Vocera Communications System Release Notes

Vocera Voice Server Version 5.5.1.15 (HF4)

Updated: March 1, 2023

  1. Vocera Messaging Platform Compatibility
  2. What's New
  3. Prerequisites and Reminders
  4. Installation
  5. Fixed Issues
  6. Known Issues

Vocera Messaging Platform Compatibility

Warning: If you are running a version of Vocera Messaging Platform (VMP) older than 5.4, the connection between the Voice and VMP servers will be temporarily disconnected when a user deletes messages using a voice command on a badge. If this happens repeatedly, end users may experience delays in updates passed between the servers.

Workaround: Update VMP to 5.4 or later. Vocera strongly recommends using the same version on both Voice and VMP.

What's New

The Vocera Voice Server 5.5.x platform has new features and enhancements.

This section summarizes prominent features and functionality for each release.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.1.15 (HF4)

This is a maintenance release that does not introduce any new features.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.1.12 (HF3)

This is a maintenance release that does not introduce any new features.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.1.9 (HF2)

This is a maintenance release that does not introduce any new features.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.1.3 (HF1)

This is a maintenance release that does not introduce any new features.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.1.2

The following list displays new features in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

Vocera Voice Server

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.0

The following list displays new features in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

Vocera Voice User Interface

Vocera Voice Server

Prerequisites and Reminders

Before you install Vocera Voice Server along with its components and consoles, ensure that the following prerequisites are met.

Prerequisites for Vocera Voice Server and server components:

Installation

Follow these instructions to install Vocera Voice Server or upgrade it to the latest version. .

Installation prerequisites

To install or upgrade:

Note: While installing or uninstalling, you can be repeatedly presented with pop-up messages instructing you to reboot for changes to be applied. Do not reboot when prompted. Wait until the installation is complete to reboot.
  1. To perform a new installation, follow the steps described in the Running theVocera Voice Server Installation Program section of the Vocera Voice Server Installation Guide.
  2. To upgrade from previous Vocera versions, follow the steps described in Upgrading Vocera Voice Server to Version 5.3.0 section of the Vocera Voice Server Installation Guide.
    Note: Your previous system configuration remains in the database that is restored at the end of the upgrade. Because some 4.x features have been deprecated.
    • Update the values in your database as follows:
      1. Open the Vocera Voice Server Administration Console and navigate to the System > Preferences page.
      2. Choose Save Changes.

        The server updates your database and removes any settings for deprecated features.

    • Convert custom names directory:
      • If you are upgrading from a version 4.x deployment and have a custom names dictionary, convert the custom names directory to the version 5.x format manually.
      • If you are upgrading from version 5.x and have a custom names dictionary, no conversion is required.

Fixed Issues

The following list contains fixes and improvements made to the Vocera Voice Server 5.5.x platform.

Fixed Issues in Version 5.5.1.15 (HF4)

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

  • CRVC-21118 A race condition involving VCS dialing an extension and immediately hanging up can cause the VCG to stop sending keepalive signals to VMP. Once this occurs, the VCG will no longer properly process calls and will need to be restarted. This situation no longer occurs.

Fixed Issues in Version 5.5.1.12 (HF3)

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

  • VCXP-13188/CASE-2275 Due to a timing issue, in some situations the Voice Server performs a failover when a user cancels the who called/missed messages prompt.

    This problem has been resolved by ending the call, making the Voice Server failover unnecessary.

Fixed Issues in Version 5.5.1.9 (HF2)

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

  • CRVC-20224 After upgrading to VS 5.5.1, increased CPU consumption caused the VCS users to experience audio quality issues.

    The call hang-up routine was handled incorrectly. This problem has been resolved by modifying the call hang-up routine.

  • CRVC-20225 After upgrading to VS 5.5.1, VCS client users reported an increase in the number of dropped calls, or calls with significant static in the audio.

    In some situations, the VCG server encountered a thread deadlock that caused calls to drop. This situation was resolved by updating the thread lock mechanism.

Fixed Issues in Version 5.5.1.3 (HF1)

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

  • CRVC-19903 On a new install (not an upgrade), the vsa_data2.txt file is missing; accessing the Staff Page feature of Staff Assignment results in a VAIException.

