Overview

Workers are used to speed communication between the mobile devices and NetSuite.  Each worker can connect to NetSuite independently, allowing concurrent work on the warehouse floor.  The OzLINK Mobile Server software manages the workers and their connections to the mobile devices.  The number of workers is limited only by your licenses and the power of your computer.

 

Workers can be assigned to devices dynamically by the OzLINK Mobile Server or they can be assigned manually.  Assigning workers dynamically reduces software management and can speed up work on fast networks.  Assigning workers manually increases management but can increase speed if you notice your devices connecting slowly.

 

If your users sign in with their full NetSuite accounts on the devices then you will have as many workers as you have device licenses.  If you use a user pool to manage NetSuite accounts instead then you will have as many workers as you have NetSuite accounts, with one account assigned to each worker.

 

Dynamic Workers

The server can assign your devices to available workers dynamically.  The server will assign each request from a device to the next available worker.  Dynamic worker assignment is the easiest to manage and can increase efficiency if you are using a user pool and have fewer NetSuite users than devices.  If all workers are currently busy then the server will assign the device request to the first worker that becomes available.  Suggestion:  Use dynamic worker assignment unless you notice excessive slowdowns when the devices connect to the server.

 

Access the worker setting on the device by tapping Settings from the main OzLINK menu.  Leave each device set to worker 0 to use dynamic worker mode.

 

Assigned Workers

Workers are assigned to each device manually when using the assigned worker model.  The device will connect directly to its designated worker instead of having an available worker assigned by the server.  Removing the initial connection to the server can  increase connection speed if you notice your devices connecting slowly.  Assigned workers can also help if you have many devices connecting to a single server.  Each device must have a worker assigned manually, so there is more management overhead while using this mode.

 

Ideally each device will have its own dedicated worker on the server.  If you are using the user pool and have fewer NetSuite users than devices, try to spread the devices evenly over all of the workers.  If a worker is busy when a device tries to connect then it must wait for the current transaction to finish.  The device will not connect to a different available worker automatically.  Typically two or three devices can be assigned to each worker without noticeable wait times, but this will vary based on the way your devices are used.

 

Access the worker setting on the device by tapping Settings from the main OzLINK menu.  To use this mode, set each worker to an appropriate worker number higher than zero, spreading devices over workers as evenly as possible.