Device Summary Report

Workstation/Devices/Device Summary shows all of the controllers in the system along with controller model, amount of RAM, and Flash Version. This information can now be printed from System/Reports/Device Report. When running the Device Report select Device Summary for a printout of the Controllers information instead of the database device programming. WinDSX and WinDSX SQL versions 3.7.118 and 4.8.76 and higher.

Workstation - List Locations by Name

For Large system with numerous Locations, we have added a new sort feature. This new feature allows you to list all of the Locations by Name instead of number in the Workstation program. This makes locating a particular input and output much simpler for the operator by allowing them to view the Locations in alphabetical order. Located under the Customize Menu. Available in WinDSX and WinDSX SQL versions 3.7.116 and 4.8.74 and higher.

Startup Map and Custom Sizes

Starting in WinDSX 3.7.114 and WinDSX SQL 4.8.72 Maps can now be any size your hardware (PC and Monitor) will allow. In the past Maps had to be a particular size. Now the size of each map can be custom defined. There is also the ability to define a Startup Map that is displayed automatically each time the program is started. This Startup Map can be used to monitor the real time state of all inputs and outputs in the system (Alarm points and Locks) and display that status with a live ICON. Other more specific maps can be accessed through the Startup Map.

WinDSX is ready for Windows 7 Professional®

WinDSX and WinDSX SQL are compatible with Windows 7 Professional® 32 and 64 bit Operating Systems. Before implementing Windows 7 make sure that your peripheral devices (cameras, printers) are supported by the new Operating System.

WinDSX and Integrated Biometrics

With WinDSX 3.7.108 and WinDSX SQL 4.8.65 and higher the TRU-650 Integrated Biometrics fingerprint reader can be integrated and used in biometrics only or Card + Biometrics applications. With this seamless integration, system card holders are only entered into the WinDSX software and that data is passed to the Integrated Biometrics Application.

WinDSX SQL and Active Directory Authentication

WinDSX SQL 4.8.65 and higher can now utilize complex logins and passwords facilitated by "Active Directory" in Windows™. Operator Logins can be authenticated by Active Directory instead of WinDSX. When WinDSX SQL receives a login from an operator it sends the login request to Active Directory (AD) for authentication. If AD authenticates the operator they are given access to the system according to the Password Profile assigned to them.

Backup SQL Server

WinDSX SQL 4.8.65 and higher allows for the definition of both a primary and backup SQL Server and database path. If the primary SQL Server fails the software can be shut down and restarted and it will connect to the backup SQL Server and database path. DSX does not automatically reconcile the databases when the primary returns. This feature will facilitate off site backup SQL Servers that cannot use SQL Clustering for redundancy.

New Access Level Manager

With WinDSX versions 3.7.108 and 4.8.65 and higher comes a new Access Level Manager. This new more efficient manager will create fewer access levels when combining levels across multiple locations. This will reduce the amount of memory required to store access levels in the panels. The trade off is that now when an access level is edited (door add or delete) every card that is assigned that access level will receive a new access level assignment. So editing an access level that is assigned to thousands of cards will cause an incremental update and download of thousands of cards which can take some time to complete. All cards will continue to work during the download but no other downloads can take place until it is complete. You will not see an immediate reduction in the number of access levels, unused access levels will not be removed until the system runs through daily ops at midnight on a Saturday. The first time you login after the upgrade there will be an access level upgrade process. This could take a while but will only occur once.

New DSX Dialup Modem

Available April 2009 - You will notice on the front page of the website there are pictures that rotate on display. One of those pictures is the new DSX Dialup Modem. Dialup Modem is still a viable communications method despite most people wanting to use their network for the communications. Not everyone has network connectivity to every location they need to communicate with. Central Stations use dialup communications to communicate with many remote managed sites. One of the more recent applications for dialup is a backup communications path for network connected Locations. This new DSX Modem is small and DC powered. It is easily connected to a DSX-LAN(M) module for redundancy. The unit has both an RS-232 and RS-485 communications port for connecting it to any DSX controller without the use of a MCI module or adapter. There is a DB9 connector for easy connection to a serial port. This modem comes with everything needed for any DSX dialup application. Beyond a doubt this is the best Modem ever sold for Access Control.

Alarm Email / Text Message Notification

Alarms can now be emailed using an SMTP Server. Location, Device, and Inputs can be individually selected to send notification to Email Groups on Alarm. Email Groups can be one or multiple people each with a Time Zone that determines when the alarm can be emailed to that person. Email Groups are built from Card Holders that have an Email address in a designated UDF field. Available in WinDSX Versions 3.7.36 and 4.8.8 and higher.

Alarms can also be sent to Cell Phones as Text Messages. Using the Alarm Email Notification feature, an email can be sent to a Cell Phone as a Text Message using the cell phone provider's SMS Gateway. Most Cell Phone providers have a SMS Gateway that will turn an Email into a Text Message and send it to the subscriber's phone.