Pre-backup conversion for Managed SIP Phones

Prior to taking a backup, we need to make sure that the SIP username matches the SIP extension number.

Typically, this will not be the case, as Far South Networks made use of a convention naming SIP users in the format 919000X, regardless of the allocated extension number.

If your existing configuration makes use of Managed SIP phones, it is necessary to change the SIP username of the extensions prior to taking a backup of your configuration. This is to standardize the extension login details to be interpreted by the 3CX conversion tool.

Since the edit needs to be made to multiple extensions, it is likely more easily managed using the spreadsheet export feature, making edits on the exported spreadsheet before uploading the spreadsheet back on to the Far South Networks comma GUI, before applying changes and then taking a backup.

A comprehensive guide to spreadsheet provisioning on 1.5 Far South PBX systems, is located here. This guide includes instructions on exporting, editing and importing the spreadsheet. Follow the guide should you be unfamiliar with and of those procedures.

1. Export existing spreadsheet

The spreadsheet is exported so that the configuration many extensions can be edited in one go.

2. Edit the spreadsheet accordingly

Many of the settings in the spreadsheet are not required for the purposes we have now. All we need is the extension configuration to make sense to the 3CX conversion tool, we don't actually need any of the phones in the spreadsheet to be configured at this time.

As such, a lot of the exported spreadsheet can be deleted.

A note about friendly names: 3CX systems have fields available for both first names and surnames. The friendly name of the extension is converted to generate these fields. Friendly names containing two names,with a space between them are interpreted to contain a first name, followed by a surname. So, it is suggested that you edit the friendly name field, to contain the users' name and surname to properly configure those fields on the 3CX system.

On a typical install, following the procedure below should be adequate:

1. export the spreadsheet and open it in a spreadsheet editor.

2. You'll notice that all of the lines supported by the phone are exported in the spreadsheet, though usually only the first line actually contains a configured extension, so to start with, delete all phone ports that do not contain extension configuration.

3. Delete all IP addresses if the PBX is serving DHCP. If you import a device with an IP address within the DHCP server's range, elements of the spreadsheet import will fail.

4. Copy the contents of the entire extension column, and paste them over the SipUsername column, being sure to past on to the cell in the same row from which you started copying data. Also, make sure that these two column headings remain as they were.

5. Replace the friendly name with the user's first name and surname, with a space between the two.

6. Save the spreadsheet as a new .xls file (it is useful to keep the original export intact, just in case).

3. Import the spreadsheet

Before importing the spreadsheet, you need to delete all of the Managed SIP Phones and apply changes. Thereafter, you need to either revert, or log out and log back in. After deleting the phones, they will appear as "detected devices" in the top right hand side of the GUI. A revert is required to remove this association. If the handsets are still reflecting as detected devices (particularly as generic devices) then the import will not succeed.