DeviceHub settings for administrators in ShipAccel

There are several settings that allow system administrators to control how DeviceHub is installed and managed on the organization's computers.

• Allowing users to download DeviceHub
• Sharing a DeviceHub
• Controlling the installation of DeviceHub updates
• Setting up a proxy server for DeviceHub
• Setting unused s to expire automatically
• Running DeviceHub as a Windows service

Allowing users to download DeviceHub

System administrators can choose whether to allow users to download DeviceHub. By default, this setting is turned off. When it is turned off, the Download DeviceHub Installer button will be disabled for users and enabled for administrators.

1. Select Settings > Admin Options
2. Select Allow users to install DeviceHub.

Sharing a DeviceHub

Administrators can share a DeviceHub with particular locations, divisions, or the entire enterprise/organization. When a DeviceHub is shared, individual users will not need to activate it. By default, DeviceHubs are shared with the default location of the user who added them.

1. Select Settings > My Devices.
2. Select the edit icon next to the DeviceHub you wish to share.
   
3. Under Access Level, select Enterprise, Division, or Location.
4. If you selected Division or Location, choose the division(s) or location(s) you wish to share the selected DeviceHub with.
5. Select Save.

Controlling the installation of DeviceHub updates

Each time a new DeviceHub version is released, administrators will receive a notification on the day of the release and again on the third day after the release. You can choose to install the update for the users in your enterprise, or to turn off the automatic updates. By default, automatic updates are on. Both Windows MSI files and Mac PKG files are available so that you can manage the deployment and installation as needed.

1. When you see the notification message, select Go To My Devices. If you have already closed the message, you can go to Settings > My Devices.
   
2. Select DeviceHub Updates.
   
3. To download the DeviceHub installer, select Download Installer (.msi) for Windows or Download Installer (.pkg) for Mac.
4. To stop the update from being automatically installed for the users in your enterprise, select Turn off DeviceHub automatic update for all users and select Save. Once selected, this setting will remain on.
   

Setting up a proxy server for DeviceHub

If your organization uses a proxy server, you need to set it up in DeviceHub.

If DeviceHub is unable to access the internet, it will ask if you want to configure a proxy server. If your proxy server changes, you can update the settings in DeviceHub manually.

DeviceHub supports the following authentication methods

• Basic Authentication
• None
• Negotiate Authentication (Kerberos) for Windows only
  

1. If DeviceHub is unable to access the internet, you will see this message. Select Configure Proxy Server.
   
2. If you are not prompted, but need to add or change your proxy server settings, right-click on the DH (DeviceHub) icon in the system tray (small icons near the clock) and select Configure Proxy Server.
   
3. In the HTTP/HTTPS field, enter your proxy server information according to the authentication method you use. Contact your IT department to obtain this information if needed.
   • Basic Authentication: For basic authentication you must include the username and password in the proxy server URL, formatted as either http://{username}:{password}@{domain}:{port} or https://{username}:{password}@{domain}:{port}.
     
   • None: Enter either http://proxy.server.url:portnumber or https://proxy.server.url:portnumber.
     
   • Negotiate Authentication/Kerberos (Windows only):
     1. Enter either http://proxy.server.url:portnumber or https://proxy.server.url:portnumber.
     2. Check the Negotiate Authentication required box. DeviceHub will copy the proxy settings from the operating system if available.
        Note: When the proxy settings are changed, DeviceHub will try to connect to the internet again. If the settings are incorrect, DeviceHub will close.
        
4. Select OK.

Setting unused DeviceHubs to expire automatically

System administrators can choose to automatically expire DeviceHub that have not been used for a specific period. Any DeviceHub that has been offline or inactive for longer than the selected time period will be removed from the system.

1. Go to Settings > My Devices.
2. Select Expire Unused DeviceHub.
3. From the menu that appears, choose the time period after which you want unused DeviceHubs to expire.

Running DeviceHub as a Windows service

There are certain circumstances under which you may want to run DeviceHub as a Windows service.

When to run DeviceHub as a Windows service

You may want to run DeviceHub as a Windows service if:

• You have multiple locations with multiple networked printers and you want to centrally manage DeviceHub.
• You have a virtualized desktop infrastructure where each desktop workstation is recreated every day and the name of computer changes every time a user logs in.

Notes:

• The user that DeviceHub is running as must have all of the printers configured.
• The DeviceHub Windows Service running and the desktop DeviceHub cannot run at the same time.
• A Windows administrator must run the DeviceHub Windows Service.
• DeviceHub will not have any user interface (UI) when running as Windows service.
• When running as a Windows service, DeviceHub will work the same as if locally installed (DeviceHub Agent). The only difference is that it runs as a background service (visible in services.msc) and has no visible UI.

Installing DeviceHub as a Windows service

1. Install DeviceHub using the msi or exe installer. See:
   • • Installing DeviceHub
2. At the end of the installation, do not run DeviceHub . Uncheck the Run DeviceHubbox and click Finish.
   
3. Run Powershell v.6 or higher as an Administrator.
4. Make sure that Powershell is allowed to run scripts.
5. Go to /programdata/pb/devicehub/devicehub_v1/ and run ./install_service.ps1.
6. When prompted for the username and password, enter the user context that DeviceHub will use to know which printers and scales are available.
   • The username must be in the format: {domain}\{username}
   • This will install and start DeviceHub .
   • To uninstall the service, run ./install_service.ps1 -u.
7. Remove DeviceHub as a startup app.

The features and options you see may vary depending upon your role and subscription. If you have any questions regarding your permissions, please contact your administrator.