If you are stuck in this loop, remember: Open it, validate it, and serve it correctly. Your phone will stop downloading xmldefault.cnf.xml and finally register.
<device> <deviceType>Cisco 7960</deviceType> <loadInformation>SIP70.9-0-2S</loadInformation> <callManagerGroup> <members> <member priority="0"> <callManager> <ports>2000</ports> <processNodeName>192.168.1.100</processNodeName> </callManager> </member> </members> </callManagerGroup> <sipProfile> <sipInviteRetry>2</sipInviteRetry> <sipRegisterRetry>2</sipRegisterRetry> <timerRegisterExpires>3600</timerRegisterExpires> <dtmfDbLevel>-3</dtmfDbLevel> </sipProfile> </device> Replace 192.168.1.100 with your PBX/SIP server IP. Step 2: Create the SEP File for Your Phone Copy the above file, but rename it to SEP<MAC>.cnf.xml (e.g., SEP001122334455.cnf.xml ). Change the <loadInformation> to match your phone’s actual firmware. Step 3: Serve the Files Place both XMLDefault.cnf.xml and SEP<MAC>.cnf.xml in your TFTP server’s root directory. Ensure the TFTP service has read permissions. Step 4: Power Cycle the Phone The phone will download XMLDefault.cnf.xml , realize it needs a specific SEP file, download that, and then register. Part 5: Advanced "Repack" Scenarios Scenario A: The "Broken Repack" Loop You downloaded a repack from a forum. The phone continuously shows "Downloading xmldefault.cnf.xml...requesting...Done...rebooting."
By [Your Name] | Network Engineering Lead
Re-flash the phone with the correct firmware type before applying the repack. For the 7940/7960 series, this requires a special .bin load. Part 6: Why Don't Modern Cisco Phones (8800, 7800) Use This? Modern Cisco IP Phones (8800/7800 series) have moved to a more robust system. They use HTTPS for configuration download, signed XML files , and Device Enrollment over HTTP . The xmldefault.cnf.xml legacy has been replaced by ITL (Initial Trust List) and CTL (Certificate Trust List) files.
If you manage a Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) environment, you have likely stared at the screen of a Cisco IP Phone (7940, 7960, 7906, or 7912) watching it cycle through its boot process. One of the most common—and often misunderstood—messages displayed is:
For many administrators, this message signals a broken phone. For others, it appears fleetingly as a normal step. But when you add the word into the troubleshooting mix—specifically, hunting for a "repack" of the xmldefault.cnf.xml file—you enter a niche area of legacy VoIP restoration.
Always backup your working XMLDefault.cnf.xml and SEP files. In ten years, when the last Cisco 7960 finally dies, that repack might be the only copy left on the internet. Have a unique repack story or a custom XMLDefault file that worked? Share it in the comments below.
Cnf Xml Repack — Cisco Ip Phone Downloading Xmldefault
If you are stuck in this loop, remember: Open it, validate it, and serve it correctly. Your phone will stop downloading xmldefault.cnf.xml and finally register.
<device> <deviceType>Cisco 7960</deviceType> <loadInformation>SIP70.9-0-2S</loadInformation> <callManagerGroup> <members> <member priority="0"> <callManager> <ports>2000</ports> <processNodeName>192.168.1.100</processNodeName> </callManager> </member> </members> </callManagerGroup> <sipProfile> <sipInviteRetry>2</sipInviteRetry> <sipRegisterRetry>2</sipRegisterRetry> <timerRegisterExpires>3600</timerRegisterExpires> <dtmfDbLevel>-3</dtmfDbLevel> </sipProfile> </device> Replace 192.168.1.100 with your PBX/SIP server IP. Step 2: Create the SEP File for Your Phone Copy the above file, but rename it to SEP<MAC>.cnf.xml (e.g., SEP001122334455.cnf.xml ). Change the <loadInformation> to match your phone’s actual firmware. Step 3: Serve the Files Place both XMLDefault.cnf.xml and SEP<MAC>.cnf.xml in your TFTP server’s root directory. Ensure the TFTP service has read permissions. Step 4: Power Cycle the Phone The phone will download XMLDefault.cnf.xml , realize it needs a specific SEP file, download that, and then register. Part 5: Advanced "Repack" Scenarios Scenario A: The "Broken Repack" Loop You downloaded a repack from a forum. The phone continuously shows "Downloading xmldefault.cnf.xml...requesting...Done...rebooting."
By [Your Name] | Network Engineering Lead
Re-flash the phone with the correct firmware type before applying the repack. For the 7940/7960 series, this requires a special .bin load. Part 6: Why Don't Modern Cisco Phones (8800, 7800) Use This? Modern Cisco IP Phones (8800/7800 series) have moved to a more robust system. They use HTTPS for configuration download, signed XML files , and Device Enrollment over HTTP . The xmldefault.cnf.xml legacy has been replaced by ITL (Initial Trust List) and CTL (Certificate Trust List) files.
If you manage a Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) environment, you have likely stared at the screen of a Cisco IP Phone (7940, 7960, 7906, or 7912) watching it cycle through its boot process. One of the most common—and often misunderstood—messages displayed is:
For many administrators, this message signals a broken phone. For others, it appears fleetingly as a normal step. But when you add the word into the troubleshooting mix—specifically, hunting for a "repack" of the xmldefault.cnf.xml file—you enter a niche area of legacy VoIP restoration.
Always backup your working XMLDefault.cnf.xml and SEP files. In ten years, when the last Cisco 7960 finally dies, that repack might be the only copy left on the internet. Have a unique repack story or a custom XMLDefault file that worked? Share it in the comments below.
