Zero Touch Provisioning Phones

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) Overview

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) enables IP phones and devices to self-configure out of the box, eliminating the need for manual setup.

When IP phones are shipped directly from the factory, each device has a unique MAC address. PortSIP PBX uses this MAC address to associate the phone with its configuration file URL, which is stored on the vendor’s Remote Provisioning Server (RPS).

Once the phone is plugged in and connected to the internet, it automatically:

  • Retrieves the configuration URL from the vendor’s RPS server

  • Connects to PortSIP PBX

  • Downloads its configuration

  • Registers to the PBX without any user interaction

How Zero Touch Provisioning Works

Step 1: Order Placement

  • The PBX service provider orders IP phones from the vendor or reseller.

  • The seller ships the phones directly to end users (for example, via DHL or FedEx).

  • The seller provides the MAC addresses of the phones to the service provider.

Step 2: Configuration Setup

  • The service provider creates user extension accounts.

  • Phone MAC addresses are associated with users by importing a CSV file.

  • PortSIP PBX automatically writes each phone’s configuration URL to the vendor’s RPS server.

Step 3: Automatic Provisioning

  • When users receive and connect their IP phones:

    • The phone contacts the vendor’s RPS server

    • Retrieves its configuration file URL

    • Downloads the configuration from PortSIP PBX

    • Registers automatically

With ZTP, large-scale IP phone deployments become fast, reliable, and error-free.

Prerequisites

In this example, we demonstrate Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) using five IP phones of the Fanvil X303 model.

  • Phones are shipped directly to end users

  • The MAC addresses are already known

MAC addresses used in this example:

  • CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A1

  • CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A2

  • CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A3

  • CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A4

  • CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A5

Exporting a Template File

Create a User with Phone Provisioning Information

  1. Sign in to the PortSIP PBX Web Portal.

  2. Navigate to Call Manager > Users and click Add.

  3. Enter:

    • Username

    • Password

    • Email

    • Extension number

    • Extension password

  4. Open the PHONE PROVISIONING tab.

  5. Click Add Phone and configure:

    • Phone model: Fanvil X303

    • MAC address: CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A1

  6. Configure the required parameters:

    • Network interface

      • If the PBX is internet-facing, choose Web Domain or Public IPv4

      • If an SBC is deployed, choose the SBC base domain or IP

    • Transport protocol used for SIP registration

  7. Ensure Save to RPS is enabled.

  8. Click OK to save the configuration.

Export the User as a Template File

  1. Go to Call Manager > Users.

  2. Click Export.

  3. Download the generated CSV file, which contains user and phone provisioning data.

Editing the Template File

Open the CSV File

  • Locate and open the exported CSV file.

  • Identify the row corresponding to the user you created.

Modify Details for Additional Users

For the second user, update the following fields:

  • Username

  • Password

  • Extension number

  • Extension password

  • IP phone MAC address (for example, CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A2)

Add Remaining Users

  1. Copy the existing row.

  2. Paste it to create rows for the remaining users.

  3. Update the following fields for each new user:

    • Username

    • Password

    • Extension number

    • Extension password

    • IP phone MAC address

❗ Important Do not include the user and MAC address CC-5E-F8-41-B7-A1, as it is already configured in the PBX.

Save the CSV File

  • After completing all changes, save the CSV file.

  • The file is now ready for import.

Copy users and change the name, password, extension number, extension password, and phone MAC address

❗ Security Recommendation Although the same password and extension password can be reused, this is not recommended. Use unique credentials for each user to reduce security risks.

Importing Users with Phone Information

Import Users

  1. Navigate to Call Manager > Users.

  2. Click Import.

  3. Upload the edited CSV file to import users and their phone provisioning data.

Configuration URL Registration

After a successful import:

  • PortSIP PBX automatically writes each IP phone’s configuration URL to the vendor’s RPS server

  • No manual interaction with the RPS platform is required

Automatic Phone Provisioning

Once users receive their IP phones and connect them to the internet:

  • Phones contact the vendor’s RPS server

  • Retrieve their configuration file URLs

  • Download the configuration from PortSIP PBX

  • Register automatically to the system

This seamless process ensures fast, consistent, and large-scale deployments with minimal operational effort.

Additional Reference

For more information, please also refer to: Bulk Importing Users and Auto Provisioning IP Phones.

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