Polycom SoundPoint IP 300 Frequently Asked Questions page 3

Polycom SoundPoint IP
Why does the handset and headset volume reset on every call?
The handset and headset volumes both reset following each call to
comply with FCC requirements and with the recommendations of
the Americans with Disabilities Act. The hands free speaker phone
is unaffected by this feature. This feature can be disabled through
a modification to the configuration file.
Is there a web browser built into the phone?
Polycom does not currently support this capability.
Will the SoundPoint IP work with existing PBX or Key Systems?
While many PBX and Key System vendors now provide optional
VoIP Gateways that are standards based, interoperability testing
must still be conducted between these systems and the
SoundPoint IP to ensure proper operation. Polycom cannot
guarantee interoperability with a system that is not provided by
one of our Technology Partners.
How do the phones place calls to the PSTN?
The IP phone call's data packets are routed to a gateway, which
then transports that call over the Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN). This task is completely transparent to the user.
Do the phones support Custom Ring Tones?
Custom Ring Tones or Wave File Ring Tones can be downloaded on
some versions of software. Please refer to the Administrator
Documentation for the specific type and version of software you
have.
How are the phones configured?
Phones are configured through a combination of local settings and
configuration files that are loaded to the phone from a boot server.
Do the phones have a web server?
Currently, only the SIP version of the SoundPoint IP supports
configuration through a Web interface. Future releases of other
protocols will also support this capability.
Does Polycom provide tools to configure the phones?
Polycom provides XML-structured configuration files as part of its
firmware releases that can be managed with partner supplied
administrative tools or manually edited. We are also working on
other methods of managing phones that are in the developmental
stages that can be used on a standalone basis or integrated into
the partner's administrative tools.
How are the phones upgraded?
One can upgrade phone software by placing new files onto the
boot server and rebooting the phones. The phones download all
the configuration files on every reboot and download a small chunk
of the .ld files to compare versions. If the version is the same the
file is not downloaded, if it is different, the file will be
downloaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do FTP or TFTP servers need to be available at all times?
An FTP or TFTP boot server must be available anytime a
configuration file change or firmware upgrade needs to be
performed. The phone will boot from a flash image if the boot
server is not available or if there are no new files located on the
boot server that need to be loaded to the phone. Polycom
recommends that the boot server be available at all times as the
phone does upload log files to the boot server that can be useful if
troubleshooting is required. To make use of the multi-lingual
support available on some versions of software, an FTP or TFTP
server must be available each time the phone boots so that the
language dictionary can be downloaded. If the requested language
file cannot be downloaded, the phone will default to the factory
configured language.
How do users get firmware updates?
Certified Polycom VoIP Resellers can access updates to the SIP
version of software on the Polycom Resource Network at
http://extranet.polycom.com. In the case of MGCP, firmware is
distributed by the Technology Partners through their reseller
channel base. Please contact the reseller you purchased your IP
telephony solution from if you have any software needs.
What happens to the phones if there is a power failure during
the upgrade process?
The SoundPoint IP phones incorporate a fail-safe upgrade process
where the phone does not delete the previous file image until a
new one is successfully saved. A power failure or server outage
during an upgrade will not damage the phone.
How does an administrator manage large quantities of phones?
The format and content of the configuration files are such that
these files can be customized by administrator tools and used to
provision phones upon boot up from an FTP or TFTP boot server. An
administrator for a large group of phones can modify the
configurations and push the new info to the phones by remotely
rebooting the phones. Remote reboot capabilities require the
support of the IP-PBX or IP Softswitch. Please contact your reseller
for details.
Can the phones support LDAP directories?
Currently there is no support for directories like LDAP. These
protocols will likely be supported in the future though some type of
translation service to XML or XHTML.
What Codecs are supported?
All SoundPoint IP phones support G.711µ /A law and G.729a
(Annex B).
How is the time set on the phones?
SoundPoint IP phones uses Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP)
servers to provide accurate time. These servers can be located on
the local network or available from various sites on the Internet.
What is the Password to access the Set-up?
The User ID and Password will vary depending on what version of
software you are running. Please refer to the Administrator
Documentation for the specific type and version of software you
have.