    The vsa_data2.txt file is now correctly delivered with the software.

Fixed Issues in Version 5.5.1.2

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

This release has no fixed issues.

New and Enhanced Features in Version 5.5.0

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of the Vocera Voice Server.

  • CRVC-17242 Stopping the Vocera Voice Server and then starting it made the VCS client appear offline to other VCS and Web Console clients impacting the user's availability for voice calling.
  • VCXP-10724 (Staff assignment) Server failed while writing or reading VSA data file.
  • CRVC-18634/CASE-1652 The DNS Client Windows service was disabled during VSTG and VCG (5.3.3) installation.
  • CRVC-18406/CASE-1614 The server failed when the call from a V5000 user was waiting to get into a conversation between B3000n and V5000 users.
  • CRVC-18248/CASE-1586 When the Shared Telephony had the Calling Party Number field populated, an extra semi-colon was inserted into the URI of the SIP invite.
  • CRVC-18152 The B3000n badges did not support non-ASCII characters. The badge asserted and restarted repeatedly when a text message was sent with a special character in the subject or body.
  • CRVC-17343 When the cross-site option Receive Offsite Calls was disabled, offsite calls were still allowed.
  • CRVC-17305/CASE-1300 After bulk import, the local site set for the user did not match with the site value available in the CSV file.
  • VCXP-10490 Disabling direct call feature for a user required the direct call recipient field to be cleared.
  • CRVC-18343/CASE-1665 On-campus VCS users are now no longer shown as off campus on VMP Web Console after restarting the Vocera Voice Server.
  • CRVC-19226/CASE-1766 VCS user calling to a group now times out after the default 50 seconds instead of 30 seconds.

Known Issues

A few issues are known to exist in the Vocera Voice Server 5.5.x platform and this section summarizes all the known issues in the release.

Known Issues in the Vocera Voice Server

This section summarizes known product defects and limitations, including any workarounds we may have, for the Vocera Voice Server 5.5.x platform.

  • CRVC-18405 The VCG restarts rarely when it is sending a signal to the client and the client connection is closed due to change in client IP.
  • CRVC-18334 Running the cert.bat batch file does not create the new self-signed certificate server.crt in the \apache\apache2\conf\ssl folder.

    Workaround: Before creating a new SSL certificate, delete all the files available at \vocera\apache\apache2\conf\SSL.

  • CRVC-17581 After upgrading VRS, the docs folder is not removed and help links are not accessible.

    Workaround: Install the doc pack after upgrading if you are using local documentation.

  • CRVC-17560 In a broadcast call, the initiator's smartbadge displays the name of the initiator on the screen instead of the group name.
  • CRVC-17551 After configuring the authentication type as EAP-TLS with custom certificates, the Client Key Password and Username fields become mandatory for Non-EAP-TLS with custom certificates type of authentication.

    Workaround: Select BPE > Security Settings > Authentication Type > EAPTLS, uncheck Use Custom EAP-TLS Certificates, configure all the required fields, and click Submit.

  • CRVC-17344 When RejectMessageOnUrgentPlayback is set to true in the properties.txt file, the urgent email message is not enunciated on the VCS device.
  • CRVC-17162/CASE-1297 Observed the same behavior for all text and all VMI message enunciation modes.
  • CRVC-17121 When RejectMessageOnUrgentPlayback is set to true, the urgent email messages interrupt the playback of another urgent message.
  • CRVC-2889/DE12345 The Vocera User Console allows a user to set call forwarding to another user when the permission is not available.
  • CRVC-2646/DE14443 Some learned names and commands are not available after an upgrade from Vocera Voice Server, version 4x to 5x.

    Workaround: If you encounter this issue, use the Learn a Name command as usual to ensure speech recognition performance.

  • VCXP-5998 Voice reminder commands are not available to users accessing Genie over VAA Direct Access.
  • VCXP-813/DE15526 Voice reminders are not played when "Announce Caller Name" is disabled.

    Workaround: Enable the Announce Caller's Name setting.

  • CRVC-19985 In deployments where the Vocera Server and VMP Server installations have mismatched versions, VCS and Smartbadge clients do not show new call log records. Once the servers are on the same version, the problem will be resolved.