User Manual RetailPlayer
Introduction
The aim of this document is to guide the user through the functionalities of the RetailPlayer. The document describes the elements of the RetailPlayer solution in detail, explaining the characteristics and functionalities of every single button, led, web page etc. thus elevating the user’s knowledge of the product.
What is RetailPlayer?
RetailPlayer from Barix is a multi-site, multi-channel streaming platform for background music distribution and message scheduling playback. RetailPlayer is a cloud-managed solution, the best choice when there are multiple devices installed in different geographical locations, configured, controlled and supervised from a centralized web app.
The solution encompasses 2 key elements:
The RetailPlayer Devices - compact and robust audio decoders, easy to install, connected to the network, and to the amplification system through standardized connections
The RetailPlayer Portal - Cloud-based management solution where an organization can register their RetailPlayer devices and control them at once with an easy-to-use interface
The RetailPlayer devices, out of the box, estrablish a secure connection with the RetailPlayer Portal (over web secure socket) and retrieve their configuration from it (streaming channels, volume, scheduling information and much more).
Applications
RetailPlayer is suitable for:
Distributing background music (e.g. in retail stores, restaurants, gyms, hotels, etc.)
Radio distribution systems with central management
Corporate audio streaming solutions
Music on Hold systems
Sonic Branding organizations looking to offer a professional play-out music solution
About this manual
This manual is intended for distributors, installers and users of the RetailPlayer solution. It explains the functions of the RetailPlayer device, how to set up the connections, how to access the Portal and use all of its functions and features. This manual is easy to read by anyone with some basic knowledge of networking.
This manual assumes that the firmware installed on the RetailPlayer device (S400 or SP400) and the portal versions are the latest releases. (check out the release notes for information on the release history and change log)
Barix always recommends to run the latest firmware available as it contains important new features, security fixes, updated libraries and components.
RetailPlayer offers the possibility to update its firmware locally from its web interface or remotely from the Portal (more details in the Update Page section)
Additional documents and support
The following additional documents are available for the RetailPlayer Solution:
RetailPlayer - Quick Install Guide: In this document are explained the fundamental steps required to have RetailPlayer quickly up and running on an S400 decoder
RetailPlayer Knowledge Base articles
RetailPlayer product sheets: These documents are available for download on the Barix website for all users in the download area www.barix.com/downloads
Beside checking regularly the Barix website and the Barix help, the user has access to support in several ways:
Check with your local distributor for the technical support they offer. A list of distributors is also available on the Barix website at this link
Email directly a Barix support technician at support@barix.com
RetailPlayer Devices
RetailPlayer runs on the following Barix Products, from this point onward referred to as “RetailPlayer Devices”:
Product | PN | Description |
|---|---|---|
RetailPlayer S400 | 2017.9221 EU Package 2017.9222 US Package 2017.9223 UK Package 2017.9224 No PSU Package | Compact audio decoder with 3.5mm stereo line output, requires external power supply. |
RetailPlayer SP400 | 2019.9284 | Compact audio decoder with 3.5mm stereo line output. PoE powered (IEEE 802.3 af) |
RetailPlayer M400 | 2020.9318 EU Package 2020.9319 US Package 2020.9320 UK Package 2020.9321 No PSU Package | Audio decoder with stereo line output on RCA , requires external power supply. |
RetailPlayer TPA400 | 2020.9314P | Audio decoder with amplified output to drive 4-8 ohms loudspeaker, max power output 6W. PoE powered (IEEE 802.3af) |
First connection
RetailPlayer devices offer the possibility to connect to the network via Ethernet wired interface. The RetailPlayer is configured to be a DHCP client by default, requiring connection to a DHCP server to acquire an IP Address.
For more details on network requirements click here
After boot the device will immediately attempt to connect with the RetailPlayer Portal, which is the cloud Portal from where to manage all the devices part of an Organization:
Portal URL: https://manage.barix.com
Request an account sending an email at support@barix.com including the following information:
Organization Name
Organization Address
Organization website
Admin full name
Admin email address
RetailPlayer device MAC Address
Your account will be verified and opened in maximum 2 working days.
Sonic IP® function
Connecting the RetailPlayer devices to the amplification system and to the network is a matter of seconds. RetailPlayer devices come with a function made by Barix called “Sonic IP®”, meaning that when you boot the device and this is connected to a network where a DHCP server is present, the device will acquire an IP address and announce it over the audio output. This function is useful when you connect to the device for the first time and need to access its web interface.
If the RetailPlayer devices are controlled via the Portal, you can skip this chapter and go directly to the RetailPlayer Portal chapter. When the device is powered for the first time it is set to contact the Portal, where, after having registered the device, it is possible to visualize the IP address of the same. For a thorough understanding it is in any case suggested to read the following chapters about the RetailPlayer devices.
Below is an example on how to hook up a RetailPlayer S400 to an amplification system.
IMPORTANT: Before connecting to the amplification system, make sure the volume of your system is lowered at minimum or completely switched off to avoid potential damage to the system.
Connect the audio connector to the line out of the RetailPlayer device
On the opposite side of the cable, the 2 connectors carry the left and right signals of the stereo stream. Connect those to the input of the amplification system/mixer/DSP unit.
If you need to hear the IP address during boot (Sonic IP® function), rise the volume of the amplification system
Connect the network cable
Connect the power. The device will boot. Listen to the Sonic IP® announced and take note
The LED on the front panel will turn green and will blink if the device is not yet registered with the RetailPlayer Portal or will be solid if it is registered and able to reach the RetailPlayer Portal
The web interface
With the IP address of the device is possible to connect to the web configuration interface.
Open a web browser and type the IP address in the URL field.
In the following paragraphs, the settings and the different sections of the local web interface are described.
To access the web interface of the device the "Webconfig" flag on the Portal must be checked. This option can be found in Devices → Basic Settings → Device Webconfig. See image below. More details are provided in the RetailPlayer Portal chapter of this manual.
The Settings Page
As soon as the web interface is accessed it visualizes the SETTINGS page.
The window is organized in:
The top navigation bar (settings, status, logs, defaults, update, reboot. In addition on the top right corner there are the MAC address and current firmware installed on the device)
The operational area. Where the user input values and set parameters
The side help section, which offers a brief overview on the parameters and values helping the user without the need to leave the page. TIP: Each parameter has a default value, those values are also reported in the help section.
Application Settings
This section is used to configure the main operational mode of the device, either if in Portal or stand-alone.
