Connecting your key encoders to Mews Operations is a great way to cut down on check-in time and simplify processes. After you set up the VDA integration, you can cut keys directly in Mews Operations without ever needing to use the VDA application.

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:

• System requirements
• How to set up the VDA integration
  • Step 1: Install and create the VDA integration
    • Locate the IP address and interface port
  • Step 2: Set up the VDA key cutters
  • Step 3: Map VDA key cutters in Mews Operations
  • Step 4: Activate your key cutters
• Troubleshooting

System requirements

• To use the VDA integration you need to install the VDA application and Mews Connector on the same computer at your property. 
• You can see our help article for instructions on how to install the Mews Connector application here.

How to set up the VDA integration

Step 1: Install and create the VDA integration

Before you can set up the VDA integration, you need to install the VDA application on a computer at your property. To create the integration you need to first,

Locate the IP address and interface port

1. On the computer where you installed the VDA application, open your Local Disk (C:) folder. Note: If you're having trouble finding this folder, learn more about your computer's local disk/hard drive.
2. In the local disk, go to Program Files > master.
3. Open the file named serial.def with Notepad. Make note of the IP address and interface port, located at the top of the file.

1. Open Mews Operations.
2. Go to the main menu  > Marketplace.
3. In the Facility management category, under Key cutter integration click Explore.
4. Then click Connect integration.
5. In the Name field, enter “VDA.”
6. In the API URL field, enter the IP address 127.0.0.1 and the Interface Port found in the VDA application in the following format: http://IP address:Interface port. For example, if your port number is 5003, enter http://127.0.0.1:5003 in this field.
7. Leave the Username and Password fields empty.
8. Click Create.
9. Click OK.

Step 2: Set up the VDA key cutters

After you create the VDA integration in Mews Operations, you can set up your key cutters.

1. In the VDA integration settings, click Key cutters.
2. Click the + button.
3. In the Name field, enter a name for the key cutter based on where it is located or a name your staff can easily understand.
4. In the Identifier field, enter a number to determine the position of the key cutter on a list of all key cutters connected at your property. For example, if you want the device to appear first on the list, enter 1 in the Identifier field.
5. In the Data JSON field, enter the following: { "Type": "FiasProtocol" }.

• In a hostel environment, where you need to create duplicate keys for guests arriving at different times, enter { "Type": "FiasProtocol", "DuplicateKeyAllowed": "True" }.

6. Click Create.

Repeat steps 1- 6 for every VDA key cutter that you use at your property.
 

Step 3: Map VDA key cutters in Mews Operations

If your space numbers in Mews Operations and the VDA application do not match exactly, for example, "004" and "4" is not an exact match, you must create key cutter mappings for all of your spaces.

1. In the VDA integration settings, click Key cutter mappings.
2. Click the + button.
3. Under Room, select a space number from the drop-down list.
4. In the Lock identifier field, enter the corresponding space number as listed in the VDA application.
5. Click Create.

Step 4: Activate your key cutters

1. Go to the main menu  > Marketplace > My subscriptions.
2. Locate the key cutter integration and click on Edit to go to the settings page. 
3. Select the Enabled checkbox.
4. Click Save.

Troubleshooting  

If your encoder isn't creating keys,

• check the Device Commands Queue to find out the reason.
• copy the link in the Notes or search by the response message.