2Hardware
Hardware
The following section describes the various hardware devices used by end users to access the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application or devices that are accessed by the application. The client’s IT department is responsible for setting up and configuring these.
Desktop PCs
Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud provides a Desktop Web Interface to access the application. Any recent computer running Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux with a modern browser is supported. A minimum browser resolution of 1440x900 is recommended. The application will work at lower resolutions but screen layout may be sub-optimal. A resolution of 1920x1080 will provide a much better experience.
The following browser versions were used for testing WMS Cloud version 21A:
- Chrome 83
- Firefox 78
- Edge 44
- Safari 14
Earlier versions of these browsers, especially within the past 12 months, and Internet Explorer 11, should mostly work fine. Issues found using these versions will likely not be fixable and the customer may be asked to switch to a supported one.
RF Devices
Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud supports a handheld RF (Radio Frequency) device interface to access the Mobile RF terminal based application. The basic requirement for these devices are:
- Should have a Secure Shell (SSH) app that can connect via secure encrypted SSH protocol to any configurable port number
- Capable of supporting vt100 terminal emulation
- Ability to display at least 24 characters by 16 lines of text, preferably 29 x 19
- Keyboard should have separate alpha and numeric keys with support for Control keys
Typical RF Devices used in warehouses run Windows Mobile Operating systems (version 5.x or 6.x) or Android. WaveLink, Termius, Velocity, some of the SSH applications used by Oracle Cloud WMS customers, and others can be used as well. Note: SSH apps may not be included with the RF Device and may need to be bought separately. The RF Device vendor may offer other SSH apps. The following are some models used by current Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud customers:
- LXE/Honeywell MX7
- Zebra MC3300
- Zebra/Motorola MC9190/MC9190G
- Zebra/Motorola MC9590/MC9090
- INTERMEC/Honeywell CK3
Connection Stabilizing Software
Some customers have used connectivity stabilizing software to handle spotty WiFi in warehouse where the handheld device connects to the connection stabilization software, which in turn connects to Oracle WMS Cloud. Oracle does not test or certify such solutions and customers would be responsible for making sure it performs per their needs. Oracle will not be able to debug any issues related to such software.
Computers
To access the RF application from a desktop or laptop, PuTTY is typically used.
Mobile App
Built using Oracle’s latest mobile application technology, VBCS (Visual Builder Cloud Service), the Oracle WMS Cloud Mobile app features modern, graphical, mobile screens that can display images and scan barcodes on both iOS and Android-based devices.
This app is available via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. In a future update, the app will also be released via the VBCS/OIC marketplace so that customers that subscribe to OIC (oracle integration cloud) can customize the app themselves. The WMS Cloud Mobile App leverages the native mobile capabilities of IoS and Android. The app is supported on the following Android and iOS versions/ devices:
Android
- Android 5 and higher
- Will work on regular phones and ruggedized warehouse devices
iOS
- iOS
- iOS 11.4 and higher
- Supports iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Additional Notes
- You can quickly setup multiple profiles or environments within the app by scanning a QR barcode. This allows you to point the app to different WMS cloud environments.
- The app supports both single and multi-field barcodes using the existing configuration available in the WMS Cloud service.
- The app can use the device’s camera to scan barcodes or can also work with a barcode scanner attachment that converts the barcode into keyboard input.
- The app supports the same literals and language translation configuration and features available with the WMS Cloud web UI and the text based Mobile RF.
- The app supports display and upload of images.
- The app layout is optimized for phone sized screens rather than tablet sized screens.
Label Printers
Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud supports the Zebra Printing Language (ZPL). Printers manufactured by Zebra as well as many other companies that support the ZPL printing language should work. The customer is required to test and verify that label printing works as expected. Some typical models in use by current clients are Zebra / ZM400, Zebra 105SL, Zebra R110Xi4 and INTERMEC /PD42.
The Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application prints to label printers at customer locations via network access that must be configured as described in Network Configuration. These printers must be configured in the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application.
Laser Printers
Report documents are typically generated as a PDF by the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application desktop web interface and can be printed to a local printer by the user. As such these printers typically do not need to be configured in the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application.
If the ability to print certain PDF documents from the handheld RF interface is used, then laser printers also need to be setup in the application and accessed by the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application over the network similar to label printers.
Dot Matrix Printers
These are used for certain shipping documents such as GDD documents common in South American countries. These must be setup as network accessible printers similar to laser printers. Printers that support the ESC-P language are supported. Some sample models used by current clients are:
- PRINTRONIX/P7220
- EPSON / DFX 9000
- EPSON / FX890
- OKI/Pacemark 4410
Print Servers
We recommend that clients use a print server to manage printers that the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application needs to access. Printers connected to an external dedicated print server (typically a Windows Server or a Linux Server) are more robust and can handle larger volumes of labels. Printers that use a built in print server (network card or dongle) may have trouble with higher volumes and may have issues with lost labels or repeated labels etc.
Users should base printing choices on the expected volume and type of use. For example, if they are going to routinely print dozens or hundreds of label at a time from the wave, they should have a dedicated print server to avoid problems. In addition, print servers avoid the need to have multiple public IP addresses for printers.
Network Configuration
The following diagram describes a typical configuration of how the various hardware devices in a facility running the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application access the Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud application. WMS Cloud can be setup to communicate to printers via HTTPS, LPD, or Socket protocols.
Access to Printers
Customers will need to allow access from WMS Cloud to their printers. WMS Cloud publishes IP addresses from which print requests will originate. Customers can configure this on their firewalls to selectively allow access. Using one print server handling multiple printers will usually be easier for network administrators to manage.
Secure Printing
WMS Cloud supports HTTPS as a communication protocol for printing. Customers wanting to encrypt the data being sent from WMS Cloud to their printers can use this option.
