This integration was added in SaaS v1.9.1 and RX On-Premise v5.6, check out the full release notes for this version here
Prerequisites
Wrapper Service
In order to connect ResourceXpress to your NFS Rendezvous environment, you will need to ensure the QED Wrapper Service is installed and running on your Rendezvous server.
To check if the service is running please navigate to;
http(s)://<rendezvous_server>/QEDWrapper/QEDWrapperService.svc
replacing <rendezvous_server> with the IP or FQDN of your Rendezvous application server.
The format of the URL may differ depending on how Rendezvous was initially installed and configured. Please contact your NFS account manager for further information on setting up the service.
A successful QED Wrapper Service will display the following in a web browser
Service Account
A service account should be created for web service authentication. The account should be configured similar to the below, make a note of the email address, username and password for a later step.
Once configured, in Rendezvous navigate to Administration - User Security - User and ensure the newly created account has Access to WebApp enabled.
Check Out & Auto Cancel Features
Function Time
To enable users to Check Out of Rendezvous bookings via ResourceXpress and to allow the Auto Cancel feature to operate the below settings in Rendezvous should be configured.
Administration - Settings - Business Rule Settings - Booking - Function Time
Ensure the option Set Function End Time to Current Time is set to Yes
Default Host to Booker
Administration - User Security - User Groups - Operations and Facilities Management
Ensure the Default Host to Booker/Logged-in User option is ticked
Configuring ResourceXpress
System Settings
Login to ResourceXpress with an Admin account then navigate to Administration Settings - System Settings - Resource Server
Configure the relevant settings using the below as a guide
ResourceXpress Setting | Required Info | Example |
---|---|---|
Server Host Name | URL for the Rendezvous QED Wrapper Service | https://<Rendezvous_IP_or_FQDN>/QEDWrapper/QEDWrapperService.svc |
Server Port | The port the Rendezvous server will accept web traffic requests | 80 or 443 |
Resource Login User ID | The username of the Rendezvous Service Account | rxuser |
Resource Login Password | The password for the above service account | password |
Resource Login Domain | The domain for the above service account | the User ID and Domain will be sent as a UPN i.e. rxuser@domain.com. This UPN must match the email address value of the service account. |
Creating Resource Profiles
Obtaining the Rendezvous Resource UID’s
Each profile in ResourceXpress requires the UID of the corresponding Rendezvous resource. To obtain the UID’s from Rendezvous navigate to Administration - Resource Management - Resource
Click the resource you are adding to ResourceXpress, the UID will now be visible in the URL bar after Id=
Adding a ResourceXpress Profile
In ResourceXpress navigate to Administration Settings - Resource List and click create to add a new profile
In the Resource Name field copy in the corresponding Rendezvous UID from the above step.
In the Resource Name - Display field enter the name of the resource as it will appear to end-users
Configure other optional and mandatory fields on this tab and click Save
In the Connection Properties tab ensure NFS is selected under the Booking System field and click Save
The Resource Email field is not required for Rendezvous resources
Testing the Integration
Once you have created a resource profile you can then test the integration is successful
In ResourceXpress under the Resource List section, click a Display Name to bring up a browser preview for that profile.
Test 1
Create a booking in Rendezvous for that resource and ensure the booking appears in the resource preview screen
Test 2
Create a booking using the browser preview and the Book button. Ensure this booking appears in the Rendezvous Diary against the corresponding resource
You have now configured ResourceXpress with an NFS Rendezvous Workspace integration.
User Authentication
There are three methods of user authentication available in ResourceXpress when integrating with Rendezvous Workspace.
LDAP(S)
Using LDAP or LDAPS, ResourceXpress performs a live lookup of Active Directory users using attributes for Access Code or RFID. This method is primarily designed for Room Screen only systems. This guide covers LDAP configuration in more details.
It is important to note that when using LDAP, the booking organiser must exist in Rendezvous and have the same email address value in both AD and Rendezvous.
ResourceXpress Local Users & SSO
ResourceXpress also has a local database of users which can be populated manually, via a CSV upload or via Single Sign-On. Local users are more suitable for Mobile/Web App deployments using our QKiosk and Maps features.
If you choose to use local users, regardless of how they are populated, it is important to ensure that the users' Email ID in ResourceXpress is matched to a valid user account email address in Rendezvous.
Please see the below guides for further information on local users and SSO configuration.
ResourceXpress User Management
Rendezvous User Account Attributes
If you select the option Use Resource Profile Settings under the User Authentication tab, ResourceXpress will authenticate users in your Rendezvous user directory. This option requires users to enter an Access Code to create a booking in ResourceXpress. The Rendezvous attribute used for the Access Code is the user's Rendezvous username.