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June 2016
OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder User Guide, L001436, Rev. 2.0
1
Introduction to the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder
This OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder User Guide details the installation and usage of the OMNIKEY
5121 Ethernet Driver and the associated OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder Utility.. This encoder device
is embedded within an HID Global printer and is accessed via the Ethernet connection of that host
printer.
The process of programmatically accessing the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device is detailed in
the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder Advanced User Guide(HID part number L001437). That
advanced user guide may be obtained separately from HID Global Customer Support, or as part of
the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Driver installation package. To download a copy of this installation
package please reference the following resource.
OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Driver Installation Package:
https://www.hidglobal.com/drivers
1.1
Architectural Overview – The “One-Wire” Connection
The USB version of the OMNIKEY 5121 Encoder device may be embedded within an HID Global
printer and it is accessed via the USB connection to that printer; all printing and encoding
information is communicated over the single USB connection to the host printer.
Prior to the introduction of the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device, an Ethernet connected
printer required a separate USB connection to enable communication with an embedded USB
version of the OMNIKEY 5121 Encoder device. Now, using the OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder
device, all communication with the encoder device may be carried out over the single Ethernet
connection to the host printer—similar to the case where a single USB wire enables communication
with both the HID Global printer and its embedded USB version of the OMNIKEY 5121 Encoder. This
single Ethernet connection to the host printer, when used to access both the printer and the
embedded OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device, is hereinafter referred to as the “One-Wire”
connection.
1.2
Ethernet One-Wire versus USB Connectivity
The OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device works very much like the USB connected version of the
device. However, the USB connected device is only accessible from the server or workstation to
which its associated printer is physically connected.
On the other hand, the One-Wire connected OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device, embedded
within an Ethernet connected printer, is accessible from any server or workstation that has access to
the host printer containing the encoder device. This One-Wire connectivity allows multiple users
using different servers and workstations to easily share both the printer and its embedded
OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder device.
The One-Wire connection allows a printer and its embedded OMNIKEY 5121 Ethernet Encoder
device to be shared among multiple users using different servers and workstations. This creates
requirements for synchronizing access to the printer and its embedded encoder.
