6 | KDSLink & Backoffice Setup

KDSLink is required to make the connection between SmartPOS and the KDS Server in order to receive the orders from SmartPOS.

KDSLink is required to make the connection between SmartPOS and the KDS Server in order to receive the orders from SmartPOS.

This article covers a step-by-step guide for KDSLink and Backoffice setup

Prerequisites 

• Minimum of Bepoz v4.7.2.7 + is required
• To access KDS Link settings, the applicable Operator Privileges   will need to be enabled 
• Operator Maintenance 'General' Tab
  
• System Setup: "Access Venue, Stores & Tills" Flag 
• System Setup: "Maintain Venue, Stores & Tills" Flag

KDS Link Setup

• Navigate to C:\Bepoz\Programs and run ‘kdslink.exe’

• Once KDSLink is launched, click on ‘System’ tab and select settings 
• Provide the below details - (default ports have been included in the screenshot below)
• Server Type: Select ‘SmartKDS’ as server type from the dropdown
• IP Address: Enter the IP address of the KDS Server - it's important that this is a static IP address to avoid any connectivity issues or the user can set 127.0.0.1
• Port No: Enter the port number of the KDS Server
• Till Connection TCP Port: Enter the port number for the Till connection - N.B - Port 11010 should be used
• Timer to Retry: Retry the transaction after a given time of 10 seconds
• Retry Times: The number of times the system always retries to connect to the KDS Server
• KDS API Port No: Enter the port number for KDS API
• Click 'OK' to exit from settings window

NB: When the KDSLink is run, the kds.api.exe runs automatically in the background and closes automatically when the KDSLink is closed.

Backoffice Setup

• Now that KDS Link has been configured for SmartKDS, the user must configure Bepoz Backoffice to communicate with KDS Link
• Navigate to System Settings > Venue, Stores & Tills > Edit Venue Settings 
• Select the External Links tab
• KDSLink - Kitchen Display needs to be configured with the relevant IP & Port numbers that were configured in KDS Link above
• Provide the below details - (default ports have been included in the screenshot below)
• KDS Name: Enter a relevant name 
• IP Address: Enter the IP address of the machine where KDS Link is running - it's important that this is a static IP address to avoid any connectivity issues
• Port No: Enter the port number of the KDS Link - N.B - Port 11010 should be used
• Timeout Seconds: Retry the connection after a given time
  
• Fallback Format: The format of receipt that will print if KDS Link fails to connect - this is a redundancy measure
• Smart Controller must be restarted for changes to take affect

Workstation Setup

• Now that KDS Link & Backoffice have been configured , the user must configure each workstation that will be using KDS Link
• Navigate to System Settings > Venue, Stores & Tills 
• Select the Workstation to setup
• Select Flags / Other in the workstation maintenance screen
• Enable Use KDS Link
• Smart Controller & SmartPOS must be restarted for the changes to take affect

Quicklinks & Additional Resources

• SmartKDS Installation
  
• KDSLink Setup
  
• SmartKDS Server Configuration
• SmartKDS Workstation Settings
• SmartKDS Printer Setup
• SmartKDS Usage
• SmartKDS Workstation
• KDS Metrics Report