You can register a Room Navigator directly to Control Hub and manage it as a stand-alone device. Room Navigator as a stand-alone device supports third-party party web apps, room booking, and xAPIs for third-party integrations.

This article covers Webex registered Room Navigators in stand-alone mode. You can find information about customer managed Room Navigators in the API reference guide for Room Navigators.

Persistent web app mode

Running a third-party web application on a Room Navigator lets you integrate your company's custom solution for managing room bookings and communicating workplace guidelines and information.

The app that you select displays on the Room Navigator’s entire screen, replacing the RoomOS user interface, and it can’t be dismissed by end-users.

Room booking mode

The Room Navigator for wall mounting can be configured as a room booking device. It displays the room availability status and users can schedule instant meetings or see the room calendar.

You can also configure options to make room bookings via the Room Scheduler app without the Webex Hybrid Calendar.

Room booking app on a stand-alone device provides the same experience and functionality as a paired Room Navigator except for the sensor data and people count.

Set office hours

We recommend that you set office hours for your Room Navigator when it's in persistent web app mode. Office hours protect the screen from potential burn-out due to overusage. Read more about setting office hours.

Add a stand-alone mode Room Navigator to a room with a DX80, MX Series, or SX Series device

If you set the Room Navigator as a stand-alone device in persistent web app mode, it works the same way as whether it is in a workspace with another device or not.

If you set the Room Navigator as a stand-alone device in room booking mode, it shows the same calendar booking information and reflects the in-use status if the device in the workspace supports it. You must enable room booking on the collaboration device. The Room Navigator doesn't show people count and the temperature inside the room.

Adding a Room Navigator to a workspace with a DX80, MX Series, or SX Series device is not support for devices that are linked with Edge for Devices.
Prerequisites

Before you set up a Room Navigator as a stand-alone device, you may need to upgrade the software on the device. There are two ways that you can do this, either connect the Room Navigator to a device running the correct software or use the xAPI to upgrade.

Standalone mode is supported on:

  • Webex registered: Software version RoomOS March 2023 (11.3) or later

  • Customer managed: Software version RoomOS September 2023 (11.8) or later.

We recommend using the latest available software version.

After you've upgraded the software version, factory reset the Room Navigator.
Upgrade software by connecting to another device

You can upgrade the Room Navigator by connecting it to a Board or Room Series device. When connected, the Room Navigator checks if a software upgrade is necessary. If so, new software is downloaded from the video device and installed on the touch controller. The Room Navigator restarts after the upgrade.

The Board or Room Series device must be running RoomOS March 2023.

Read more about connecting a Room Navigator for the software upgrade.

Upgrade software by using the xAPI

You can SSH to the Room Navigator before it's set up to upgrade the software.

Access the API with SSH. Connect using the IP address or hostname of the device. When the device is new, or has been factory reset, the username is admin, and the password is blank.

Run the following command: 

swupgrade https://binaries.webex.com/collaboration-endpoint-ce-production-stable/20241007143345/bifrost.pkg

Read more about how to use the xAPI on roomos.cisco.com.

Create a workspace and an activation code

Before you onboard a Room Navigator as a stand-alone device, first create a workspace and get an activation code in Control Hub.

You can add one or several Room Navigators in one workspace. Adding several Room Navigators can be useful if you have a large meeting room or an auditorium.

Activation codes created for personal mode, such as those created from settings.webex.com, do not work for onboarding a Room Navigator as a stand-alone device.
1

From the customer view in https://admin.webex.com, go to Workspaces, and then click Add Workspace.

2

Enter a name for the workspace (such as the name of the physical room), select room type, and add capacity. Then click Next.

3

Choose Cisco Collaboration device, and then click Next.

4

On the services page, what you need to set up depends on how you want to configure the device:

  • Persistent web app mode: For Calling, Scheduling, and Meetings, select None and click Next.

  • Room booking mode: For Calling and Meetings, select None. For Scheduling, select Calendar. Click Next and set up the information about your organizations calendar service.

5

Make note of the Activation code that was created and use it for onboarding the Room Navigator.

You can Copy, Email, or Print the activation code.

Onboard a Room Navigator

If you want to convert a Room Navigator that's already in use to stand-alone mode, first factory reset the Room Navigator before you onboard it.

The Room Navigator must be running software version RoomOS March 2023 (11.3) or later.

1

On the Welcome screen, select Try the new onboarding.

2

Select Set up as standalone.

3

Depending on how you want to configure the Room Navigator, select either Room booking or Persistent web app.

4

Select the location of the Room Navigator. You can select whether the Room Navigator is located outside or inside a room.

The Room Navigator reboots.

5

Choose a language and tap Start.

6

Set up network as needed. Tap Continue when you’re done.

We recommend using an Ethernet connection.

7

Set the time zone and tap Continue.

8

Enter the activation code that you created in Control Hub and tap Continue.

Your setup is complete. You can now configure the device in Control Hub.

Persistent web app mode

After you have setup the Room Navigator as a stand-alone device, you can configure which web app it displays.

1

From the customer view on https://admin.webex.com, go to Devices.

2

You can configure a single device or multiple devices.

  • Single device: Click the device in the devices list. Click Navigator persistent web app. Toggle on Enable persistent web app and enter a URL. Then click Save.

  • Multiple devices: Select the devices from the devices list. Click Edit and Navigator persistent web app. Toggle on Enable persistent web app and enter a URL. Then click Next and Apply.

Room booking mode
In Control Hub, you can set up a single or multiple Room Navigators in room booking mode.

Before you begin

Before you set up a Room Navigator as a stand-alone device in room booking mode, you need to enable room booking. See the details on how to enable room booking.

1

From the customer view in admin.webex.com, go to Workspaces. Select the workspaces you want to configure from the workspaces list and click Edit.

2

Under In-Room Booking, select On from the drop-down menu.

Individual workspaces: If you want to enable room booking for one workspace, select the workspace, and click the cogwheel in the Calendar section. Select Edit In-Room Booking Settings and toggle on in-room booking.

Room booking without the Webex calendar

You can also book a room or use the Cisco Room Scheduler app without the Webex Hybrid Calendar. The following options are available in the Room Scheduler when you enable booking without the calendar: Local booking, Room in use, and Hot desk booking on Room Scheduler. Note that the Hot desk booking option is not available for standalone Navigators.

Local booking

Creates a local booking on the device's calendar. When local booking is enabled, a Book room button appears on the touch controller and on the Room Scheduler app. The message ‘Room available all day’ appears on the touch controller screen with upcoming calendar events shown on the left side. There’s also a Calendar button available on the touch controller.

Users can book a room from the touch controller or the Room Scheduler app by tapping the Book Room button. They can edit the meeting title and once it's booked, options become available to Extend or Remove the meeting.

Inside rooms, local booking is available on Board, Desk, and Room devices paired with a touch controller. Outside rooms, local booking is only available for standalone Room Navigators, paired to a device or not.

Room in Use mode for Room Scheduler

Hides calendaring information on the Room Scheduler app and only shows Room Available or Room in Use status. Booking the room isn’t possible.

Settings menu

To access the Settings menu on a Room Navigator in persistent web app or room booking mode, tap the screen three times with three fingers.

In the Settings menu you can find:

  • Information about the device, such as the IP address, and software version.

  • Issues and diagnostics. You can also send logs from the device from this menu.

  • Restart and factory reset.

Configuration

You can manage the Room Navigator the way you manage your other devices in Control Hub or through the device’s local web interface. Read more about device configuration.

You can read about the settings, and xAPI commands that are available for Room Navigator in stand-alone mode on this page.