Deployment and Connection Methods – A Network
Administrator’s Guide to Delivering a Friction-less User
Experience with KLIK.
Wireless screen sharing should be easy and intuitive. As a system administrator you’ll need to consider how to best serve the needs of users while providing a friction-less user experience. When planning for the installation of the KLIK wireless presentation system, we recommend that you consider Deployment and Connection methods to find the right balance between ease of use, security and integration for your users.
There are 3 different ways to deploy the KLIK and another 3 ways that clients can in turn connect to it before starting a streaming session. The right combination of these two factors determines how well the system serves the needs of the users and in turn, the user experience.
KLIK Deployment Methods
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Direct connection over Wi-Fi. This is where users connect to the KLIK Boks as if it were a regular Wi-Fi hotspot. When KLIK is deployed using this method, there is no connection to the network. By default, KLIK radiates an SSID which users would connect to, without a password.
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Network connection using Wi-Fi. In this case, the KLIK Boks joins the network by making a network connection over Wi-Fi, using a “pairing” procedure initiated either from another device or through the handheld remote control. Users connect to KLIK through the network.
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Network connection using Ethernet. KLIK is connected to the network through a network cable that plugs into a physical Ethernet port. By default, KLIK negotiates an IP address using the DHCP server. Users connect to KLIK through the network.
Wi-Fi Direct Method
In the case of the Direct connection over Wi-Fi method, users must disconnect from the building Wi-Fi to connect with KLIK. This is, in most cases, impractical because they then lose the connection to the network and consequently the Internet. So, despite the fact that we refer to KLIK as a “Wireless Presentation Connector”, the direct connection method is only for setup and some very limited use cases.
Wireless Network Method
When KLIK is connected to a network using Wi-Fi, it is made available to all users who are also connected to that network. Users simply connect to the network as usual, whether over Wi-Fi or a wired, Ethernet connection. While making a wireless connection to the network is convenient, it also subjects the system to a degree of instability, as wireless connections can and do suffer from external interference.
Wired Network Method
The wired connection method over Ethernet is the most reliable means by which to make the KLIK available to users on that network. Network administrators can assign a fixed IP address and determine who has access to the device using their existing group and security policies.
General Network Considerations
Regardless of how the KLIK is connected to a network, it is important to keep a couple of points in mind. First, KLIK is not a network access point, switch, router or gateway; it is merely a destination point. The same network rules that apply to printers also apply to KLIK. Users must be able to “see” the KLIK using network discovery and they must have an open path to reach the device, such as a subnet or VLAN.
User Connection Methods
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Open Access – In this connection method, users stream to KLIK using the native streaming utility already on their device. By this we mean the Miracast function built into Windows and Android or the AirPlay feature found in Mac and iOS devices.
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Password Access – This method requires the user to install then KLIK application, which is available for all platforms including Win/Mac/iOS/Android/Chrome OS. One of the features of the KLIK app is that it requires users to enter a password when making a connection to KLIK, thereby adding a layer of connection management, preventing unauthorized connections.
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Moderated Access – This method requires the KLIK app, but puts control over client connections in the hands of a moderator. Only the moderator can initiate a streaming session, thereby providing the highest level of connection management and hence security over who can start a streaming session.
Open Access Considerations
The Open Access connection method is preferred in two use cases; in smaller
organizations with few KLIK devices deployed and/or where most users are infrequent users of KLIK and unlikely to have the KLIK app installed on their device. While this connection method can be used with KLIK deployed in any of the three methods outlined above, it is important to note that there are differences in operation among device types.
Since Windows and Android employ the Miracast standard, users of those devices will make a direct, peer-to-peer connection with KLIK in Open Access mode. Critically, this means that those devices may remain connected to the Wi-Fi access point while simultaneously making a second Wi-Fi connection directly with KLIK. That’s a very convenient way for those users to connect as they don’t need to install an app; and it’s a convenient way to deploy KLIK because it does not need to be connected to the network.
Such is not the case for users of devices that support AirPlay. Unlike Miracast, AirPlay requires user devices to be connected to the same network as KLIK. In the case where KLIK is not connected to a network, the user must make a direct Wi-Fi connection to KLIK, losing access to the building Wi-Fi. At the same time, network discovery must be enabled, as AirPlay uses the Bonjour discovery protocol to enable connections.
Password Access Considerations
In the Password Access method, users must install the KLIK app on their device in order to communicate with KLIK. Miracast and AirPlay support can be switched off, preventing anyone from making a connection to KLIK and disrupting authorized users. A user simply matches the room name and password displayed on the KLIK standby screen after opening the app, then press Play to start streaming
The Password Access connection method requires KLIK to be connected to a network and users to connect to the same network. KLIK uses a proprietary discovery method to facilitate finding and connecting to KLIK devices across a network by name. It does require that network discovery be supported on the network.
Managed Access Considerations
In the case of Managed Access (aka Conference Mode), users must install the KLIK app and use it to establish a connection to KLIK. Once connected, the user’s device name will be displayed on the KLIK standby screen and, optionally, on the moderator’s PC screen. The moderator can then initiate a streaming session for any connected client by selecting their device name from the list; either from the PC application, handheld remote (PLUS and PRO models) or a touch-enabled display screen.
As with the Password Access method, Managed Access requires that the KLIK be integrated with the network and that discovery be permitted. Since the moderator has complete control over access to the screen, the Password requirement can be switched off, making it easier for users to connect by room name alone.
Summary
Regardless of which Deployment and Connection methods you select, users will need to be informed of the details. The best way to do that is by using one of our custom wallpapers for the KLIK standby screen, with explicit instructions, tailored to your specific configuration.
