Assigning keys to users in Homelok

Overview

Salto Homelok supports multiple types of contactless key technologies. In addition to physical keys such as fobs or keycards, you can also assign digital keys to users for them to use on their mobile devices.

Each key, whether physical or digital, securely encodes the same access that is specific to each user and is configured under the corresponding user profile in Homelok.

Supported key types

You can assign the following types of keys to your users:

Assigning keys

Once you've configured the user's access, you can assign keys using the Keys panel.

Use the 'Keys' panel to assign keys to users

App keys

The Salto Homelok app allows users to use their iOS or Android phones as their key, by opening the app and presenting their device to the electronic locks in an installation.

To assign an app key to a user, click Assign beside the App key option in the side panel. Upon clicking the button, the user will receive an email with instructions on how to download the app and activate their app key.

Assign an app key to a user

The user must have a valid email address in order to be assigned an app key. If no email address is set up in the user profile, selecting this option opens a dialog box prompting for an email address when you assign the key.

Note that you can also check the Allow remote operations option to enable the user's app key to trigger remote locking and unlocking. See the section on remote actions for keyholders for full details on allowing a user's app key to trigger remote locking and unlocking.

Keys

You can assign different types of physical keys to your users such as fobs or keycards.

There are two ways in Homelok to assign physical keys:

1. Auto-assign: keys are automatically assigned to users by presenting them to an online lock.
2. Using an encoder device.

These are described in more detail below:

Auto-assign

To auto-assign a physical key, click Assign beside the Key option. In the Auto-assign tab enter the UID or serial number printed on the fob or keycard in the UID field.

Enter the UID or serial number in the 'UID' field

Once you've entered the UID, and pressed Assign again, the key is marked as Pending activation in the user's profile. The key will be automatically activated when it's presented to an online electronic lock for the first time.

Auto-assigned keys are marked as 'Pending activation' until they are presented at an online lock for the first time

Make sure you use the correct 14-digit hexadecimal UID when auto-assigning a physical key. If you enter an incorrect 14-digit code, you may see that the key is marked as Pending activation. However, if the code is incorrect, when the user presents their key to an online lock it will not be activated.

In the same way, if you enter a UID that is already being used by another key, an error message displays indicating that the key cannot be assigned.

Note that if you use the auto-assign feature and you have an encoder set up in the installation, you can also activate the key by placing it on the encoder and pressing the Activate button. This option only displays if there's an active encoder in the system.

Encode

The Encoder option allows you to assign a physical key using an encoder device like the Salto NCoder.

Before you can assign keys using an encoder, you must first set up and configure the encoder. The Encode option only displays if you have one or more encoders created in your installation.

You need to connect an encoder device for the 'Encode' option to display

See also the section on creating encoders for more details on how to set up an encoder.

Once your encoder is configured correctly, it will display in the Encoders list.

To assign a key using the encoder do the following:

1. Select the correct encoder
2. Place the user's key on top of the encoder
3. Press Assign

Note that keys assigned using an encoder become Active from that moment onwards. Unlike with the Auto-assign option, the user does not need to present the key at an online lock to activate it.

Once a user's key has been encoded, the UID of that key will display in the activity section in the event detail, as below:

An encoded key displays the UID in the activity section

Passcodes

Passcodes are intended to be used with locks that have keypads, for example the Salto DBolt Touch, where a user inputs a numeric code to gain access.

Passcodes in Homelok are six-digit codes that are randomly generated by the software. You cannot enter a custom code in the Passcode field.

To generate a new passcode, press the Assign button beside the Passcode option. A six-digit code displays in the side panel.

Using the Copy passcode option, you can then share the code with the user via your preferred secure channel (email, WhatsApp, etc.).

Passcodes are only visible once and do not display again once you move away from the user's profile screen.

Note that the number displayed in the Passcode field is only visible once. If you navigate away from the user profile page and come back to it, the number will no longer be shown.

If a user forgets their passcode, or their passcode is compromised, you need to generate a new one using the Assign button. By doing so, the previous passcode that was assigned to the user becomes invalid for that user.

Keypad disabling

For electronic locks equipped with keypads, like the DBolt Touch, the keypad is disabled for a specified amount of time if the user enters an incorrect passcode. In Homelok, by default, keypads are disabled for 90 seconds after 3 incorrect passcode attempts.

Once 90 seconds have passed, the keypad is again disabled with each incorrect attempt until a valid passcode is entered.

When the keypad is disabled, the LED of the lock blinks red and emits a short beep.

Canceling keys

You can cancel any type of key at any time in order to prevent it from being further used to access an installation.

Examples of cases where you should consider canceling a key include:

• A user loses a physical key or a mobile device that holds an app key, or reports either as stolen.

To cancel a key, use the Manage keys panel to disable the key in the user's profile.

Use the 'Cancel key' option to cancel any type of user key.

• Canceling any type of key causes the key to no longer grant access to any electronic locks on the installation.
• When you cancel any type of key, the key is no longer active in the user's profile page.