Hey, so two cisco questions here...

1) I have a couple Cisco phones that give me the message 'Ethernet Disconnected' I know for a fact that it is connected so i was wondering if anyone knows if this is fixable.

2)Two of my phones just cycle through configuring IP. They will upgrade and then go back to the beginning and continue this cycle.

Hope to find some help!

Thanks

1) Hope this doesn't apply to you: Cisco Product Advisory

2) What model of phone and what are you trying to connect to? It sounds like the phone is looking for its configuration from a TFTP server and not finding it.

My phone's product number doesnt match the one on the website but i think that might be the problem. thanks for the help on that one.

Its a 7940 and i'm just trying to get it to connect to my cisco router. All my other phones get the configuration and are fine. I try checking the settings as its cycling through booting up but it wont let me access it. Im usually able to when the phones are booting up...

Have you tried to hard reset the 7940? Here is the procedure:

1) Unplug the power cable from the phone, and then plug in the cable again.

The phone begins its power up cycle.

2) Immediately press and hold # and while the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons begin to flash in sequence, release #.

3) The Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons flash in sequence in order to indicate that the phone waits for you to enter the key sequence for the reset.

4) Press 123456789*0# within 60 seconds after the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons begin to flash.

If you repeat a key within the sequence, for example, if you press 1223456789*0#, the sequence is still accepted and the phone resets.

If you do not complete this key sequence or do not press any keys, after 60 seconds, the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons no longer flash, and the phone continues with its normal startup process. The phone does not reset.

If you enter an invalid key sequence, the buttons no longer flash, and the phone continues with its normal startup process. The phone does not reset.

5) If you enter this key sequence correctly, the phone displays this prompt:

Keep network cfg? 1 = yes 2 = no

In your case, I'd hit (2).

Rcsinfo,
Does this same process apply to a 7960 and 7962 set? Thanks...

Hi DT98,

Short answer - yes.

The reset procedure is the exact same on the 7960, I copied that post out of a manual that covered both phones. The 7940 and the 7960 have the same operating manuals, firmware downloads, configuration files, etc. If you are trying to configure a 7960 and find examples on the Internet showing config files for a 7940, you can use them as a guide. The only difference is the 4 extra line buttons on the 7960.

The newer 7942/7962 series are what Cisco calls Java-based firmware phones. I don't have one, but I found the manual here. It looks like they made it the same procedure.

Just a word of caution. If you are using these phones on a Cisco UC500 or Call Manager, the setup is pretty much the same. But, if you are trying to use it as a phone for Asterisk or a hosted provider, be aware that the config files are totally different between the 7960 and 7962.

I've seen Ethernet Disconnected when there is a wiring problem. Test the wiremap of your cable from end to end (including patch cords). You may have a problem there.

If your firmware is too far behind, it wont upgrade to the latest version, and you have to walk it through a stepped upgrade. I know how to do it from Call Manager, but not on UC500 or CME.

Justin

almost sounds like a vlan issue? Make sure your router has the ip helper set in it as well, basically tells the phone where to look for it's configuration.

Ethernet Disconnected is pretty straight forward. Either the wiring is bad, or there's a problem with the phone itself. The Ethernet board can fail (79x1 phones with this as a module) or the solder can break, especially if it falls off a table and is snagged by the cord.

As for configuring IP it could be missing a configuration somewhere, can't find the TFTP, etc, or there's a security certificate on the phone that's preventing it from talking to your infrastructure.

when I've had this issue it's a wiring issue. Or a bad jack.