Table Of Contents
Preparing to Install the Cisco Unified IP Phone on Your Network
Understanding Interactions with Other Cisco Unified IP Telephony Products
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with Cisco Unified CallManager
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with the VLAN
Providing Power to the Cisco Unified IP Phone
Power Guidelines
Power Outage
Obtaining Additional Information about Power
Understanding Phone Configuration Files
Understanding the Phone Startup Process
Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
Adding Phones with Auto-Registration
Adding Phones with Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
Adding Phones with BAT
Using Cisco Unified IP Phones with Different Protocols
Converting a New Phone from SCCP to SIP
Converting an In-Use Phone from SCCP to SIP
Converting an In-Use Phone from SIP to SCCP
Deploying a Phone in an SCCP and SIP Environment
Determining the MAC Address for a Cisco Unified IP Phone
Preparing to Install the Cisco Unified IP Phone on Your Network
Cisco Unified IP Phones enable you to communicate using voice over a data network. To provide this capability, the IP Phones depend upon and interact with several other key Cisco IP Telephony components, including Cisco Unified CallManager.
This chapter focuses on the interactions between the Cisco IP Phone 7960G and 7940G and Cisco Unified CallManager, DNS and DHCP servers, TFTP servers, and switches. It also describes options for powering phones.
For related information about voice and IP communications, refer to this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/sw/voicesw/index.html
This chapter provides an overview of the interaction between the Cisco Unified IP Phone and other key components of the Voice over IP (VoIP) network. It includes the following topics:
•
Understanding Interactions with Other Cisco Unified IP Telephony Products
•
Providing Power to the Cisco Unified IP Phone
•
Understanding Phone Configuration Files
•
Understanding the Phone Startup Process
•
Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
•
Using Cisco Unified IP Phones with Different Protocols
•
Determining the MAC Address for a Cisco Unified IP Phone
Understanding Interactions with Other Cisco Unified IP Telephony Products
To function in the IP telephony network, the Cisco Unified IP Phone must be connected to a networking device, such as a Cisco Catalyst switch. You must also register the Cisco Unified IP Phone with a Cisco Unified CallManager system before sending and receiving calls.
This section includes the following topics:
•
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with Cisco Unified CallManager
•
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with the VLAN
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with Cisco Unified CallManager
Cisco Unified CallManager is an open and industry-standard call processing system. Cisco Unified CallManager software sets up and tears down calls between phones, integrating traditional PBX functionality with the corporate IP network. Cisco Unified CallManager manages the components of the IP telephony system—the phones, the access gateways, and the resources necessary for such features as call conferencing and route planning. Cisco Unified CallManager also provides:
•
Firmware for phones
•
Authentication and encryption (if configured for the telephony system)
•
Configuration file and CTL file, via TFTP service
•
Phone registration
•
Call preservation, so that a media session continues if signaling is lost between the primary CallManager and a phone)
For information about configuring Cisco Unified CallManager to work with the IP devices described in this chapter, refer to Cisco Unified CallManager Administration Guide, Cisco Unified CallManager System Guide, and to Cisco Unified CallManager Security Guide.
For an overview of security functionality for the Cisco Unified IP Phone, see the "Understanding Security Features for Cisco Unified IP Phones" section on page 1-11.
Note
If the Cisco Unified IP Phone model that you want to configure does not appear in the Phone Type drop-down list in Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, go to the following URL and install the latest support patch for your version of Cisco CallManager: http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-voice.shtml
Related Topic
•
Telephony Features Available for the Cisco Unified IP Phone, page 5-2
Understanding How the Cisco Unified IP Phone Interacts with the VLAN
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960G and 7940G have an internal Ethernet switch, enabling proper forwarding of appropriate packets to the phone, to the access port (labeled 10/100 PC on the phone), and to the network port (labeled 10/100 SW on the phone).
If a computer is connected to the access port, the computer and the phone share the same physical link to the switch and share the same port on the switch. This shared physical link has the following implications for the VLAN configuration on the network:
•
The current VLANs might be configured on an IP subnet basis. However, additional IP addresses might not be available to assign the phone to the same subnet as other devices connected to the same port.
•
Data traffic present on the VLAN supporting phones might reduce the quality of Voice-over-IP traffic.
•
Network security may indicate a need to isolate the VLAN voice traffic from the VLAN data traffic.
