Optional CAPS Configuration Tasks

• CAPS Optimization for High Loads
  
• Configuring the Show Database Provider Button
  
• Encrypting Database Credentials
  
• Verifying CAPS Installation
  
• Configuring IIS Application Pool Settings
  
• CAL Installation Prerequisites for a Workstation without the POS Interface (CAPS Only Workstation)
  
• Scheduling a Reload Check and Posting Database
  

CAPS Optimization for High Loads

To handle high transaction CAPS environments, system administrators can enable threaded posting.

• To enable threaded posting on CAPS running Simphony’s native webserver in ServiceHost, modify the web.config.txt file located on the CAPS machine.

• To enable threaded posting on CAPSonIIS, modify the web.config file located on the CAPSonIIS machine. (Note that this is a different file than the one mentioned in the previous point.)

For Simphony 19.x users, the following key needs to be manually entered in the appSettings section:

<add key="MaxMrequestPlaybackThreads" value="x" />

In the syntax provided in the example above, x represents the number of threads.

The number of threads used depends on the volume of Mrequest messages. Also, the number of connections is derived from the number of threads. Under enough load, the value sets the upper limit of threads. There is a point when adding connections decreases performance. As such, if you have a posting backlog on CAPS, it is suggested to configure 1 thread for every 25 workstations as an initial value and adjust as needed based on the available CAPS hardware resources.

CAL Installation Prerequisites for a Workstation without the POS Interface (CAPS Only Workstation)

Before installing CAL on a CAPS-only workstation, perform the following functions:

• Configure a service host for CAPS. See Configuring the Service Host for CAPS in EMC for instructions.

• Assign the employee privilege to download software, install and authenticate clients and Service Hosts using CAL.

  Beginning with Simphony version 2.9.1 (which includes CAL version 139), users must have the employee privilege assigned to the appropriate role to successfully authenticate workstations, Android devices, and Kitchen Display Systems (KDS). After installing or upgrading to Simphony version 2.9.1 or later, you must assign the privilege to a user’s role. When the Role option is set, employees can use their EMC logon credentials when CAL’ing devices. See Allowing Employees to Install and Authenticate POS Clients and Service Hosts for instructions to assign the privilege.

• Set the CAL deployment schedule. See Configuring the Deployment Schedule to Install CAL on a POS Client Workstation without Ops for instructions.

• Configuring the Deployment Schedule to Install CAL on a Workstation without the POS Interface
  
• Installing CAL on a Workstation without the POS Interface
  

Configuring the Deployment Schedule to Install CAL on a Workstation without the POS Interface

1. Select the Enterprise, click Setup, and then click CAL Packages.
2. For Simphony version 2.9 and Simphony version 2.9.1:
   1. If the CAPS workstation is running Microsoft Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, select Service Host Prereqs from the left pane.
   2. If the CAPS workstation is running Microsoft Windows 7 or later, select Service Host Prereqs (SQL 2012) from the left pane.
3. For Simphony version 2.9.2, select Service Host Prereqs from the left pane for all POS clients.
4. Click the Deployment Schedule tab, and then click Add Deployment.
5. From the Deployment Type column, select 2 - Specific Service Host.
6. In the Service Host column, click the ellipsis (...) point button, select the CAPS workstation, and then click OK.
7. In the Action To Take column, select 0 - Install, and then click Save.
8. Select Service Host from the left pane, and then repeat Steps 4 through 7.

Installing CAL on a Workstation without the POS Interface

1. On the workstation, press Start, select All Programs, select Micros Client Application Loader, and then select McrsCAL Config.
2. Decipher and enter the correct access code, and then press the Configure CAL button.
3. Enter the correct code based on the six-digit number shown at the top, and then press Next.
4. In the Enter CAL Server dialog, select MICROS Simphony as the POS Type.

   MICROS Simphony is used for both Simphony Standard and Premium Cloud Service environments.

5. Set the following values, and then press Next:

   • Server Name: Leave this field blank.

   • Server IP/URL: Leave this field blank.

   • CAL Enabled: Select this option if it is not automatically set by default.

   • Secure Connection: Select this option to use the Translation Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 Encryption protocol. (If you are installing CAL version 139 or later, this option is set by default.)

   • Server: Enter the CAPS server name.

   • Port: Enter 443.

   • Update: Click the Update button to automatically fill the Server Name and Server IP/URL fields after the application server name is resolved and recognized. You are now required to use an HTTPS secure connection in your Server URL.

6. If you are using Simphony version 2.9 (CAL version 138), skip to Step 8.
7. Beginning with Simphony version 2.9.1 and later, if you are installed on a Simphony Standard or Premium Cloud Service environment, CAL prompts you to enter your Simphony EMC logon credentials. Enter your User name and Password in the CAL Authentication dialog, and then press the Login button.
8. If the Enterprise has multiple properties, select the property from the Property Search and Select dialog, and then press Next.

   If the property does not appear in the list, enter the property name in the Property Name field, and then press Search.

   You do not see a property list if only one property is configured or if there are multiple properties, but only one property is using workstations.

9. In the Select WS Identity dialog, select the Show Service Hosts option, select the appropriate service host from the available workstation list, and then press Save. Make sure the Service Host ID and Workstation ID populate. The workstation automatically restarts several times when installing the CAL package.

   Figure 41-2 Select Workstation Dialog

   
   
   
10. If you are using Simphony version 2.9 or Simphony version 2.9.2, after the CAL process completes:
    1. Browse to [Drive letter]:\MICROS\Simphony\webserver, and then click AuthenticationServer.
    2. For Simphony version 2.9, enter the following details in the Authentication Server application:

       • Client Service ID: Enter the Service ID for Check and Posting. You can find the Service ID in the Workstations tab of the Property Parameters module.

       • Installer Username: Enter the Install User Security Username configured in the Security tab of the Property Parameters module. Contact your system administrator for assistance.

       • Installer Password: Enter the Install User Security Password configured in the Security tab of the Property Parameters module. Contact your system administrator for assistance.

       Figure 41-3 Authentication Server Application for Simphony 2.9

       
       
       
    3. For Simphony version 2.9.2 and later, enter the following details in the Authentication Server application:

       • Service Host ID: The service host ID. This value is automatically populated.

       • EMC Username: Enter your EMC user name.

       • EMC Password: Enter your EMC password.

       Figure 41-4 Authentication Server Application for Simphony 2.9.2

       
       
       
    4. Click Authenticate.
    5. Restart the workstation.

Scheduling a Reload Check and Posting Database

You can schedule a full reload of the Check and Posting (CAPS) database for a property. Data in the CAPS workstation database will be deleted and replaced with new data when the reload is run, so access to the option needs to be restricted to support users only. (In the Roles module Actions tab, enable the Tasks action only for the support user role.)

The reload can be scheduled to run once during the next restart. This is a safe time to perform a restart without affecting POS operations when the database content is being removed and replaced. The new reload function is an emergency tool used to recover from data issues such as:

• CAPS being offline when database synchronization changes have been purged

• When a reload cannot be run from the front end (such as for CAPS running as a Service on a client)

• When the Enterprise Egateway and CAPS are not on the same LAN or VPN

The Reload Check and Posting Database function is performed once on the next restart of CAPS. This task is not repeated during each startup.

1. Select the property, click Tasks, and then click Tasks.
2. Click the Reload Check and Posting Database button, and then click OK to confirm. The Reload Database dialog shows the status as Pending or Idle, which indicates the status of the reload database task. The default value is Idle (not scheduled).
3. To cancel a pending operation, click the button again and confirm the cancellation.