Priority URL | The Priority URL will play over anything that is currently being played. By default is empty. It is useful to interface the RetailPlayer with any Paging device capable of sending audio over RTP overriding the background music played. The device supports RTP multicast, unicast or broadcast addresses. When using any RTP static payloads the URL schema is a standard one and looks like this: rtp://<IP_ADDRESS>:<Port> (example: rtp://239.0.1.39:5004) For non-standard payloads use the following URL schema: rtp://<IP_ADDRESS>:<Port>?format=[format]&channels=[channels]&rate=[rate] where any one of the following values can be assigned to the fields above:
Example, if RTP PCM 48kHz stereo must be played use the following - rtp://239.0.1.39:5004?format=mulaw&channels=2&rate=48000 When the manual format setting is used it overrides the automatic format detection. |
Portal URL | It is the Portal URL to which the device connects. By default the devices are configured to connect with the Barix Portal. The connection with the Portal is established over HTTPS upgraded to Web Secure Sockets. Change this field only if you have your own Portal on premise, otherwise never modify this value. |
RTP Forwarding | Enables the possibility to re-broadcast the main audio output of the RetailPlayer device to a destination address over RTP When enabled it is possible to configure the Forwarding destination address (must be any RTP multicast or unicast, i.e. rtp://239.0.1.39:5004) When enabled it is also possible to select the audio format to be adopted among:
This functionality allows the RetailPlayer to be used as a main audio source for a full IP based installation based on IP Formers |
Playback Priorities
This chapter is about clarifying what are the various sources that the RetailPlayer can handle. One of the strongest points of RetailPlayer are the variety of fallback mechanisms it comes with, made to ensure a constant playout under all circumstances.
The playback sources are grouped into 3 different categories: PRIORITY, FOREGROUND and BACKGROUND
Priority | Category | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1- Highest | Priority | Priority URL | When audio is received at the priority URL whatever is playing is immediately overridden |
2- High | Foreground | Scheduled Assets and Cues | Any scheduled clip (asset) or manually triggered cue always plays over background material. (I.e ads, messages etc.) |
3- Medium | Background | Main Stream / Store & Play / USB Tracks | In normal condition this is what plays. Either the main stream / a store & play channel / USB Tracks (must be enabled from the Portal) |
2- Low | Background | Fallback Stream | Only when the device is set to play a STREAM, in the channel configuration is possible to setup a fallback streaming server that will play only in absence of the main stream (not applicable to Store & Play) |
1- Lowest | Background | Failover Tracks | Only when the device is set to play a STREAM, in the Channel List configuration it is possible to upload Failover Tracks, which are locally stored music tracks that play only in absence of the main / fallback stream (or due to a network disruption at the player location). |
Network Settings - Ethernet
In this area, it is possible to configure the RetailPlayer device’s network settings. Dynamic or static address assignment methods can be configured for the Ethernet interface.
The RetailPlayer supports the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which allows the device to acquire an IP address available from a pool of addresses hosted by a DHCP server. It is the server that offers an IP address to the device when discovered on the network. The IP address offered by a DHCP server comes with a lease time, meaning that when the leased time is over the DHCP server re-issues the IP addresses to the devices on the network, with the possibility that it might assign a different address than the one assigned previously. In addition, the DHCP server provides all associated information to the requesting device, such as subnet, gateway, and DNS addresses.
While DHCP is a convenient way of assigning IP addresses, there are situations where it is necessary to assign static addresses at devices on a network, that must be the same over time, that is why it is also possible to set a static IP on the RetailPlayer device.
IMPORTANT
While it is possible to use DHCP or Static IP methods for assigning an IP address at the Ethernet (wired) interface of the RetailPlayer it is not possible to do the same with the wireless interface, which supports only the DHCP method. If you run your RetailPlayer using solely Wireless connection (no Ethernet cable plugged), make sure to set the Ethernet method field to DHCP, failing in doing so will result in the impossibility to connect your device to the wireless network.
DHCP Method | Static Method |
|---|---|
DHCP Hostname When DHCP is the chosen protocol it is possible to indicate the Hostname of the DHCP server to be sent in the DHCP request. It's an optional field. | IP Address It is the fixed IP address of the RetailPlayer device. The IP address is the unique identifier of a device on a network, in case of static assignment make sure that no other device on the same network has the same IP address assigned to the RetailPlayer |
Netmask In addition to the IP address, it is mandatory to provide information about the subnet mask. The subnet mask indicates which bits in the IP address are used for the network portion and which bits for the host portion. It is common in Class C LAN to see 255.255.255.0, this configuration indicates that the first 3 octets of the IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.100) are dedicated to the network identification, while the last octet (e.g. 192.168.1.100) is dedicated to the host identification on the network | |
Gateway IP Address The Gateway IP is the address of the device that bridges your Local Area Network with the Internet. Typically is a router where devices on a LAN are connected. For using the RetailPlayer in all its cloud-based features, but also to receive a stream from an internet radio in stand-alone mode, for example, it is essential to provide this address. If you are not sure about the Gateway address in your network contact your network administrator |
Network Settings - Wireless
RetailPlayer devices are equipped with 2x USB ports in the front panel that can be used for a WiFi Dongle to be connected, in this way the device can connect to the network wirelessly. It is necessary to configure the wireless parameters to access the WiFI network.
NOTE: RetailPlayer devices are compatible with the Realtek RTL8188EU chipset. Click here for the full list of compatible vendors and product IDs.
To connect your RetailPlayer to a wireless network:
Insert your WiFi USB dongle in one of the USB ports (no matter which one you choose)
Refresh the web interface from your web browser or if your device was powered off, power it on. You should now see an indication stating "not configured" close to the WIRELESS label
Select the SSID to which you intend to connect to from the drop-down list
Set the Security protocol to WPA
Insert the password for the SSID selected
The method for IP assignment is set to DHCP, in the firmware version 5.3.0, static IP assignment is not available for the WLAN interface. Make sure that also the Ethernet method is set to DHCP or your device will not connect to the wireless network
Click on Submit at the bottom of the page. The device will apply the configured settings and will reboot. After reboot, the WiFi status should be connected, indicated by a green dot next to the WIRELESS label. Visit also the Status page of the web UI and locate the Wireless settings, here you can check the IP address configured on the device, mark it down if you intend to access the device via WiFi
Switch off the RetailPlayer and detach the Ethernet cable, power it back on, wait until boot process is over (if Sonic IP is on it will announce its IP address over the audio output) and verify that the wireless connection is fully working
While it is possible to use DHCP or Static IP methods for assigning an IP address at the Ethernet (wired) interface of the RetailPlayer it is not possible to do the same with the wireless interface, which supports only the DHCP method. If you run your RetailPlayer using solely Wireless connection (no Ethernet cable plugged), make sure to set the Ethernet method field to DHCP, failing in doing so will result in the impossibility to connect your device to the wireless network.