You can resolve these issues by isolating the voice traffic onto a separate VLAN. The switch port that the phone is connected to would be configured to have separate VLANs for carrying:
•
Voice traffic to and from the IP phone (auxiliary VLAN on the Cisco Catalyst 6000 series, for example)
•
Data traffic to and from the PC connected to the switch through the access port of the IP phone (native VLAN)
Isolating the phones on a separate, auxiliary VLAN increases the quality of the voice traffic and allows a large number of phones to be added to an existing network where there are not enough IP addresses for each phone.
For more information, refer to the documentation included with a Cisco switch. You can also access related documentation at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/lan/index.htm
Related Topics
•
Understanding the Phone Startup Process
•
Network and Access Ports, page 3-5
•
Network Configuration Menu, page 4-6
Providing Power to the Cisco Unified IP Phone
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960G and 7940G can be powered with external power or with Power over Ethernet (PoE). External power is provided through a separate power supply. PoE is provided by a switch through the Ethernet cable attached to a phone.
Note
When you install a phone that is powered with external power, connect the power supply to the phone and to a power outlet before you connect the Ethernet cable to the phone. When you remove a phone that is powered with external power, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the phone before you disconnect the power supply.
The following sections provide more information about powering a phone:
•
Power Guidelines
•
Power Outage
•
Obtaining Additional Information about Power
Power Guidelines
Table 2-1 provides guidelines for powering the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960G and 7940G.
Table 2-1 Guidelines for Powering the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960G and 7940G
Power Type
|
Guidelines
|
External power— Provided through the CP-PWR-CUBE-3 external power supply.
|
• The Cisco Unified IP Phones use the CP-PWR-CUBE-3 power supply.
|
PoE power—Provided by a switch through the Ethernet cable attached to the phone.
|
• The Cisco Unified IP Phones support PoE.
• The inline power patch panel WS-PWR-PANEL is compatible with the Cisco Unified IP Phones.
• To ensure uninterruptible operation of the phone, make sure that the switch has a backup power supply.
• Make sure that the CatOS or IOS version running on your switch supports your intended phone deployment. Refer to the documentation for your switch for operating system version information.
|
Power Outage
Your accessibility to emergency service through the phone is dependent on the phone being powered. If there is an interruption in the power supply, Service and Emergency Calling Service dialing will not function until power is restored. In the case of a power failure or disruption, you may need to reset or reconfigure equipment before using the Service or Emergency Calling Service dialing.
Obtaining Additional Information about Power
For related information about power, refer to the documents shown in Table 2-2. These documents provide information about the following topics:
•
Cisco switches that work with the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960G and 7940G
•
The Cisco Unified IOS releases that support bidirectional power negotiation
•
Other requirements and restrictions regarding power
Understanding Phone Configuration Files
Configuration files for a phone are stored on the TFTP server and define parameters for connecting to Cisco Unified CallManager. In general, any time you make a change in Cisco Unified CallManager that requires the phone to be reset, a change is made to the phone's configuration file automatically.
Configuration files also contain information about which image load the phone should be running. If this image load differs from the one currently loaded on a phone, the phone contacts the TFTP server to request the required load files. (These files are digitally signed to ensure the authenticity of the files' source.)
In addition, if the device security mode in the configuration file is set to Authenticated and the CTL file on the phone has a valid certificate for Cisco Unified CallManager, the phone establishes a TLS connection to Cisco Unified CallManager. Otherwise, the phone establishes a TCP connection.
Note
If the device security mode in the configuration file is set to Authenticated or Encrypted, but the phone has not received a CTL file, the phone will continuously try to obtain a CTL file so that it can register securely.
If you configure security-related settings in Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, the phone configuration file will contain sensitive information. To ensure the privacy of a configuration file, you must configure it for encryption. For detailed information, refer to the "Configuring Encrypted Phone Configuration Files" chapter in Cisco Unified CallManager Security Guide.A phone requests a configuration file whenever it resets and registers with Cisco Unified CallManager.
A phone accesses a default configuration file named XmlDefault.cnf.xml from the TFTP server when the following conditions exist:
•
You have enabled auto-registration in Cisco Unified CallManager
•
The phone has not been added to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
•
The phone is registering for the first time
If auto registration is not enabled and the phone has not been added to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database, the phone registration request will be rejected. In this case, the phone will reset and attempt to register repeatedly.
If the phone has registered before, the phone will access the configuration file named SEPmac_address.cnf.xml, where mac_address is the MAC address of the phone.
