Connecting an attendance scanner to the internet.

The scanner itself must be connected to the Internet to successfully synch attendance data from the scanner to our servers. This is often done by connecting the device to an internal network that has a shared Internet connection (like in the organization's office). You may connect either wirelessly (if your unit supports this) or by directly connecting to a network hub or Internet router with an Ethernet cable. Whatever network you have, it must be configured to support adding new devices. Some networks are easier than others to connect devices. In the vast majority of cases you can simply either plug the RJ45 patch cable (looks like a fat telephone cord) from the scanner's cradle to a network jack/hub/router or "find" and connect to a WLAN and the network will automatically "discover" the device, assign it a unique ID on the network, and allow it to have access to the Internet. While we go to great lengths to provide assistance with connecting devices to your network, ultimately we do not have an intimate understanding of the configuration and settings your network may have. Additionally, the customer contact may not have sufficient technical abilities to properly interpret our instructions. For example, many of our customer contacts wouldn't know what it meant to "Make sure a DHCP server is configured and operational on the network to which the Ethernet cradle is connected." If the following terms are not familiar to you, more than likely you will require the help of a network administrator: Ethernet, RJ45, Router, DHCP, IP Address, LAN, WLAN, Hub.

For Scanners with an Ethernet Cable

1. Make certain a DHCP server is configured and operational on your network
2. Make sure the IP addresses being distributed by the DHCP service will allow access to the Internet via a shared high-speed Internet connection to which the Ethernet cradle is connected
3. Make sure that your cradle is plugged into an electrical outlet and has power. 
4. Make sure the scanner is properly seated in the cradle.
5. Plug one end of an RJ45 patch cable into the cradle and the other end into a jack/hub/or router (not into your computer). The network will automatically "discover" the device, assign it a unique ID on the network, and allow it to have access to the Internet.
6. Upon completing the above steps, check the light in front of the cradle:
• The amber LED remains dark when the Ethernet cradle is plugged in.
• Make sure the power supply is securely connected and receiving power.
• The amber LED blinks continuously.
• This means that the device is not able to obtain an IP address from your DHCP server. Make sure a DHCP server is configured and operational on the network to which the Ethernet cradle is connected.
• The amber LED is fully lit, but no synchronization with Closerware took place, and the green LED did not blink
• Remove terminal from the Ethernet cradle and reinsert it, making sure it is gently but firmly seated in the Ethernet cradle. Rerun the Closerware synchronization.
• The green LED remains dark
• Make sure the jack, hub or router you have plugged into is a) connected to the network, has power, and is functioning properly.
• Replace the Ethernet Cable (RJ45 patch cable) as it may be bad. Confirm that the Ethernet cable is a straight-through (or feed-through) cable and not a cross-over cable.
7. Start the Closerware application by double-tapping the desktop icon or by choosing Start --> Programs --> Attendance Scanner. 
8. Tap the "Attendance Scanner" in the title bar to get to the menu options. Choose Tools --> Network Test" to test for basic network connectivity. If this test fails, this means that the device must not have been properly "connected" to a network which provides access to the Internet. This is essential to synching the scanner with your contact database. If you would like more evidence that the device is not properly connected to the Internet via your network, you may exit out of the Closerware application by tapping in the word "Attendance Scanner" in the blue bar at the top of the screen. Next, you can use the Pocket Internet Explorer found in Start --> Programs --> Internet Explorer. If you cannot access the Internet via Internet Explorer, this is further confirmation that the problem resides with the connecting a hardware device to your network. Please consult a professional for further assistance.

For Wireless Scanners