Auto Provision IP Phones Remotely (RPS Method)

When IP phones are located in remote network, Yeastar P-Series PBX System supports an RPS method. This method allows you to deploy and update IP phones remotely via public IP address/domain name and port, which can greatly save time and cost in mass deployment.

Note: This topic describes how to provision an IP phone and assign a user's extension to the phone. If you want to set up a hot desking phone via auto provisioning, see Set up a Hot Desking Phone.

Supported IP phones

This topic can be applied to the RPS supported IP phones that are deployed in a remote network.

Prerequisites

You have set up port forwarding on router and set up SIP NAT on the PBX to ensure remote registration.
Important: The following PBX ports must be forwarded.
- RTP ports
- SIP port
- Web Server port
For more information, see Configure Network for Remote Access by a Public IP Address or Configure Network for Remote Access by a Domain Name.

Make sure that you have downloaded the template for the desired phone model (Path: Auto Provisioning > Resource Repository > Default Templates).
Gather information of IP phone, including Vendor, Model, and MAC address.

Scenario

Yeastar P-Series PBX System and IP phones are deployed in different networks. The PBX is behind a router and port forwarding is configured on the router.

Procedure

Step1. Set a remote extension

Step 2. Generate configuration file for an IP phone on the PBX

Step 3. Reboot the IP phone to obtain the configuration file

Step 1. Set a remote extension

Log in to PBX web portal, go to Extension and Trunk > Extension, edit the extension to be assigned.
Click Advanced tab, select the checkbox of NAT in the VoIP Settings section.
Click Security tab, select the checkbox of Allow Remote Registration in the SIP Security section.
Click Save and Apply.

The extension can be registered in different LAN subnet or in a remote network.

Step 2. Generate configuration file for an IP phone on the PBX

RESET the phone if it is previously used.
Log in to PBX web portal, go to Auto Provisioning > Phones.
Click Add to add an IP phone.
In the IP Phone section, configure phone information as follows:
- Vendor: Select a phone vendor.
- Model: Select a phone model.
- MAC Address: Enter MAC address of the phone.
In the Options section, configure the following settings.
- Template: Select a desired template from the drop-down list.
  
  Note: The template provides configurations except extension assignment. You can select the default template corresponding to the phone model, or customize your own template.
  For more information, see Create a Custom Auto Provisioning Template.
- Provisioning Method: Select RPS (Remote).
  A provisioning server URL is generated automatically and displayed on the web page.
  Troubleshooting: Why don't see the RPS Auto Provisioning method option?
- Authentication for the First-time Auto Provisioning: If enabled, users are requested to fill in authentication information on the IP phones before triggering the first-time provisioning.
  
  Note: We recommend that you keep this option selected for security purpose if the option is available.
In the Assign Extension section, assign extension(s) to the phone, then specify which extension's phonebook and function keys you want to use on the phone.
Note:
- This feature is available only for non-DECT IP phones that are not set as hot desking phones.
- If your desired extension is not listed in the drop-down list of the Extension column, it indicates that the devices registered to the extension has reached the limit. You can use either of the following methods to proceed.
  - To release the previous phone or gateway, see Release an Extension from a Provisioned IP Phone/Gateway.
  - To raise the phone registration limit, see Allow Multiple Registrations for One Extension Number.
- To assign a single extension, select the desired extension from the drop-down list beside SIP1.
  Both the Phonebook Line and the Function Key Line are set to SIP1 by default, indicating that the phone will use the authorized phonebook(s) and function keys of the extension assigned to the SIP line 1.
- To assign multiple extensions, complete the following settings.
  1. In the drop-down list beside SIP1, select a desired extension for SIP line 1.
  2. Click Add, then select a desired SIP line and an extension for the added entry.
    To assign more extensions to the phone, repeat this step.
    Note: The selected SIP lines must be supported by the phone, otherwise the configurations for unsupported SIP line will not be applied. You can check the phone's supported SIP lines via the phone webpage or on the device screen.
  3. In the Phonebook Line drop-down list, select a SIP line. The phonebook of extension assigned to the SIP line will be applied to the phone.
    Note: After successful registration, contacts are available regardless of which SIP line is currently active on the phone.
  4. In the Function Key Line drop-down list, select a SIP line. The function keys of extension assigned to the SIP line will be applied to the phone.
    Note: After successful registration, the function keys take effect only when the selected SIP line is active on the phone. For more information about configuring function keys for the phone, see Auto Provision Function Keys for Phones.
Click Save.
A configuration file for the phone is generated in the PBX.
The PBX will send an event notification of RPS Request Success, which means that the phone MAC is added automatically to the RPS server.

Note: For Yealink phones that no longer receive RPS support from Yealink, you must upgrade them to the specified firmware version and use them together with the RPS PIN to continue using the RPS service. In this case, you can obtain the RPS PIN from PBX web portal (Path: Auto Provisioning > Phones > > Options > RPS PIN), and enter it on the phone to complete the RPS provisioning process if required.

Step 3. Reboot the IP phone to obtain the configuration file

Reboot the IP phone.
If you have enabled Authentication for the First-time Auto Provisioning on the PBX, enter the authentication credential on the IP phone to finish phone provisioning.
- Username: Enter the extension number that is assigned to the phone.
- Password: Enter the extension's Voicemail Access PIN.
  
  Note: Check the Voicemail Access PIN in the Voicemail tab on the extension configuration page.

Result

The extension registration status of provisioned phones is displayed on Auto Provisioning > Phones.
Tip: You can also check the extension registration status directly via the phone webpage or on the device screen.
- : All assigned extensions are registered on the phone.
- : Only some of the assigned extensions are registered on the phone.
  Note: You can hover over to view the registration status of each extension.
- : None of the assigned extensions are registered on the phone.
If multiple extensions are successfully registered on the phone, corresponding SIP lines are associated with different physical line keys on the device.
You can press a line key to activate the target SIP line. The corresponding indicator LED illuminates, and all calls are processed over this SIP line.