A network restart or reboot is one of the simplest yet most effective troubleshooting tools. Use this technique when all phones on the network are affected, particularly when the issue started suddenly. Some networks rarely (if ever) need to be restarted, while some must be restarted once a week or more. It is almost always necessary to perform a proper restart after a power outage or an ISP outage.

It is recommended to have someone familiar with the local network perform the network restart.

Warning: Do not use a button labeled "reset" or "restart" since this button may restore the device to the factory default settings. A button labeled "power" is fine to use, but unplugging the power cables would be the best option.

1. Identify the network devices between the internet source and the phone. This typically resembles one of the following configurations:

Modem --> Router --> Switch --> Phones
Modem --> Router --> Phones
Modem/Router --> Switch --> Phones

2. Unplug the power cords from the network devices (Modem, Router and/or Switch, Phones).
3. Wait 15 seconds, then plug in the devices starting with the modem and working toward the phones. Make sure each device comes up completely before moving on to the next in the chain (make sure the modem has all relevant lights on before moving to the router, etc.).
4. The restart is complete.

Need More Resources?

For more information on how to optimize performance, see the following articles:

• Network Quality Tool
• Networking Guidelines
• Network Equipment Compatibility