When the device connects correctly to a wireless network it will be indicated in the web UI as follow:
WIRELESS | |
|---|---|
Connection LED | It shows the status of the connection to the wireless network and if a dongle is inserted and configured |
SSID | It is the Service Set Identifier or the name of the wireless network you intend to connect to or if already connected, it's the one that you are currently using |
Security | Select the correct security protocol to be used |
Password | Insert here the password to authenticate within the wireless network* |
Method | Define the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. For the wireless interface of the RetailPlayer, only the DHCP method is available. IMPORTANT: If you intend to connect only using the wireless interface make sure to set also the Ethernet method to DHCP |
DHCP hostname | It indicates the hostname to be sent in the DHCP request. It is an optional field. |
List of devices tested and working with RetailPlayer
Other list of USB dongles using the same chipset can be found here
DNS, SonicIP® Volume
Completing the network configuration of the RetailPlayer device are the below settings:
DNS Auto | Automatic Domain Name System resolution. If set in Auto the DHCP server will provide the address of a DNS server to contact for the IP name resolution process. |
DNS Manual | If DNS is set to Manual the device expects the Primary and Alternative DNS server fields to be filled with the related information. When Ethernet IP method is set to Static, DNS will always be set Manual and it is mandatory to provide the address information |
Primary DNS and Alternative DNS | This address is for the Domain Name Server. It tells the RetailPlayer which DNS server to contact to resolve domain names into IP addresses. I.e the address of an internet radio like http://barix.streamguys.net/Barix_hi has to be translated into an IP address, this is the job of the DNS server. The alternative DNS is a backup resolution in case the primary DNS server is down. The alternative DNS is not a mandatory field. If you are not sure about the DNS Server address to be used, contact your network administrator. |
SonicIP® Volume | Sets the volume of the Sonic IP® announcement. |
Proxy Configuration
Proxy type supported: HTTP
Host | Insert here the Hostname or the IP Address of the Proxy |
Port | The port number used by the proxy to listen for incoming connections |
User name | If the proxy requires authentication, inset here the username to be used, otherwise leave the field empty |
User password | If the proxy requires authentication, inset here the password to be used, otherwise leave the field empty |
Exceptions* | Set here any proxy exception, connections that will bypass the Proxy |
Time Settings
It's important that the RetailPlayer device operates running the correct date and time. This is because the validation of HTTPS certificates used to establish a secure connection with the Portal requires the certificate to be valid for a time window. The devices uses its system time to present the certificate to the Portal, if this time is not within the time window expected the device fails in establishing the connection with the Portal.
The RetailPlayer devices use an NTP daemon to set their system time. The NTP protocol is used on the standard port 123. The time set by NTP is in UTC.
On the web interface, the time settings allow the user to change the default NTP pools used by the device. This is because in some situations, customers might be using their internal NTP servers, or they simply prefer to use others. The fields accept either a domain name (which requires a valid connection to the DNS to be able to associate an IP Address to the DN) or an IP Address.
It is possible to check the system time in the Status page of the device, or from the Portal status page.
NTP is used to set the time only at device boot, when the connection with the Portal is established, the time is set by the Portal, where it is also possible to choose the Time Zone where the device is installed to set the time accordingly.
Security Settings
This area is dedicated to secure the login to the RetailPlayer web interface device and to enable or disable the possibility to run critical operations: reboot, reset to factory defaults and update
Reboot Function | Enable or disable the reboot function of the device from the web UI |
Reset Factory Defaults | Enable or disable the possibility to reset the device to factory default from the web UI |
Update Function | Enable or disable the possibility to update the device from the web UI |
Web UI Password | Set the password to access the web interface of the RetailPlayer device. If a password is already set another field is displayed: OLD PASSWORD, which is required to change the password again By default the device web interface is protected by the password printed on the backside of the device itself. It is also possible to avoid access to the web interface by disabling the webconfig option from the Portal settings, thus disabling the device web browser. default username: admin |
Additional Certificates* | Allows the possibility to upload custom .crt certificates to the device. Useful when the device is used in private enterprise networks where a private CA is in place to validate secure connections between devices. |
SUBMIT
By clicking on the button SUBMIT all the changes made in the SETTINGS page are applied in the configuration.
By clicking on CANCEL all the changes are not applied and the fields return to their previous inserted value.
Status Page
On the top navigation bar click on STATUS to visualize the current status of the RetailPlayer device. The status report offers device information on the hardware and the application status. It’s a quick overview of the RetailPlayer device's current configuration.
The Status Page displays the following information:
Application Status  | |
|---|---|
Portal URL | The current portal URL configured in the settings page |
Active stream | The audio stream that is currently playing. It is a useful indication to verify if it is playing any stream among priority, main, failover or fallback tracks (failover playlist with mp3 files) |
Priority stream | The priority stream URL configured on the settings page. This is the stream with the highest priority, if it is received it will overlap any other stream currently playing |
Main stream | The main stream URL configured on the settings page |
Failover stream | The failover stream URL configured on the settings page |
Current playback volume | The playback volume of the player currently set. If the device is used in Portal mode the volume is set from the Portal, in stand-alone mode, the volume is set from the settings page |
Failover Playlist  | |
|---|---|
Name | This is the name of the playlist.m3u file saved in the device configuration. It is filled automatically when fallback tracks are identified, either from the Portal, when the device is used in Portal mode or from the USB drive, when used in stand-alone mode |
Content | The actual fallback tracks (mp3 files) the device will play in absence of any stream provided. This field is useful to verify if the fallback tracks uploaded from the Portal are actually retrieved from the device NOTE: When the tracks are retrieved from the Portal the name of the file is the unique identifier used in the Portal to match with the corresponding resource |
Device Information  | |
|---|---|
Hardware type | The actual RetailPlayer device (in parenthesis is the Part Number) |
IPAM type | The Barix IPAM codec module installed in the device (in parenthesis the Part Number of this component) |
MAC Address | Media Access Control address - This is the hardware address of the Ethernet interface of the device. It is required when the device is registered on the RetailPlayer Portal. It is found here but also on a sticker applied underneath the device |
Firmware version | The running firmware installed on the device |
Application | The name of the application currently running |
Linux kernel version | The version of the Linux operating system in use |
Bootloader version | The bootloader version currently in use |
Network  | |
Wired Connection | |
|---|---|
Status | Shows if the device is connected via the Ethernet interface to the network |
IP Address | The current IP address of the Ethernet interface |
Netmask | The subnet mask on which the device is operating |
Wireless Connection | |
Status | Shows if the device is connected via the Ethernet interface to the network |
MAC Address | Media Access Control address - This is the hardware address of the wireless interface of the inserted WiFi USB dongle |
SSID | The Service Set Identifier - the name of the wireless network to which the device is currently connected |
Signal Strength | The power expressed in percentage (0% - 100%) of the WiFi radiation Try to position the device where this value is higher than 45% to get better results when using a WiFi connection |
IP Address | The current IP address of the wireless interface |
Netmask | The subnet mask on which the device is operating |
Network | |
Default Gateway | The gateway address currently set |
DNS Servers | The DNS server addresses (primary and secondary) currently in use. Provided either by the DHCP or entered manually in the settings page |
System Status  | |
|---|---|
System time | The device's current local time |
Uptime | How long the device is powered o |
When contacting the Barix support it is useful to take a screenshot of this page and attach it in the communication along with the Logs downloaded from the corresponding page. Do not forget to give a description as much detailed as possible about the steps made that led to the issue.
Logs Page
The Logs page displays the events occurring operation of the RetailPlayer device.
Logs are useful for debugging issues, they give a detailed insight into every process within the RetailPlayer OS.
On the top-right corner, it is possible to click the button “Download all messages” to download all log files.
When contacting the Barix support it is useful to attach along with the communication the Log files downloaded and the status page screenshot. Do not forget to give a description as much detailed as possible about the steps made that led to the issue.
Defaults Page
Reset to factory defaults - Soft reset
The defaults page on the web UI of the RetailPlayer device allows performing a soft-reset. Such operation reverts all settings except the network settings back to factory defaults (it doesn't perform a firmware downgrade, just a reset of the settings for the running application).
The reset to factory defaults can be enabled or disabled from the settings page, under "Security Settings".
When the button is clicked the device starts a 10 seconds countdown, after which it is possible to reload the web interface.
Reset to factory defaults – Hard reset
On the RetailPlayer device, It is also possible to perform a hard reset. A hard reset will revert all settings to factory defaults including the network settings.
To perform a hard reset locate the reset button on the front panel of the RetailPlayer device and keep it pressed for approximately 10 seconds using a sharp-pointed tool while the device is powered. The status led will blink green 3 times, informing that the reset operation is started. After a few seconds, the device will reboot with factory defaults. Reload the page after the operation is completed.
Update Page
The RetailPlayer platform offers the possibility to update the firmware of the device locally from the web interface or remotely via the Portal. More details are provided in this chapter on both functionalities.
Run always the latest firmware available from Barix as it might include bug fixes, improvements or new useful features
The Update page has 3 purposes:
Visualizes the current software loaded on the RetailPlayer device
Enables the remote update of the device
Updates the device directly
in order to update to a firmware version newer than 5.0 from an older firmware it is mandatory to first update to firmware version 5.0 and then update to the 5.X or 6.x firmware. More on the subject here.
Visualize the current version installed
Under “Currently Loaded Version” it is visible the current firmware installed, the root file system version, the web UI release version, the kernel details, and the Bootloader information.
Remote update via the Portal
The RetailPlayer Portal offers the possibility to update the firmware of the RetailPlayer devices remotely. (More details on how to access the Device settings from the Portal are provided in the RetailPlayer Portal chapter)
To update the firmware remotely from the Portal:
Login in the Portal at manage.barix.com
Navigate to the Devices menu and select the device from the list on which you intend to run the Upgrade
In the Overview page of the device, under Basic Settings locate the firmware drop-down menu
Select the desired firmware version
If your current firmware is older than 5.2.0: the update will run at 4 am the next morning
If your current firmware is 5.2.0 or newer: the update can run at 4 am the next morning or it can be forced by power-cycling the RetailPlayer device. At boot, the device will look for the new firmware version and if it sees the value on the Portal changed it will update the firmware accordingly
The Device needs to be powered overnight in order to perform the automatic update at 4 am.
In the Portal is possible to set an automatic FW update by selecting from the drop-down menu a ".x" release (i.e. Firmware 6.x). In this way any release that will be available within the Firmware version 6.x will be installed automatically by the devices, when checking on a daily basis every morning at 4am if there is an update available in the download server.
Update via the web interface
To update the firmware locally from the update page, the first thing to do it to download the latest firmware package from the website www.barix.com/downloads – The firmware of the RetailPlayer is located under the section Products – Decoder. Alternatively, just type “RetailPlayer” in the search bar on the web page. The possibility to download firmware packages is available only for registered users.
The firmware comes as a TAR archive file. To update from the web interface:
In the Update page click on “Please click here to start the update”, the system update page is accessed
Click on “Choose File”, locate and select the corresponding TAR archive
Click on “Upload”
An indication bar will show up indicating the upload process completion. Wait until the process is finished (don't disconnect power supply during this operation)
Once the upload is complete the device will reboot automatically. Reload the page or click the home link to go back to the home page.
Please clear the cache or restart your browser to ensure the web interface of your device is displayed correctly after the update.
Do not disconnect the power supply during the update. The software update can take up to several minutes depending on the size of the firmware.
Rescue Image Process
The application of the RetailPlayer runs on a removable flash memory card that comes in a microSD format. There might be cases where the application cannot be loaded correctly anymore from the flash memory. In this case, it is possible to run a rescue process to restore the original factory firmware on a new microSD. (i.e. if your device was shipped with firmware 5.2.0 and you were using 5.3.0, by doing this process the firmware will be restored to firmware version 5.2.0 and all the settings reset to factory defaults, including network settings)
The procedure:
If your RetailPlayer device is powered, shut it off
Make sure the device is connected to internet. For this process to work the device will attempt a connection to Barix Download server via HTTP (port 80), if successful it will download the rescue image from this server
While the device is off, press the reset button
Keep the button pressed while powering up the device (S400: connect the power cable / SP400: connect the ethernet cable)
Keep the button pressed in for 34 seconds after the device is powered
Release the button, the rescue process starts
The device restarts and the LED will blink orange indicating a FW update/downgrade process is in progress
When the LED will turn green (blinking or steady), reboot the device
Your device now is reset to default to the last Firmware released
Reboot Page
This page is dedicated to the reboot of the RetailPlayer device.
The reboot is the process of power cycling the device (ON → OFF → ON). It’s a complete power cycle.
The reboot can be performed from the web interface or from the reset button located on the front panel of the device.
Reboot from the web interface
Click "Reboot the device" to restart the device. While restarting a screen showing a countdown of 10 seconds appears. At the end of the countdown, the device is rebooted. Wait approximately 20 seconds and then reload the web page or click on the text shown “click here to return to the home page”.
Reboot from the reset button
The reboot of the device from the button is performed by pressing the Reset button located on the front panel of the RetailPlayer device for 3 seconds approximately.
A long press of this button (10 seconds) will reset the device to factory defaults.
The RetailPlayer Portal
The Barix RetailPlayer Portal is the cloud based management platform to control, monitor and troubleshoot RetailPlayer devices remotely. It is offered as a free software as a service platform with the possibility to upgrade to a premium package called “RetailHero” to enable even more functions. More details on RetailHero here.
The Portal is accessible using any web browser at: https://manage.barix.com
Portal Login
When purchasing the RetailPlayer solution, get in touch with Barix Support team (support@barix.com) or with your local distributor to receive your RetailPlayer Portal credentials, required to login. Or fill in this form and submit your request.
In the Login area, enter the credentials.
The first time the Portal is accessed it will ask to change immediately the password used for login.
Insert the new password, confirm by clicking on 
Once logged in the Portal, the Device List is visualized:
The side-bar menu on the left gives access to the following sections of the Portal:
Organization selector: If the organization in use has one or more sub-organizations, they will be listed in this drop down menu selector. Changing between different organizations affects the visualization of the resources of the same: devices, channels, channels lists, audio files schedules and triggers
Devices: the device management section (registration, configuration, control, monitoring of each RetailPlayer device)
Channels: the channels are the stream URLs, this button gives access to the configuration of the channels
Channel list: channel lists are group of channels, this button gives access to the configuration of the channel lists
Audio files: manage audio clips to be scheduled on a weekly scheduler and played by interlacing with the streaming channels or create trigger sets to play the audio files manually from the QR Code web app or from the Portal directly
Organizations: gives an overview of the main organization and the items belonging to it (sub-organizations, users, devices, channel lists)
Users: the user management section (creation, management, privileges assignment)
In the lower section, on the left, it is possible to visualize the name of the logged user. It is possible to assign a user to multiple organizations and give to the same user different permissions to access or not the areas on the Portal. If a user is assigned to more than one Organization. Continue the reading to learn more about how users and organizations are handled.
Devices management
The "Devices" button gives access to the device list. All the registered devices of an organization and its sub-organizations are listed in this list. To list only devices part of a sub organization select the corresponding sub organization from the drop down menu present in the side bar
The device list is organized as follow, from top to bottom:
Quick Filters with counters and search bar | |
 | ONLINE device filter. Click on this button to list only online devices. The number in the icon represents the number of online devices in the list |
 | OFFLINE device filter. Click on this button to list only offline devices. The number in the icon represents the number of offline devices in the list |
 | FALLBACK URL device filter. Click on this button to list only devices that are currently playing the fallback url. The number in the icon represents the number of devices that are in this condition |
 | FAILOVER TRACKS device filter. Click on this button to list only devices that are currently playing the failover tracks. The number in the icon represents the number of devices that are in this condition |
 | Search in the list. Use this text input field to search for devices in the list. Parameters that can be used for the search: Name, MAC, Location, Notes. |
 | Refresh the table. The table is automatically refreshed every 15s but if a quicker refresh is required the user can click on this button. |
Device List | |
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| Delete a device from the Portal. Once removed the RetailPlayer is muted, the audio output is silent. |
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NAME | This column shows the device's name, it is the default sorting used in the table. Clicking on the arrow it is possible to sort them from A..Z or from Z..A |
CHANNEL | The current channel selected, the name visualized is the one assigned to the channel in the channel configuration |
CHANNEL LIST | The current channel list selected, the name visualized is the one assigned to the channel list in the channel list configuration |
ORGANIZATION | The organization the device belongs to |
Device registration
From the device list window, click on the 
This opens a wizard configuration that guides the user toward the first configuration of the device, the steps are as follow:
Enter the MAC Address of the RetailPlayer device that needs to be added
Select the Organization this device belongs to, from this setp onward it is possible to modify the parameters also after the registration is completed
Give a Name to the device and, if needed write a note about it
Select the time zone the device is running in
Complete the registration
Device Settings
After the registration the user goes into the Device Settings, to finalize the configuration of the device just being added, the same section can be used to modify the configuration of an existing device.
BASIC SETTINGS | |
|---|---|
Name | Assign a name of your choice to the device |
MAC | Shows the MAC Address of the device |
Firmware | Select the firmware to run on the device. The latest firmware is automatically added to the menu when available (they are not actually loaded on the device automatically). The update runs automatically at 4 am the next morning. From firmware version 5.2.0 it’s possible to force the update by power cycling the device after having selected the firmware. When the firmware is updated the device reboots, muting the audio for a few seconds. If the desired firmware is not in this list (e.g. a Beta version), make sure to click on the “X” in this field before manually update the firmware on the device, it will appear a text “Please Choose...”. Failing in doing so will result in the device to connect to the Portal reloading the firmware selected in the Portal. |
Time Zone | Set the local time where the device is running. This is very important to have the scheduling functionalities operating in the local time of the device. It is possible to change the time zone of a device anytime also after its registration. |
Device Webconfig | Enable/disable the possibility to access the local web interface of the device, when disabled the device cannot be accessed locally by connecting to its web server |
Use Sonic IP® | Enable/disable the Sonic IP® function of the device |
Play From USB | Activates the playback from any USB stick connected into one of the usb ports of the device. The playback sequence is random and looped, the files must be present in the USB root folder for the device to be able to play them. This playback source has priority over anything else configured in the Portal (including audio files scheduled, main and fallback streams, failover tracks), but not on Priority URL. |
Organization | Assign the device to an organization, this field cannot be empty. |
Channel list | Assigns a channel list to the device. A channel list is a group of channels. Channels of this list can then be changed in real-time while a device is connected to the Portal from the Real-Time Control section or remotely from a smartphone or tablet by scanning a QR code, see following chapters |
Location | This field is called location but it can be used as a custom tag. It is useful to add the location in order to be able to filter devices quickly from the search bar in the device list. Any word in this field can be used to search devices in the device list |
Notes | Another custom tag that can be used to facilitate the search of devices that contain any word stored in this field |
Once the device is registered and configured further controls and possibilities are available.
Device Control
From the device list, by clicking on any device, gives access to the Control section of that specific device, these are the real time controls that can be applied from the Portal on any device registered:
In the top of the window there is a snippet close to the name of the device that shows the status of the device, the icons are the same as the ones described in the device list area.
REAL-TIME CONTROLS NOTE: These controls are applied in Real-Time to devices that are ONLINE | |
|---|---|
Channel | These are the channels added in the channel list selected in the settings section. Click on the desired channel to start its playback on the device. The large channel name at the center of the screen shows the current playback channel |
Mute / Unmute | It mutes/unmutes the audio output of the device |
Volume | Sets the Volume of the device audio output |
Play an asset | Click on the Trigger Asset button |
Device Status
The status panel shows the current device status. It is a great remote monitoring tool that can be used to check the current status of the device.
ONLINE | Indicates the Online Status (Online YES / Online NO) and since how long the device is in the indicated status |
SCHEDULE STATUS | Indicates the opening hours playback activity. |
ACTIVE RESOURCE | Indicates which resource is playing among: Priority URL (a stream that can be set locally on the Player to play an RTP or HTTP stream, i.e. for paging purposes), Local USB (when "Play from USB" is enabled), Event (audio clips scheduled to play), Main URL, Fallback URL, Failover Track, None (Indicates no resource is playing) |
ACTIVE STREAM | Indicates the currently playing stream or track (for the track is shown the ID of the same, in case of Local USB playing it shows the filename) |
UPTIME / LAST UPTIME | When the device is UPTIME indicates since how long the device is being powered When the device is LAST UPTIME indicates since how long the device was powered before the disconnection from the Portal |
RECONNECTS | Indicates how many times the devices has reconnected the Portal during the last 24 hours |
INSTALLED FIRMWARE | Indicates the installed firmware on the RetailPlayer device |
MAC ADDRESS | Indicates the MAC address of the device |
LOCAL IP (wired) | Indicates the local IP address of the device's ethernet interface |
WiFi STATE | Indicates the current status of the WiFi connection |
WiFi SSID | Indicates the name of the Service Set Identified to which the device is currently connected |
WiFi SIGNAL | Indicates the power of the WiFi received at the device |
WiFi LOCAL IP | Indicates the IP address of the device's wireless interface |
PORTAL URL | Indicates the Portal URL from the device settings |
PRIORITY STREAM | Indicates the priority stream that is configured in the device settings |
MAIN STREAM | Indicates the main stream that is configured in the device settings |
FALLBACK STREAM | Indicates the Fallback Stream that is configured in the device settings |
FAILOVER PLAYLIST | Indicates if a failover playlist file is present on the device. If present the name is playlist.m3u |
PLAYLIST TRACKS | Indicates the number of tracks that the device has downloaded from the Failover tracks configured in the Channel List. IMPORTANT: From FW 6.1 onward, While the device is downloading the tracks it is possible to see this number updating as time passes. While the device is downloading the tracks they cannot be played. |
SYSTEM TIME (UTC) | Indicates the actual device system time in UTC |
BUFFER LEVEL | Indicates the actual streaming buffer level in seconds. This is a good indication that informs how many seconds of audio playout is guaranteed in case the stream that is playing fails. The max size is 60s. |
TIME ZONE | Indicates the time zone retrieved from the device settings tab |
LOCAL TIME | Indicates the actual device local time as configured in the Settings tab of the device |
The actual status update is only possible if the device is connected to the Portal (Status Online YES). If the device is not connected (Status Online NO) the Portal will show the last status reported. Firmware older than 5.1 doesn’t report Status updates
Automation
The automation tab is where the user can find:
The opening hours scheduler - Configured at the DEVICE level, means it has to be configured for every single device
The Weekly channel scheduler - Configured at the DEVICE level, means it has to be configured for every single device
The Asset scheduler - Configured at the ORGANIZATION level, it is possible to assign easily the same scheduler to multiple devices part of the same ORG. In this section the user can only change and visualize (not edit) the schedules created at the ORG level.
The Assets trigger sets - Configured at the ORGANIZATION level, it is possible to assign easily the same Trigger Set to multiple devices part of the same ORG. In this section the user can only change and visualize (not edit) the Trigger Sets created at the ORG level.
Opening Hours Scheduler
This function allows the RetailPlayer device to activate or deactivate the audio player at a specific time on a weekly basis.
How to use the opening hours scheduler:
Select the time zone your device is in
The green areas display when the audio player must be active, playing music, while the gray areas display when the audio player must be inactive
Use the mouse to switch between green and gray, drag 'n drop vertically on each day to switch between green (on) or gray (off)
Use the buttons “all” or “none” to switch the playback on or off
To apply the settings click on
in the top-right corner to confirm
Weekly Streaming Channel Scheduler
This function allows the possibility to trigger the playback of specific streaming channels to play at specific time during the week
How to use the streaming channel scheduler:
Select the channel you want to schedule from the "Picked Channel" drop-down menu (only the channels from the current channel list are available, channel list is selected in the Overview tab in the Basic settings)
Click on the desired day and time of the week when you want to change the playback on the picked channel
It's possible to insert triggers for different channels in slots of 30 minutes, hence allowing the possibility to change channel every 30 minutes
Click on
at the top right corner of the page to apply the settings
Asset Scheduler
The weekly asset scheduler in the device section allows the possibility for store managers to view the schedule activity for the selected device and eventually change the assigned schedule picking it up from the list of Schedules configured for the same organization.
To see how to create an Asset Schedule and assign it to multiple devices visit this chapter
When overlay over the events in the scheduler the user can see the details of the scheduled item. It is possible to zoom in / out with the dedicated controls or using the mouse wheel when the pointer is inside the scheduler.
The button on the lower left corner of the schedule opens the list visualization of the items scheduled.
The scheduler is a weekly one and repeat itself accordingly.
Trigger Sets
The trigger sets in the device section allows the possibility for store managers to view the sets assigned to the device. A Set is a set of buttons associated to an audio file, when the button is pressed, the player fades out the music and plays the triggered audio file (can be an ad, a pre recorded message, an alarm, an offer on a product, an happy brithday song...), when the file is finished the music fades back in.
The playback can be triggered from the automation tab (see screenshot above), from the control section (see screeshot below) or from the smartphone that accessed the control section via QR Code, see the corresponding chapter.
To see how to create a Trigger set and assign it to multiple devices visit this chapter
Remote Control
In this area is possible to generate QR Codes that when scanned from Smart devices open a link to the Portal responsive web application. A use case for example is when the administrator of the organization allows their employees to change basic controls on the players installed in their location.
By clicking on the "+" button a new QR code is created and ready to be used.
The QR Code can have a name, it can be scanned directly on the screen after creation or it can be sent via email to the user that requires access, simply click on the email icon to enter the email details.
It's possible to enable or disable the access from a QR Code link by using the corresponding flag on the left side of the QR Code name
The QR Code reports: the last access timestamp and the number of times it has been used
Once the employee scans the QR Code the following link is opened by the smart-device's web browser:
From the smart-device it is possible to:
See the status of the device with the same snippet used in the Portal
Change in between any channel assigned to the channel list of this device
Mute / Unmute the device
Change the volume with the apposite slider
Trigger the playback of the Assets assigned to the trigger set of the device
Channel Management
Channels are audio streams. They are one of the basic requirements to be configured to hear audio out from the RetailPlayer devices when used in Portal mode.
From the side-bar menu click on "Channels" to enter the channel management section. The channels listed are the ones belonging to the Organization and its sub-organization, in fact, when a channel is created it must be assigned to an organizational unit. In the example below the user "Dave" is part of an organization called "Davides". The channels displayed are only the ones related to "Davides" and its SUB-ORG, clearly visible in the channel table, because the user is currently operating in such org. In the upper-left corner, it is possible to change the organization unit, so all the corresponding resources (devices, channels, and channel lists) are displayed accordingly.
Create a new channel
On the top bar click on
A new channel requires the following fields to be filled:
NAME: the channel name. It will be the one displayed in the device control section or on the remote app for controlling the channel selection
ORG UNIT: To which organization this channel belongs
URL: the main URL from which the audio stream is retrieved
FALLBACK URL: It is a backup stream, this audio stream is played in case the main URL is not reachable or down for any reason
The channel URL fields are to be filled always with a valid syntax among: "http://<YourURL>/path/" or "https://<YourURL>/path/" or "rtp://<YourAddress>:<port>"
Once the settings are defined click on SAVE in the upper right corner.