Understanding the Phone Startup Process
When connecting to the VoIP network, the Cisco Unified IP Phone go through a standard startup process that is described in Table 2-3. Depending on your specific network configuration, not all of these steps may occur on your Cisco Unified IP Phone.
Table 2-3 Cisco Unified IP Phone Startup Process
Step
|
Description
|
Related Topics
|
1. Obtaining Power from the Switch
|
If a phone is not using external power, the switch provides in-line power through the Ethernet cable attached to the phone.
|
• Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database.
• Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
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2. Loading the Stored Phone Image
|
The Cisco Unified IP Phone has non-volatile Flash memory in which it stores firmware images and user-defined preferences. At startup, the phone runs a bootstrap loader that loads a phone image stored in Flash memory. Using this image, the phone initializes its software and hardware.
|
Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
|
3. Configuring VLAN
|
If the Cisco Unified IP Phone is connected to a Cisco Catalyst switch, the switch next informs the phone of the voice VLAN defined on the switch. The phone needs to know its VLAN membership before it can proceed with the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request for an IP address.
|
• Network Configuration Menu, page 4-6.
• Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
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4. Obtaining an IP Address
|
If the Cisco Unified IP Phone is using DHCP to obtain an IP address, the phone queries the DHCP server to obtain one. If you are not using DHCP in your network, you must assign static IP addresses to each phone locally.
|
• Network Configuration Menu, page 4-6.
• Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
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5. Accessing a TFTP Server
|
In addition to assigning an IP address, the DHCP server directs the Cisco Unified IP Phone to a TFTP Server. If the phone has a statically-defined IP address, you must configure the TFTP server locally on the phone; the phone then contacts the TFTP server directly.
Note You can also assign an alternative TFTP server to use instead of the one assigned by DHCP.
|
• Network Configuration Menu, page 4-6.
• Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
|
6. Requesting the CTL file
|
The TFTP server stores the certificate trust list (CTL) file. This file contains a list of Cisco Unified CallManagers and TFTP servers that the phone is authorized to connect to. It also contains the certificates necessary for establishing a secure connection between the phone and Cisco Unified CallManager.
|
For more information, refer to the Cisco Unified CallManager Security Guide
|
7. Requesting the Configuration File
|
The TFTP server has configuration files, which define parameters for connecting to Cisco Unified CallManager and other information for the phone.
|
• Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
• Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
|
8. Contacting Cisco Unified CallManager
|
The configuration file defines how the Cisco Unified IP Phone communicates with Cisco Unified CallManager and provides a phone with its load ID. After obtaining the file from the TFTP server, the phone attempts to make a connection to the highest priority Cisco Unified CallManager on the list. If security is implemented, the phone makes a TLS connection. Otherwise, it makes a non-secure TCP connection.
If the phone was manually added to the database, Cisco Unified CallManager identifies the phone. If the phone was not manually added to the database and auto-registration is enabled in Cisco Unified CallManager, the phone attempts to auto-register itself in the Cisco Unified CallManager database.
Note Auto-registration is disabled when security is enabled on Cisco Unified CallManager. In this case, the phone must be manually added to the Cisco Unified CallManager database.
|
Resolving Startup Problems, page 7-2.
|
Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
Before installing the Cisco Unified IP phone, you must choose a method for adding phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager database. These sections describe the methods:
•
Adding Phones with Auto-Registration
•
Adding Phones with Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
•
Adding Phones with BAT
Table 2-4 provides an overview of these methods for adding phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager database.
Table 2-4 Methods for Adding Phones to the Cisco Unified CallManager Database
Method
|
Requires MAC Address?
|
Notes
|
Auto-registration
|
No
|
Results in automatic assignment of directory numbers
|
Using the Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
|
Yes
|
Requires phones to be added individually
|
Using BAT
|
Yes
|
Allows for simultaneous registration of multiple phones
|
Adding Phones with Auto-Registration
By enabling auto-registration before you begin installing phones, you can:
•
Automatically add a Cisco Unified IP Phone to the Cisco Unified CallManager database when you physically connect the phone to your IP telephony network. During auto-registration, Cisco Unified CallManager assigns the next available sequential directory number to the phone.
•
Add phones without first gathering MAC addresses from the phones.
•
Quickly enter phones into the Cisco Unified CallManager database and modify any settings, such as the directory numbers, from Cisco Unified CallManager.
•
Move auto-registered phones to new locations and assign them to different device pools without affecting their directory numbers.
