CrossTalk AppCenter¶

To configure and monitor Kathrein RFID Readers, an application called CrossTalk AppCenter is used. It’s a web-based Java application running under Tomcat and Catalina.

CrossTalk AppCenter can be hosted on the local infrastructure, but if remote access via WireGuard is provided AMTAB can monitor customer readers. In the latter case no license fee for the AppCenter application is required.

This page will not cover how the application can be setup on your servers. Separate documentation and support from AMTAB and Kathrein engineers will be provided according to agreement.

The default installation of CT AppCenter is missing a couple of components that needs to be added before the default AMTAB configuration of the readers can be supported. This guide will also cover how to import the configuration and how to setup monitoring for a reader.

AppCenter Configuration¶

If this is a fresh install of CrossTalk AppCenter, some basic configuration is required before you’ll be able to connect to readers.

Set Server URL¶

1. Go to Administration -> App Center -> Settings.

2. In the first tab “AppCenter” Click “Edit”.

3. Make sure “Server URL” uses the server’s external IP and port, ex http://10.65.33.211:8090/crosstalk-app-center.

4. Click “Save”.

Adding MySQL Connector¶

The default template for the AMTAB provided RFID readers uses the MySQL connector. Request mysql-connector-java-8.0.28.jar from AMTAB Support and upload it into AppCenter:

1. Go to Device Management -> Configuration -> Bundles.

2. Click “Upload” and select mysql-connector-java-8.0.28.jar.

Importing Template¶

The template used to configure the reader is needed to be able to setup monitoring. The template can be requested from AMTAB Support.

1. Go to Device Management -> Templates.

2. In the Template(s) menu, select Import -> Tree.

3. Click “Upload XML” and select the provided file.

4. Click “Preview” then “Import”.

Setting up Monitoring¶

Before a reader can be monitored, an agent must be added. An export of the existing agent can be provided by AMTAB Support.

To import an agent:

1. Go to Device Management and make sure no existing agent is selected in the list on the left side.

2. In the Monitoring menu, select Import.

3. Click “Upload XML” and select the provided file.

4. Click “Preview” then “Import”.

To create a new agent:

1. Go to Device Management and make sure no existing agent is selected in the list on the left side.

2. In the New menu, select Agent.

3. Configure the agent:

   1. Name - A user-friendly name for the reader.

   2. Address - Enter the IP address / Port where the reader is installed. Usually IP of AMTAB System router and port 8002, ex 10.105.20.32/8002. A forward slash should be used between the IP and the port rather than the conventional colon.

   3. Under Connection Settings, make sure “Agent Connection” is set to Server to Agent.

   4. Click “Save” to save settings.

4. Right click the newly created agent and select New -> Process.

5. Configure the process:

   1. Name - A name for the process, should be unique, ex AMTAB Standard customer-1-site1-reader1.

   2. Start type - on System startup.

   3. Process Template - AMTAB Standard (or other option).

   4. Once the template has been picked, configure the properties. Use the default values as a reference.

   5. Click “Save” to save settings.

Once the agent has been created, monitoring can be started under the “Details” tab. Connection will not work until the on-device Reader Agent has been setup as well.

Configure RFID Reader¶

The RFID readers are capable of working stand-alone, but will need to be configured first. An application named CrossTalk Agent is installed and it will receive it’s configuration from the AppCenter.

Prerequisites:

• Kathrein Reader.

• Ethernet Cable.

• Switch with PoE+ or separate PoE+ injector.

• Computer with Kathrein ReaderStart installed.

• app.crosstalk.agent-35xx-45xx_345.tar - Can be requested from AMTAB Support.

Instructions:

1. Connect the Laptop and the Reader on the same network. Readers with default factory setting have the static ip address 192.168.0.1/24.

2. Connect to the reader using Kathrein ReaderStart. Refer to chapter 15 and 16 in the Kathrein RFID UHF Reader User Guide.

3. Go to AM, AppManager. If you can’t see CrossTalk Agent installed and started, continue to next step. Otherwise go to step 7.

4. Click “Install app” and navigate to app.crosstalk.agent-35xx-45xx_345.tar and click “Open”.

5. Install the app and the click “Start app” to start it.

6. Make sure the “Start app at boot time” slider is on (blue).

7. In the top menu, go to Linux Module -> NTP Settings. Use to form to make sure the reader has access to a proper NTP server.

Once CrossTalk agent is installed it should be possible for the CT AppCenter to monitor it and send new configuration. The CrossTalk agent Web GUI should be accessible on port 8888 and SSH on port 22. Default login: