This article describes the steps that you need to follow for setting up the integration, as well as the parts that CISA configures for your property. Before you proceed, contact your CISA representative so they can assist you with the necessary configurations.

Note: You need to specify whether Mews Connector should act as the Client end of the connection or the Server end. To do this:

1. Go to Settings > Property > DeviceHubs.
2. Select the device name.
3. Under Features, select Fias server.
4. Click Save.

In this article you can learn about the:

• System requirements
• Basic setup by the property
  • Step 1: Set up Mews Connector
  • Step 2: Add the Key cutter integration 
  • Step 3: Configure the Key cutter integration
• System setup by CISA
  • Step 1: Property Management System settings
  • Step 2: Match settings between CISA, Mews Connector integration & application
  • Step 3: Key encoder mapping
• Key plan by property
  • Map space numbers in Mews to room numbers in CISA
    • Mapping form in Mews
    • Key plan report in CISA
• Test your key cutter set up

System requirements

To use the CISA integration, you need:

• An Ethernet PMS interface from CISA

Note: If you have only the “backup server”, you cannot create key cards with Mews. Contact your CISA/Allegion representative for upgrade options.
 

• Mews Connector application installed on a computer at your property. This computer should be always on and connected to the internet.
  • If you don't have it already installed at your property, then you can learn about instructions on how to install the Mews Connector.

Important note:

• For the integration to work, your property must use either “eSERVER” or “Aero” solution from CISA. This integration does not support older solutions and door locks.
• When you install an “eSERVER” solution with only a single “backup server” M305 encoder, you cannot create key cards with Mews. You need at least one “CISA M305 client encoder” in addition to the mandatory “Backup Server Encoder”.

Basic setup by the property

There are certain configurations that a CISA representative has to do. But before their work begins, you may set up the following:
 

Step 1: Set up Mews Connector

(!) Do this only if you have NOT installed Mews Connector already at your property.

• Follow the Set up Mews Connector guide. Make sure that the computer on which you install Mews Connector is always logged-in and online.

Step 2: Add the Key cutter integration 

1. Go to the main menu  > Marketplace. 
2. Click on the Facility management category
3. Locate the Key cutter integration.
4. Click Explore.
5. Click Connect integration.
6. On successful connection of the integration, Mews redirects you to the My subscriptions tab.
7. In your list of active integrations, locate the Key cutter integration and click on Edit to go to the settings page.
8. Name the integration "CISA" and click Save.

Step 3: Configure the Key cutter integration

1. In the Key cutter integration and click on Edit to go to the settings page.
2. Click Key cutters.
3. Click +.
4. In the Name field, enter a name that's recognizable by your staff, for example, Reception Left, Reception Right.
5. Leave the Identifier field blank for the moment.
6. In the Data JSON field, enter the following, depending on the type of your property:

• If your property is a hotel: copy and paste

  • { "Type": "FiasProtocol" }

• If your property is a hostel environment, where you need to create duplicate keys for guests arriving at different times, copy and paste

  • { "Type": "FiasProtocol", "DuplicateKeyAllowed": "True" }

System set up by CISA

Step 1: Property Management System settings

Cisa/Allegion sets up the CISA system and trains the customer, i.e. your property on how to use it. You have the information on how to contact CISA for support after the training.

The configuration page of the CISA for PMS must be set as follows:

• The Fias Server IP address should be the IP address displayed on your Mews Connector application.
• The Fias Server IP Port number is also customizable depending on both systems' needs, site by site. The default is 5009, and you can change it if necessary.
• It is important that “Communication type” selection is set to “TCP/IP (FIAS GENERIC) and that the “Fias Customization” field is set to “MWS” for Mews.
• “Refresh Connection Every (min)” field is recommended inside the FIAS Protocol to be kept at 4 minutes. CISA may change it only in case of trouble.
• “Response timeout (sec)” field can be adapted to system's responsiveness case by case.

Note: Only CISA can access this page.

Step 2: Match settings between CISA, Mews Connector integration & application

As CISA requires use of two separate computers, one for CISA and one for the Mews Connector, it is important to fill in the correct IP Addresses and port number on both sides to establish a connection.

Follow all instructions in this article to complete this step: Mews Connector and FIAS lock software on separate computers
 

Step 3: Key encoder mapping

Ask your CISA representative for the Identifier or name of the key encoder device(s). You need this information to update your Key cutter configuration in the Key cutter integration settings > Key cutters > Identifier field. 

When a user selects an encoder to create a key from Mews, this is how Mews identifies to which encoder it should send the key request.

Key plan by property

Map space numbers in Mews to room numbers in CISA

You need to map your space numbers in Mews to the "Name" of the lock in CISA. Refer to the Key plan from CISA to do the mapping.
 

1. Go to your Key cutter integration settings, i.e., CISA settings.
2. Click Key cutter mappings to open the mapping page.
3. Click + in the top right corner to begin mapping spaces:

4. Open the Key plan report from CISA, as you can see in the "Key plan report in CISA" section and map each space you have in Mews to its corresponding lock "Name" in CISA.

Mapping form in Mews

Key plan report in CISA

(!) It is important to note that all names on CISA end are case sensitive. Make sure you use only capital/ uppercase letters. 

Begin at the "LOCKS" section.

• First column: This is what is called “The LOCK ID” in CISA. It is the line number in the keyplan. CISA uses this only internally.
• Second column: The name of the lock.
  • Could be from 1 to 6 characters.
  • Only capital letters and digits.
  • No Space nor special characters are allowed.

• Other columns: not relevant for setting up this integration.

If you are running a large property and have many rooms to map, you can vote for the below feature request and comment your use case to help Mews find ways to streamline this step and save you some manual work hours.

Key cutter mapping feature request

Test your key cutter set up

Once you complete all the steps listed above, Mews recommends you test the connection by creating a key from any reservation you have in Mews.

Feature request: utility doors and mobile keys

Currently, Mews does not support mobile keys or Utility doors with CISA. In case you are interested in this feature, you can vote for the feature request below and add your use case in the comments!

Encode keys to open more than just a room