Installing IP Phones

This installation guide serves to clarify the entire process of IP phone installation and troubleshooting, and to make the process as simple and easy as possible.

Connect your IP phones to the network

Fonality provides all phones pre-provisioned to the server, meaning that for all intents and purposes once plugged in the phones will automatically register to the server. To install, simply:

• plug in the power cable to the power port on the back of the phone

• plug in a network cable to the LAN port on the back of the phone

At this point, the phone will boot, acquire its network address via DHCP, and register to the server. After a few minutes the phone will be able to place and receive calls.

NOTE: If DHCP does not work, the network may require the phones to retain a static IP address. If this is the case (although not recommended by Fonality), the IP address may be changed on the phone's LCD screen:

1. Hit "menu"

2. Select "settings"

3. Select "advanced"

4. Enter the password (can be provided by Fonality representative)

5. Select "admin settings"

6. Select "network configuration"

7. Disable DHCP Client

8. Enter static IP, subnet mask, and IP gateway as provided by network administrator

9. Exit menus until it prompts to save and restart the phone.

10. Save and restart the phone.

At this point, the phone should register to the server.

If the phone does not place or receive calls

If the phone appears to be registered, but cannot place or receive calls, verify the following:

1. Click on Extensions --> view extensions

2. Locate the extension that cannot receive calls from the list.  Is the circle red or green?

   1. If the circle is Red:

   2. If the circle is Green:

      1. Is the phone set to "Do Not Disturb" (DND) status?

      2. Is the phone set to forward calls?

   3. Login to the User Panel for the extension having trouble

      1. Click on the Features tab

      2. Make sure that the extension is not forwarding to an outside number, the FindMe settings are configured to ring the phone first, and the caller is part of any White List or VIP List

      3. Is the phone's volume turned all the way down?

   4. If the phone shows an incoming call but doesn't ring, be sure to check the volume status by pressing the up volume key while the handset is cradled.

Is the network using Power over Ethernet?

• In some cases, the cabling used from the PoE switch to the phone is not sufficient to carry the power required for the phone.  Fonality has observed a customer network with PoE switches deployed where a single phone stopped working over time because the cable quality was poor to begin with and degraded with use.  In this case, the resolution is always to ensure that each switchport in a PoE switch is neither over-powered nor under-powered and that the cable running to the phone is high-quality and durable.

• For example - the Polycom 550 requires a 24V DC connection @ 500mA min

Verify correct DNS server assignment

Verify that the phone is using the PBX's IP address as its DNS server. This is directly related to the notes in the Installation Guide regarding using the PBX as the primary DNS server on the local network. If the phone does not use the PBX as the primary DNS server, it will fail to connect properly.

Set time zone settings in your IP phones.

By default, phones local to the PBX will use Network Time Service to synchronize with the accurate local time. If this is not the case, please visit this helpful article for further troubleshooting steps.