Changing the Cisco IP Phone Background Image

Updated 8/25/2012
Changing the background on a Cisco IP Phone can be a little tricky to do the first time.  This post is a compilation of all the best information and tips surrounding changing the background image on a Cisco IP Phone combined with some personal experience.  You should also pay attention as you may need to do this on the CCIE Voice Lab exam.

The background image choices that are displayed on a Cisco IP Phone come from the list.xml file that is copied from the TFTP server used by the IP Phone.  This list.xml file contains a list of all available background images available on the TFTP server.  Using your own custom background image is as simple as updating that list.xml file, placing your custom background image on the TFTP server, and selecting the new background on the phone.  See either the video or the written process below for details!

Cisco Phone Designer can also be used to change the background on an IP Phone, but note the limitations of this Cisco widget in the End-of-Life announcement.  However, you are preparing to be a CCIE and will need to know how to get dirty and do it as detailed below.

Video from Cisco Support Channel: IP Phone Background Image Change

 
Changing Cisco IP Phone Background Images

1. Create and edit an image that will be used as the IP Phone background and thumbnail images.  Use any photo editing software of your preference.
• Edit the image to your specifications.  Ensure your images have no more than 65535 colors.
• If you'd like to edit the current image used by the IP Phone, see "Transferring TFTP Files Via CUCM CLI" below to get a copy of these files.
• Ensure that the full size image has the correct width and height as described in the section below "Standard Background Image Information By Phone".
• Save your full size image as a Ping (.png) formatted file.
• Prepare your image to be a thumbnail image by resizing it.  Again, consult the section below for the proper thumbnail dimensions.
• Save your thumbnail image as a Ping (.png) file, use a different filename from the full size image above.
2. Create or Edit list.xml file.
• Create or edit the list.xml file so that it lists your newly created images.  See the example list.xml file below on this post to see how to properly format the file.
• Note that the appropriate list.xml file is found within the TFTP server directory listed for your phone model as shown in the section below, "Standard Background Image Information By Phone". For example, /Desktops/320x212x16
• See section below titled "Transferring TFTP Files Via CUCM CLI" to copy all relevant files needed to modify the existing custom background images (list.xml, full size image, and thumbnail images).
• You can also see if list.xml exists already for your phone type via the administrator command-line-interaface (CLI) on the CUCM running the TFTP server.  For example, "file view tftp filename", "file list tftp /", "file list tftp /Desktops/320x212x16" etc.  If no files are returned for the required directory - you will be creating list.xml from scratch. 
• Note that the list.xml file cannot have more than 50 background images listed.
3. Upload the images to the CUCM's TFTP server and restart TFTP server.
• Using the Cisco Unified Operating System Administrator webpage, log in with the appropriate credentials.  Navigate to Software Upgrades > TFTP File Management.
• Click Upload File.  Browse for the files on your local computer, and specify the correct directory from the "Standard Background Image Information By Phone" section below.  The directory will look similar to:  /Desktops/320x212x16
• Be sure to upload:
• Full size image
• Thumbnail image
• Updated list.xml file
• Using Cisco Unified Serviceability webpage, log in with the appropriate credentials.  Navigate to Tools > Control Center - Feature Services.  Restart the Cisco TFTP service.  This step is necessary for the TFTP server to recognize the new files that you have just added.
4. Select the new background image in the Cisco IP Phone.
1. On your Cisco IP Phone, click Settings > User Preferences > Background Images 
2. Select the background of your choice, and Save.

Standard Background Image Information By Phone

Cisco IP Phone 7906/7911

• Full size image:  95 pixels x 34 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  23 pixels x 8 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/95x34x1

Cisco IP Phone 7940/7960

• Background images are not supported.
• See Creating Idle URL Using Graphics on Cisco IP Phone for the next best option.

Cisco IP Phone 7941/7961

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 196 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 49 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x196x4

Cisco IP Phone 7942/7962

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 196 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 49 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x196x4

Cisco IP Phone 7945/7965

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 212 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 53 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x212x16

Cisco IP Phone 7970/7971

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 212 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 53 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x212x12

Cisco IP Phone 7975

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 216 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 53 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x216x16

Cisco IP Phone 8961/9951/9971

• Full size image:  640 pixels x 480 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  123 pixels x 111 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/640x480x24

Cisco IP Communicator

• Full size image:  320 pixels x 212 pixels
• Thumbnail image:  80 pixels x 53 pixels
• Directory:  /Desktops/320x212x12

Transferring TFTP Files Via CUCM CLI

It is necessary to either have access to a SFTP server, or install one for this step.  You will be transferring files from the TFTP server directory running on the CUCM to the SFTP server.  There are a variety of free SFTP servers available out there.

Note that the command below will transfer all files in the /Desktops/320x212x16 directory (specific to the 7945/7965 per the chart above).  

You could easily edit the command below to be more granular if you'd like. 

admin:file get tftp /Desktops/320x212x16

Please wait while the system is gathering files info …done.

Sub-directories were not traversed.

Number of files affected: 5 (there were 5 files in that dir)

Total size in Bytes: 197325

Total size in Kbytes: 202.0608

Would you like to proceed [y/n]? y

SFTP server IP: 10.1.1.100

SFTP server port [22]:

User ID: sftpadmin

Password: ********

Download directory: /   (root directory on SFTP server)

The authenticity of host ’10.1.1.100 (10.1.1.100)’ can’t be established.

RSA key fingerprint is 9e:1a:5e:27:16:4d:2a:13:90:2c:64:41:bd:25:fd:35.

Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes

………

Transfer completed.

The files from the /Desktops/320x212x16 directory will now be found on your SFTP server's root directory so that you can edit and manipulate them as needed.

Sample LIST.XML File

Sample List.XML file for 7945/7965

Additional Information

• Official Guide to Using Custom Background Images on Cisco IP Phone 7965
• CallManager Express:  Create a Customer Background Image on Cisco IP Phone 7970
• Creating Idle URL Using Graphics on Cisco IP Phone