I currently have a FreePBX system and need to configure several remote Grandstream phones. I’ve been considering setting them up through DNS, but the documentation I’ve found online isn’t very clear when it comes to explaining the exact steps.
Would you be able to help me with this process or point me in the right direction?
I’d really appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Why don’t you use Grandstreams GDMS?
+1 for using Grandstream GDMS. I use it constantly. It is independent of whatever PBX your are using.
The suggestion of the Grandstream GDMS tool is one way. We chose to use the EPM module in FreePBX. You will need the paid licensed version of Endpoint Manager (EPM) module in your FreePBX installation. This will allow you to do firmware management and configuration management of Grandstream devices in the same context as the rest of your devices.
You can read up on EPM here: https://sangomakb.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PG/pages/31064118/PBX+GUI±+EndPoint+Manager
Firmware management wiki: https://sangomakb.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PG/pages/31097141/PBX+GUI±+EPM-Custom+Firmware+Management
This will still require you to at a minimum to program each Grandstream endpoint device with both the Provisioning Server and Firmware Server address(es) and Protocol.
Check the Grandstream documentation for your device for the details. Your device can use DHCP by default and will then phone home (pun intended) for firmware and configuration updates at both power up/reboot and if configured on a periodic basis. Alternatively, you can also set a static IP and the Server and Protocol settings to the same end.
Beware that your FreePBX server and network infrastructure will have to allow network traffic from the remote device on the protocols you have setup.
Should you choose this EPM path for managing your devices firmware, you will want to also take a look at this previous post for tips on EPM Custom Firmware handling.
https://community.freepbx.org/t/custom-firmware-management/93257
Grandstream GDMS is the way to go to auto provision Grandstream devices. Its free, and doesn’t require having the user at the remote location to program each Grandstream endpoint device with both the Provisioning Server and Firmware Server address(es) and Protocol.
There is no significant (if any) advantage to using Sangoma’s commercial EPM with Grandstream phones, since EPM is 1: a paid module that requires an annual “maintenance” fee, and 2: only supports a subset of the phone apps with non Sangoma (or Digium) phones. Many of my clients have only Grandstream devices and GDMS is a no brainer for those client installations. But even in mixed networks with multiple phone vendors, GDMS is still the better solution for provisioning Grandstream devices. Really, the only networks that EPM is optimal is where there are primarily Sangoma (and/or Digium) endpoints. Those require EPM to configure as they cannot be configured from the phone.
An alternative to auto provisioning for the Granstream phones is to remote into a computer on the same network as the phone and log into the phone with the remote phone’s local IP. If necessary the IP address can be determined with an IP Scanner like “Advance IP Scanner” I have had to resort to that for some remote users with BYOD phones (like Yealink wifi phones) to provision the remote user’s phone.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, although some ways are more labor intensive than others 