YSoft OMNI Bridge
What is OMNI Bridge?
OMNI Bridge is a serverless device that requires no IT maintenance. It is easily installed and connects to your business’ Microsoft 365 account. When staff submit a print job, Microsoft 365 processes it and OMNI Bridge with the OMNI UP365 App pulls it from the cloud and routes it to the printer. When you install OMNI Bridge, you use your M365 account to connect printers to it and use OMNI Apps.
How many OMNI Bridge devices do I need?
It depends on how many printers and how many locations you have and whether you need high availability. Use our Ordering Tips for examples to aid in determining what is right for your business.
What is high availability?
High Availability addresses two scenarios: Load balancing and failover. Both scenarios can cause either a delay in printing or a failure to print. When printing is a critical business process, either scenario is unacceptable.
Load balancing is needed when there are periods of high volumes of print. Print traffic can be delayed when only one device is used to pull print jobs from the cloud. With two or more OMNI Bridges grouped together, OMNI Bridge with the OMNI UP365 App can route print jobs to available OMNI Bridges so print jobs are spread out and printed without delay.
Failover can occur if for some reason (power outage or technical failure) the device pulling print jobs from the cloud cannot function. When two or more OMNI Bridges with the OMNI UP365 Apps are grouped together, when a failure occurs on one OMNI Bridge, the other OMNI Bridge will automatically pick up the print jobs ensuring that printing can proceed without delay.
Learn more about how OMNI Series achieves high availability here.
What are the system requirements for using OMNI Series?
You should have the following:
- An eligible Microsoft 365 subscription. You can find which M365 subscriptions have the Universal Print feature here.
- Internet connection with port 443 open
- Ethernet connection and a power source (a power cord is provided with your order)
Does it connect directly with a printer using ethernet wire?
While OMNI Bridge does use an ethernet cable to connect to your local area network (LAN), it does not have to be connected directly to the printer. OMNI Series simply needs to be connected to the same LAN as the printer and have access to the internet in order to reach the Universal Print cloud from Microsoft.
Does OMNI Series support my printer?
Yes, all PDF-capable and IPP-enabled printers can use OMNI Series. The beauty of OMNI Series is that you don’t need a Universal Print-enabled printer. PDF-enabled means that it can print PDF files natively and IPP compatibility means that it must support the Internet Printing Protocol, an industry standard (and be enabled). Your printer’s user guide or an internet search for your printer’s brand and model should help determine if your printer is IPP compatible.
What will I receive when I purchase OMNI Series?
The OMNI Bridge will be shipped to the address you indicated during your purchase. It will include the device, an appropriate regional power cord, and a Get Started Card, which points you to the online Set Up Guide. The UP365 Apps in the OMNI Series bundles are automatically activated.
You may need to activate any purchased OMNI UP365 App Pack subscriptions through YSoft OMNI Central, the web portal you use to connect your printers to the OMNI Series service. You may need the assistance of your M365 account administrator for initial setup (e.g., enabling the Universal Print feature within your organization’s M365 subscription).
Where can I go if I am having difficulty using OMNI Bridge?
OMNI Central offers documentation, support features, and other useful information. Additionally, you can contact an OMNI support representative through OMNI Central who can verify your OMNI Bridge serial number and help with any support issues.
Can I purchase OMNI Bridge without purchasing OMNI Apps?
OMNI Bridge and OMNI Apps are part of the OMNI Series service. One does not work without the other. That is why OMNI Series is offered as a bundle. You can choose the bundle pack that you need based on the number of printers you have in each location. View our Ordering Tips for more information.
How many printers can I connect to one OMNI Bridge?
Twenty-five. If you have more than twenty-five printers on one Local Area Network (LAN), then an additional OMNI Bridge is needed.