that have been configured for extensions. 3CX will download the latest 3CX validated firmware automatically to your system within 24 hours.
2. IP phones not running the latest firmware are highlighted in red on the Users page.
3. To upgrade the firmware, click the “Upgrade” button.

4. Under “Advanced” click the “Upgrade” button and click “OK” on the popup confirmation box.
5. The firmware is uploaded to the phone. The phone will be rebooted at least once.

Accessing the IP phone UI

3CX configures your IP phones with a unique username and password, enabling you to easily access the password-protected web interface. To access this interface select the phone and click on “Phone UI”. For most phones, you are redirected to the phone UI page. For some older phones, you may need to enter the password for the phone again.

See also

• See our list of supported IP phones and DECT phones.
• How to configure Hot Desking with 3CX and use the same IP Phone for multiple users.
• Setting up a TFTP server for firmware updates.
• How to Auto-Provision IP Phones with the DHCP "Option 66”
• How to configure the BLF buttons
• IP Phone configuration guides for:

• Fanvil V62, V64, V65
• Fanvil X and XU series: X210, X7, X6, X5, X4, X3, X2, X1
• Snom D862, D865
• Snom M300, M400, M900 (DECT phone)
• Yealink T53, T53C, T53W, T54W, T57W
• Yealink W70, W80, W90 (DECT phone)

Last Updated

This document was last updated on 28 June 2023

https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/ip-phones-v18/