When configuring channels always remember that RetailPlayer can deal with the following audio algorithms:
MP3 Decoding:
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III), MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II or MPEG-2 Audio Layer II)
AAC+ Decoding
Formats: .m4a and .aac
Profiles: LC (low complexity) and HE-AAC/HE-AACv2 (high efficiency)
Opus
Ogg Vorbis
WAV
Linear PCM 16bit 44.1kHz Big Endian
Channel Lists
In this section is possible to group channels into Channel lists. Click on "Channel List" in the sidebar menu to visualize a list of Channel Lists already created or to create a new one. On this page are listed the Channel lists belonging to the organizational unit and its sub-organizations. When a new Channel List is created it has to be assigned to an Organizational Unit.
the BIN icon allows to delete the corresponding channel list
Add channel lists
Click on the
When creating a new channel list the following information are required:
NAME: Assign a name to the channel list
ORG UNIT: select to which organizational unit the list belongs to
CHANNEL: Click on “+” to add channels (audio streams) to the list, a drop-down menu appears allowing the user to select from the already added channels belonging to the same organizational unit – Click on “X” to cancel a channel from the list
FALLBACK TRACKS: It is possible to add fallback tracks from your PC, those tracks will be played in case the current channel’s main URL and fallback URL is not available or down for any reason. The tracks are downloaded in the RetailPlayer device locally and played in absence of any other configured stream. As soon as one of the other streams is again available the RetailPlayer will switch back immediately to streaming. Fallback tracks must be either one of these formats .mp3 / .wav / .ogg / .aac*
PLAY ONLY TRACKS: This flag has been introduced in Portal release 3.2.1. When flagged (and SAVE), all the RetailPlayer devices that are playing the corresponding Channel List will switch to play Fallback Tracks only. It essentially avoid the devices to parse the streams and play only tracks. This way it is possible to create playlists of music tracks (up to 200). To go back to play streams: un-flag and SAVE.
*: If RetailPlayer devices are running FW older than 6.0 the audio format supported is .mp3
IMPORTANT
It is possible to upload a maximum of 200 fallback tracks. The N° of tracks uploaded in the Portal is visible in the corresponding area
While a device is downloading fallback tracks they cannot play
The time required to download the Fallback Tracks depends largely on the speed of the network connection of the RetailPlayer device, it is possible to check the status of the number of Fallback Tracks downloaded from a device from the Status Report
Each track (audio file) can have a maximum size of 16MB
How to play only tracks
With the new function "PLAY ONLY TRACKS" added in Portal release 3.2.1 it is possible to use the Fallback Tracks as a Music File Playlist. How it works:
Create your channel list, if already created click on EDIT to access its configuration
Upload the required number of fallback tracks, it is possible to upload multiple tracks at once
See the upload status, when all tracks are uploaded click on Confirm, depending on the number of tracks uploaded, allow enough time for the Portal to render the tracks in the list
At this point the Tracks are being downloaded by the RetailPlayer devices, if any is set to play this channel list - Wait for all the tracks to be downloaded on the players. It is possible to monitor the status from the Device tab → Status Report (PLAYLIST TRACKS)
In the Channel List area click on "PLAY ONLY TRACKS" - All the RetailPlayer devices configured to play this channel list will play the tracks. Streams are not available when PLAY ONLY TRACKS is set.
On the Device tab, those players that are set on the corresponding channel list, it is clearly reported that the player is set to play only tracks, either from the Real Time Controls and the Status Report.
Audio Files
In RetailPlayer Portal V3.x onward has been introduced the premium "Audio Files" section. Here the platform allows to upload audio clips (announcements, messages, information, etc.) and schedule their play out by the minute on a weekly scheduler. The playback interlaces eventually with the streaming channel that is playing by the RetailPlayer devices.
Access the Audio Files section to open the Audio Files Manager
Audio Files Manager
The audio files manager window shows all the audio files uploaded for the organization currently browsed. In the below example the ORG is "Davide's Office" and the files listed are part of this ORG.
The big button on the top "upload files here" allows to upload files from the local PC where the Portal is accessed.
Audio Files format supported: .mp3 / .wav / .ogg / .m4a / .opus
By clicking on the pencil symbol in correspondence of each file it is possible to:
Edit the name of the file
Set a dedicated play-out volume (range: 0-200)
Clck on the left-side arrow to open the details of the audio file where it is possible to preview it also. (the playback happens through the browser in the audio output of the PC where the Portal is being accessed)
To delete an audio file uploaded:
Click on the checkbox for the desired file
The upper row turns red and a trash can appears on the right corner, click on the trash can and confirm the operation to delete the file
Info
The maximum size of each individual file has to be < 16MB
Audio Files Scheduler
Only available on devices running FW > 6.x
After uploading the desired audio files, locate the Audio Files Scheduler. Here it is possible to schedule the play out of different files on a weekly scheduler.
It is possible to create multiple schedules for an ORG and recall the schedules on the desired RetailPlayer devices (part o the same ORG) right after.
In the scheduler window, the ASSIGN DEVICES button underneath the scheduler allows the user to "push" the schedule to the devices allowed to play the schedule.
How to schedule audio files
Upload your audio files in the Audio Files Manager
Access the Audio Files Scheduler and click on the "ADD" button to add a new schedule. If a schedule was already created and has to be modified, simply select the desired schedule from the drop down menu
Assign the Scheduler a name
Choose an "Asset" from the drop down menu. The files uploaded in the Audio Files Manager are listed here.
Double-Click anywhere in the weekly schedule area, in correspondence of the day and time when the file has to play. An icon shows the positioning of the file
By clicking on the file is possible to move it around the weekly schedule (hint: if you are using a track pad, click only once when trying to drag and drop the file around the schedule)
When a file is selected, a red cross appears. it is possible to delete the file
To access a minute resolution view, zoom in the schedule all the way using the provided navigation buttons (visible below the scheduler) or using the mouse wheel
Once the schedule is confirmed click on "SAVE" in the top right corner
Click on ASSIGN DEVICES button underneath the scheduler to assign the scheduler just created to multiple devices (devices with FW <6.x cannot be selected. Update the firmware to use this function on those devices)
Click on SAVE
The Schedule is now saved on the selected devices.
The devices will download the audio files scheduled and the trigger points.
IMPORTANT
The devices will play the scheduled files even without internet connection.
The devices will loose this ability if rebooted, as they need NTP connection to set their system time and the Portal connection to set their local timezone.
From within the device tab in the Portal is possible to check which schedule has been assigned to it. Simply navigate to the device and Audio Files from the left side navigation menu:
From this tab, clicking on the button 
From the drop down menu is possible eventually to select another schedule to be assigned to the device where the user is making modifications. It's important that the schedule is always in the same ORG of the device where the schedule must run.
When a scheduled file is playing, the status report changes the "Active Resource" and "Active Stream" to "Event" and the associated unique ID of the event playing, see below:
This is a good way to remotely verify if a schedule is running correctly.
