1. Client Deployment Guide
  2. Android Device Workstations
  3. Upgrading and Downgrading the Android Service Host

Upgrading and Downgrading the Android Service Host

Version Validation Checks

When a property is upgraded to Simphony 19.3.1 or later, existing Android workstations have their CAPS version validated and compared to the device’s current Simphony Android Service Host version during startup. If there is a CAPS /Service Host version mismatch, a prompt recommending an upgrade (or downgrade) shows on each Android workstation.

Note:

If your Simphony system is hosted in the Oracle Cloud, do not complete the steps in this section. An Oracle Cloud Interface representative performs the upgrade.

All database information is retained when the system upgrades the Service Host.

Upgrading the Android Service Host

In order to receive automatic upgrade prompts (if the CAPS/Service Host validation discovers a version mismatch), you must configure your Android devices as shown below:

  • Starting with Simphony version 19.3.1, access the EMC, select the property, click Setup, Workstations, Options tab, and then select the Hardware/Cash Drawer tab. Under the Hardware/Cash Drawer section, ensure option 68 - Third Party Managed Device is disabled for each Android workstation.

  • All of your Android workstations and tablets must be configured in the Workstations module using the 6 - Tablet Client setting as the Type.

  • When performing Simphony upgrades to your system, starting with Simphony 19.4, you must first manually uninstall the previous version of the Simphony Service Host APK from each of your Android devices. After an upgrade to your enterprise has been completed, you must install the latest version of Simphony Android Service Host APK on each of your Android workstations.

Important:

When you have CAPS configured, the CAPS version should always be upgraded before upgrading the Service Host. If the Service Host version is later than the CAPS version (for example, the CAPS machine was not upgraded first and the devices experience a version mismatch), the Service Host application shows an out of synchronization error message.

To upgrade the Simphony Android Service Host for a self-hosted system:

  1. Ensure your CAPS client is running the latest Simphony version. This must be verified and/or upgraded before installing the Simphony Android Service Host APK on your device.

  2. Open the Simphony Service Host on the Android device.

  3. During the POS operations startup, Service Host also checks its version with CAPS at the start of each transaction. If CAPS is offline, POS operations runs in offline mode, and this message does not appear.

  4. If the Service Host and CAPS are running on different versions, a message appears stating: The Service Host and CAPS are running on different versions. Restart the Application to download the Service Host from the Application server. Restart the Service Host application.

  5. After restarting the Service Host application, the device automatically downloads and installs the Simphony Android Service Host APK files from the application repository based on the CAPS version. If prompted, allow permission to install on the device.

Downgrading the Android Service Host

To downgrade the Android Service Host:

  1. Open the Simphony Service Host on the Android device.
  2. Click the OK button on the message to manually downgrade the Service Host version to match the CAPS version.
  3. Manually uninstall the Simphony Android Service Host from the device.

    See Uninstalling the Android Service Host for information about manually uninstalling the Simphony Android Service Host.

  4. Download the correct version of the Simphony Android Service Host APK from the Simphony Web Portal (SWP).

    See Installing the Android Service Host for more information about manually installing the Simphony Android Service Host.

Parent topic: Android Device Workstations