Connecting Your Phone to Phonism
A SIP phone requires instructions on where to retrieve its configuration and provisioning information. Each device contains a setting in its configuration that dictates where the phone should obtain its provisioning details.
How to get a phone to connect to Phonism
To connect a SIP phone to Phonism, it must be directed to retrieve its configuration and provisioning information from the Provisioning URL specified in each device's configuration. You'll need to update this parameter with the appropriate URL provided in your Phonism account. You can find this URL by navigating to the "Help" tab and accessing "Provisioning Server Settings" while logged into your Phonism account.
Four Ways To Update The Provisioning URL of A Device
To access the web GUI/interface on the device:
Enter the device's IP Address into a web browser on the same subnet.
The userID/password of the device is typically set by the manufacturer, often as admin/admin.
Once logged in, locate the setting called “provisioning server”.
Enter the appropriate server address for the device you are provisioning (Refer to the Help tab in Phonism).
Save the settings.
Reboot the device, power cycle it, or locate the "Auto-Provision Now" button to initiate provisioning.
Using Redirection Services: Directly Through Manufacturer
Many manufacturers offer a "Redirection Server" (RS) to help direct devices to the provisioning server URL you require. When a device is factory reset or still has its default settings, the default provisioning URL will point the device to the manufacturer's RS.
As a customer, you can create an account with the manufacturer to access their redirection services. This is typically a free service, and we highly recommend reaching out to your representative to set up an account with all the manufacturers of the devices you work with.
For each new device you purchase, follow these steps:
Log into your RS account and add the MAC address of the new device(s). If the device isn't new, ensure it is set to its factory default setting for the provisioning URL.
Set the provisioning server location/URL for each MAC address by entering the appropriate server address for the device you are provisioning (Refer to the Help tab in Phonism).
When the phone is rebooted, it will now look to the Manufacturer's RS, and it will be instructed to go to Phonism for configuration.
Using Redirection Service: Via Phonism Integration with Manufacturers' RS
Phonism integrates with the manufacturers' RS services to simplify workflows for customers. By inputting your RS credentials into Phonism (as explained in the Initial Account Setup), Phonism will automatically instruct the manufacturers' RS to direct the device to the appropriate provisioning URL for your account. Assuming your RS credentials are correctly inputted, you would simply:
Add the MAC address for that device in your Phonism account.
Factory Reset the device (or ensure that it still has its default settings).
When the phone is rebooted, it will look to the Manufacturer's RS, and it will be instructed to go to Phonism for configuration.
Using DHCP option 66:
The final method to direct devices to Phonism involves utilizing an advanced networking capability. If you have access to or control over the DHCP server of a customer/device, you can set the Option 66 setting to compel the phone(s) to seek configuration from Phonism.
The procedure for implementing this varies depending on the router/DHCP device being used. While there are numerous articles available online providing instructions, we suggest collaborating with your network engineer or IT consultant to execute this action effectively.
What To Expect After Pointing the Device to Phonism
Assuming you've already added the MAC address to your account, once you've updated the provisioning URL through one of the four methods listed above, you should expect the following when the phone reboots or powers up:
The device should be appropriately redirected to Phonism to receive provisioning/configuration updates.
When the device connects to Phonism for the first time, Phonism will confirm or append additional information about the device, such as the manufacturer/make, device model, and firmware version.
The new information about the device will appear in the Phones tab of your Phonism account along with a timestamp (in UTC) for "Last Provision."
Phonism will also update the Provisioning URL in the device's configuration file to ensure that it communicates directly with Phonism going forward.
Your device is now connected to Phonism, and you can manage the lifecycle of the device through our platform.
