Initialization Process
Issue 6 February 2007 37
Step 2: DHCP Server to Telephone
The DHCP file server provides information to the telephone, as described in DHCP and File
Servers on page 58. Among other data passed to the telephone is the IP Address of the TFTP
or HTTP server, which is crucial for the next step.
Step 3: Telephone and File Server
Many 4600 Series IP Telephones can download script files, application files, and settings files
from either a TFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server. For specific telephone/server compatibility, see
Table 1
. If you have a mixture of telephones, you can use either:
● TFTP servers only.
● Both TFTP and HTTP servers, with TFTP running telephones with older releases and
HTTP for telephones capable of using HTTP.
You need TFTP servers for upgrades if you have a release prior to R2.2 on a telephone.
Currently, only Avaya servers support 4600 Series IP Telephone file transfers using HTTPS.
The reason is 4600 Series IP Telephones only establish encrypted TLS connections with
servers that use Avaya-signed digital certificates.
A telephone that supports HTTP will attempt to access the HTTP server (if administered), and, if
successful, will not attempt to access the TFTP server (if administered).
The script files, application files, and settings files discussed in this section are identical for
HTTP and TFTP servers. The general downloading process for those files is essentially the
same. One exception is that when you use an HTTPS server, a TLS server is contacted first.
Therefore, we use the generic term “file server” here to mean both “TFTP server” and “HTTP
server.”
The telephone queries the file server, which transmits a script file to the telephone. This script
file, at a minimum, tells the telephone which application file the telephone must use. The
application file is the software that has the telephony functionality, and can be easily updated for
future enhancements.
The telephone uses the script file to determine if it has the proper application file. A newly
installed telephone may have no application file, and therefore would not have the proper one. A
previously installed telephone might not have the proper application file. If the telephone
determines the application file indicated in the script file is missing, the telephone requests a
download of the proper application file from the file server. The file server then downloads the
file and conducts some checks to ensure that the file was downloaded properly. If the telephone
determines it already has the proper file, the telephone proceeds to the next step without
downloading the application file again.
After checking and loading the application file, the 4600 Series IP Telephone, if appropriate,
uses the script file to look for a settings file. The settings file can contain options you have
administered for any or all of the 4600 Series IP Telephones in your network. For more
information about this settings file, see Administering Options for the 4600 Series IP
Telephones on page 100.