Note
You should use auto-registration to add less than 100 phones to your network. To add more than 100 phones to your network, use the Bulk Administration Tool (BAT). See the "Adding Phones with BAT" section.
In some cases, you might not want to use auto-registration: for example, if you want to assign a specific directory number to the phone or if you plan to implement authentication or encryption, as described in Cisco Unified CallManager Security Guide. For information about enabling auto-registration, refer to "Enabling Auto-Registration" in the Cisco Unified CallManager Administration Guide.
Note
Cisco Unified CallManager automatically disables auto-registration if you configure the cluster-wide security mode for authentication and encryption through the Cisco CTL client.
Related Topics
•
Adding Phones with Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
•
Adding Phones with BAT
Adding Phones with Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
You can add phones individually to the Cisco Unified CallManager database using Cisco Unified CallManager Administration. To do so, you first need to obtain the MAC address for each phone.
For information about determining a MAC address, see the "Determining the MAC Address for a Cisco Unified IP Phone" section.
After you have collected MAC addresses, in Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, choose Device > Phone and click Add New to begin.
For complete instructions and conceptual information about Cisco Unified CallManager, refer to Cisco Unified CallManager Administration Guide and to Cisco Unified CallManager System Guide.
Related Topics
•
Adding Phones with Auto-Registration
•
Adding Phones with BAT
Adding Phones with BAT
The Cisco Bulk Administration Tool (BAT) is a plug-in application for Cisco Unified CallManager that enables you to perform batch operations, including registration, on multiple phones.
Before you can add phones using BAT, you must obtain the MAC address for each phone.
For information about determining a MAC address, see the "Determining the MAC Address for a Cisco Unified IP Phone" section.
For detailed instructions about using BAT, refer to Cisco Unified CallManager Administration Guide and to Cisco Unified CallManager Bulk Administration Guide.
Related Topics
•
Adding Phones with Auto-Registration
•
Adding Phones with Cisco Unified CallManager Administration
Using Cisco Unified IP Phones with Different Protocols
The Cisco Unified IP Phone can operate with SCCP (Skinny Client Control Protocol) or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). You can convert a phone that is using one protocol for use with the other protocol.
This section includes these topics:
•
Converting a New Phone from SCCP to SIP
•
Converting an In-Use Phone from SCCP to SIP
•
Converting an In-Use Phone from SIP to SCCP
•
Deploying a Phone in an SCCP and SIP Environment
Converting a New Phone from SCCP to SIP
A new, unused phone is set for SCCP by default. To convert this phone to SIP, perform these steps:
Procedure
Step 1
Create the phone as an SCCP device in Cisco Unified CallManager Administration.
Step 2
Install the phone and allow it to register with Cisco Unified CallManager.
Step 3
Delete the phone device from Cisco Unified CallManager.
Step 4
Create the phone as a SIP device in Cisco Unified CallManager Administration.
Step 5
Power cycle the phone.
The phone will reset and come up configured for SIP.
Converting an In-Use Phone from SCCP to SIP
You can use the Bulk Administration Tool (BAT) to convert phones that are is in use in your network from SCCP to SIP. To access BAT from Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, choose Bulk Administration > Phones > Migrate Phones > SCCP to SIP. For detailed information, refer to Cisco Unified CallManager Bulk Administration Guide.
Converting an In-Use Phone from SIP to SCCP
To convert a phone that is in use in your network from SIP to SCCP, perform these steps. For more information, refer to Cisco Unified CallManager Administration Guide.
Procedure
Step 1
In Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, delete the existing SIP phone from the Cisco Unified CallManager database.
Step 2
In Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, create the phone as an SCCP phone.
Step 3
Power cycle the phone.
Deploying a Phone in an SCCP and SIP Environment
To deploy Cisco Unified IP Phones in an environment that includes SCCP and SIP and in which the Cisco Unified CallManager Auto-Registration parameter is SCCP, perform these general steps:
1.
Set the Cisco Unified CallManager auto_registration_protocol parameter to SCCP.
To do so, from Cisco Unified CallManager Administration, choose System > Enterprise Parameters.
2.
Install the phones.
3.
Change the auto_registration_protocol parameter to SIP.
4.
Auto-register the SIP phones.
Determining the MAC Address for a Cisco Unified IP Phone
Several procedures described in this manual require you to determine the MAC address of a Cisco Unified IP Phone. You can determine a phone's MAC address in these ways:
•
From the phone, press the Settings button and select Model Information and look at the MAC Address field.
•
Look at the MAC label on the back of the phone.