Firmware issues with IP 1120E and 1140E sets

[rheine]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding IP I1120E and I1140E sets. We are using 4.5.88 software release with a bunch of CS1000M's. We are mainly a TDM location with very few IP sets. We setup a location off one of the CS1000M locations with a baystack POE 4550 connected via fiber to our main site, this was due to distance mainly and installed (12) 1120E's and (3) 1140E's. The firmware for all of these sets were higher than the firmware that was loaded in the signaling server so we neeeded to go through the long process of downgrading the loadware in all of these sets to match the signaling server. You had to save the file to your PC, use a crossover cable and TFTP the files starting with the most recent all of the way down to the file that matched the signaling server. You need to downgrade in the order of the f/w so there could be 5 or 6 files that need to be TFTP'd one at a time.

Would it make sense to load in the signaling server the latest firmware file for both the 1120E and 1140E and if these IP sets are at a lower firmware level would they automatically upgrade to that firmware? I did attempt this at one of our test sites in element manager but the system told me to rename my file. I did rename it and kept getting the same message over and over again. Also if we are successful in loading this firmware file and we "push" this firmware to the phones would it "push" that file just to the phones that are on this specific signaling server or would that file be "pushed" across the network to all other (19) PBX's that have signaling servers? We would not want that.

Has anyone ran into this situation in the past where an IP phone needed to be replaced or installed and the firmware did not match the signaling server meaning the S.S. firmware was lower than the firmware in the IP set?

Thanks

 

[PDTuser]

There is a location on sig serv to store the library of FW for all IP sets. multiple files of the .bin are allowed. The latest level is what will be pushed so if you want to down grade FW level you will need to remove later version from library. In Elem manager it is found under CS IP phones. alternate method is to use any tftp server and modify the file name in word pad to point to .bin you wanted.

either case will load the desktop on next rebot of phone

 

[rheine]

Thank you for the prompt follow-up. I believe the issue why the latest firmware will not work correctly if loaded on the signaling server is that this firmware level is intended for a later PBX software release such as 7.5 verses the 4.5.88 which is what we are currently at.

We did load the latest firwmare file and upgraded one of the sets to match that firmware but the phone would not register with the signaling server probably because of this release issue.

If I were to load this file and push it to these sets then none of them would work again and we would need to go through this long downgrade of firmware process with the TFTP method.

It sounds like unless the PBX gets upgraded we would need to downgrade the firmware of all new or replacement IP sets?

 

[Tman45]

I believe that is correct (and an extra way for Avaya to push you to upgrade). They do send phones with a minimum release and we actually had one firmware where the Bluetooth would not work so we tried to downgrade but our new system/firmware would not allow it so we just had to upgrade to hope it fixed the Bluetooth issue Good luck fixing your stuff. We still run 4.5 CS1000 at a remote site as well.

Sounds like I would have had to remove the firmware from the phone (somehow) and remove all the latest versions to be able to get it to work, but we are trying to stay current on our newer system so Avaya will support it! If it was the 4.5 system I would have tried the above since I have done TFTP flashing before.

 

[rheine]

Tman45 thank you for responding. You are correct they (Avaya/ Nortel) more than likely send their 1100 series sets presuming that your PBX is at the latest release level.

Luckily there are not very many requests for IP phones and if there are we will recommend ordering the I2000 series sets. These do not require this firmware issue like the 1100 series sets.

 

[gwebster]

UNIStim 3.4 (062xC6T) is supported on CS 1000 4.0 or above. You can download that version from

http://support.avaya.com/css/appman...599/UNIStim 3.x/C2010100924300414785889#files

That version is also the minimum release which will be accepted by the current hardware which is being shipped.