Aptela enables an Administrator or a User to map auto-provisioned VoIP phones to a specific VLAN through the Phone Configuration tool. A VLAN is used to separate phone traffic from PC traffic.
The below instructions will guide the account administrator through establishing a VLAN for a phone. We highly recommend that a network administrator either perform the task or provide instructions as incorrectly assigning the VLAN may result in phones not working.
Aptela enables an Administrator or a User to map auto-provisioned VoIP phones to a specific VLAN through the Phone Configuration tool. A VLAN is used to separate phone traffic from PC traffic.
The below instructions will guide the account administrator through establishing a VLAN for a phone. We highly recommend that a network administrator either perform the task or provide instructions as incorrectly assigning the VLAN may result in phones not working.
The below instructions will guide the account administrator through establishing a VLAN for a phone. We highly recommend that a network administrator either perform the task or provide instructions as incorrectly assigning the VLAN may result in phones not working.
Step 1
Access the user’s phone configuration menu within the Aptela web account.
- Log into Aptela as the account admin: my.aptela.com.
- Click on the user whose phone you would like program for VLAN
- Click the Edit Phones button.
- Click Options.
- Click Setup VLAN.
NOTE: You may be asked to assign a Phone Type. Select the manufacturer of your phone. If your manufacturer is not listed, choose “Other”.
Step 2
Choose from the available options to enter the VLAN settings based on your network setup. Then click Save.
Available options:
- Enable CDP: CDP is the Cisco Discovery Protocol. If the phone is on a network that supports CDP, and is appropriately configured, enabling this should allow the phone to automatically pick up all its VLAN settings. If you are unsure, do not enable this.
- Enable VLAN / VLAN ID: If your local network is set up with discrete VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) you may be required to set the phone to a specific one. This information would come from your Network Administrator, and can be set by checking the Enable VLAN box and entering the number of the VLAN in the VLAN ID box. For instance, your computers may be running on the regular network, but you may have a specific VLAN that was created to handle all phone traffic.
- PC Port VLAN / PC Port VLAN ID: If the same network connection is used for both the phone and the PC (i.e., the Ethernet cable on the PC is plugged into the phone), your network policy may require you specify a different VLAN for the PC. In this case, check the Enable PC Port VLAN box and enter the number of the VLAN in the PC Port VLAN ID box.
- PC Port Priority: The priority applied to all frames (tagged and untagged) from the PC Port. If you are unsure, do not modify this setting
Step 3
After saving changes, reboot the phone. The phone will download the VLAN settings entered in the previous step.
Entering an incorrect VLAN
If you set an incorrect VLAN for the phone, there may be problems including an inability for the phone to boot up (most likely an error message, such as Checking DNS or Waiting for Network will appear). This occurs because the phone is looking for a VLAN that it cannot find.
To resolve the issue, delete the VLAN information and then reboot the phone. To do so:
To resolve the issue, delete the VLAN information and then reboot the phone. To do so:
- As outlined in Step 1, click Setup VLAN.
- Delete number from the VLAN ID box.
- Set Enable VLAN to No.
- Unplug the network connection to the phone.
- When the phone boots up, go to the Setup Menu on the phone.
- Polycom Users: Settings
- Cisco Users: Menu 9
- In the phone's Setup Menu, delete the VLAN ID.
- Reset CDP Enabled to false.
- Plug the network connection back into the phone and let it boot up.