Audio Files Triggers
Only available on devices running FW > 6.1.x
This is another premium function added on RetailPlayer that allows the possibility to create trigger sets made up of max. 10 buttons, that can be used to manually trigger the playback of audio files associated with each button.
The playback can be triggered from the Portal or from the web application accessed via QR Code scanning.
A Trigger set is a group of buttons (max. 10) that can be created by accessing the Audio Files section from the DASHBOARD
How to create a trigger set
Go into the Audio Files section and Audio Files Triggers
Click on ADD or if a set is already created, select it from the drop down menu and click on EDIT
Assign a Name to the SET
Click on
to add a new BUTTON (up to 10 buttons can be added to a set)
Click on "CONFIGURE ME" to open the editing area of the selected button
For each button is possible to: assign a name (this will also be displayed on the UI of the remote control app) and an audio file (uploaded in the Audio Files Manager)
Set the volume of the audio file, preview it and modify the background and foreground colors to match your wishes.
Do the same for all the buttons created
While in EDIT mode is possible to arrange the buttons to match the desired order. Use the arrows to move a button up or down. Use the BIN icon to delete
Click on SAVE
Click on ASSIGN DEVICES to assign the trigger set to the desired devices (only devices part of the same ORG and with a FW > 6.1.x can run the trigger set functions)
Click on SAVE
Once a Trigger set is assigned to a device it is possible to trigger the playback of the audio files associated with the buttons from the Portal. Devices → Select the device → Automation → TRIGGERS
By clicking on each one of the buttons shown in this page is possible to trigger the playback.
The real advantage of this function comes into play when the function is accessed from within the web app accessed via smartphones (QR Code scanning):
When clicking on any of the buttons the associated audio file will play. Particularly useful in situations where the waiter is bringing the cake in the room to the customer in a restaurant. The audio files triggered to play manually have the priority over the streams (main, fallback and failover tracks) but not over the priority URL (if configured) and the USB Tracks (PLAY from USB function active)
Organizations management
This chapter and the following are dedicated to organizations and user management, thus the administration side of the Portal.
RetailPlayer's platform is organized in a way that users are given configurable permissions to control organizations. An organization is a set of resources: devices, channels, and channel lists. Those resources must be assigned to a specific organization when created. A user can be part of multiple organizations, for every user part of an organization is possible to assign different permissions to control the platform, thus creating different roles depending on their duties.
An organization can have sub-organizations and users part of the main organization can have control over all the resources of the sub-organization, but users assigned to a sub-organization cannot have access to resources of its main organization. They don't even see actually if they are part of a sub-organization or not.
Each item is editable and will open its corresponding editing page by clicking on 
By clicking on
To cancel an organization, first, click on 
Users management
Users can be created and managed from the corresponding panel accessible from the sidebar menu clicking on "Users".
The user list table gives an overview of the user’s details:
LOGIN: the username used for login in the Portal
NAME: the user's last name
FIRST NAME: the user’s first name
EMAIL: the user’s email address
Click on any row to edit the information of the corresponding user.
Add new user
Click on
User privileges
When creating or modifying a user note the option "Privileges" in the sidebar menu. Click on it to access the user privileges settings, an area where it is possible to set specific permission for the user selected.
For every user it is possible to determine permissions to access and modify certain functions of the platform or not, in addition, it is possible to assign users to sub-organizations part of the main organization they are in.
ROLES PANEL | |
|---|---|
Admin | Gives Administration privilege to the user. This privilege overrides all the other privileges and gives the user full access. Admin privilege is also needed in order to manage other users. |
Device Control | Gives the user the privilege to see the CONTROL Panel in the device editing section |
Device Schedule | Gives the user the privilege to see the WEEKLY SCHEDULER Panel in the device editing section |
Device Status | Gives the user the privilege to see the DEVICE STATUS panel in the device editing section |
Device Remote Control | Gives the user the privilege to see the REMOTE CONTROL panel in the device editing section and allows the user to add remote controls |
Channel Admin | Gives the user the privilege to see the Channel Menu Item which allows managing channels |
Channel List Admin | Gives the user the privilege to see the Channel List Menu Item which allows managing channel lists |
Audio Files | Gives the user the privilege to see the Audio Files Manage, Scheduler and Triggers section |
ORG UNITS: A newly added user is always assigned to the organization unit of the administrator creating the user. One user can be part of multiple organizations, thus controlling devices, users, channel lists if allowed to do so from the roles panel.
User Settings
By clicking on the gear symbol in the top bar menu the user settings are displayed.
Here is possible to change the current user information: first name, last name (name), and the login password.
Logout
Click on 
RetailPlayer Security Information
To use RetailPlayer in a live environment often leads to security questions which go beyond the streaming of music. To answer questions like, "does this device open any security hole" or "what if this device gets hacked" we have put together an overview of the security features of RetailPlayer.
Encrypted Communication with client certificates
The communication between the Player and the Portal is one of the main features of the RetailPlayer solution, therefore it needs to be secured! The communication over the WebSocket protocol is secured by standardized SSL/TSL encryption, which is "State of the Art" technology for encrypted communication over the internet. To Initialize the connection, every player needs to have a local client certificate installed issued by Barix; this is a process done during the firmware update on the device. This protects the connection from 3rd party attacks making sure your device cannot be hijacked. Loading different certificates is not possible; the connection will be rejected without a valid certificate. Barix is the sole entity that can release certificates.
Unique Password for every device
Every Barix device that was developed after 2019 has a unique, randomly generated, and secure password assigned by the factory. In this way, every device comes with built-in security when shipped.
Latest Linux Based Software
The RetailPlayer devices are running on the latest software provided by Barix. The Linux based OpenSource Operating System provides a secure platform for the RetailPlayer solution. Barix is continuously updating the software on the device at every update of the RetailPlayer firmware.
Barix firmware and Malware
There are no troubles with Malware on a RetailPlayer device! Even though it's theoretically a complete computer system and could run any software, there is no way to download and run malware. Since the firmware is a closed package that only accepts Barix software, SSH or Shell connection is not possible, hence the installation of 3rd party software is not possible. The only application running on the device is the RetailPlayer software, changing this is not possible. To catch any virus or Trojan is also not possible since every access to the system is closed.
Change default passwords and use strong ones for accessing the Portal and to the web interface on a RetailPlayer device. Store them in a safe place.
Compliance and further Information
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Safety and precaution recommendations apply. Find them in the download section at www.barix.com
Find your distributor on this list for more hardware.
For questions that are extending the documentation, feel free to contact us on:
International: +41 434 33 22 22
USA: +1 866 815 0866
Email: support@barix.com
All information and the use of this product including all services are covered under the Barix Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy. Please follow the Safety and Precaution Recommendations. Barix is a ISO 9001:2015 certified company. All rights reserved. All information is subject to change without notice. All mentioned trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used for reference only.