What to check before installing an employee attendance system

Most attendance system problems can be fixed before installation: a network not ready, a wrong clock, rules never written down, an incomplete employee list. This checklist covers what we check before every go-live.

1. The computer

• A Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit PC with at least 4 GB of memory and 1 GB of free space (Atlaxys Tempo’s requirements).
• The PC stays on during working hours (if it is off, punches stay in the terminal and are read when it comes back).
• A password-protected Windows account.
• A backup medium: a dedicated USB drive or a network folder.

2. The network

• The PC and the terminal are on the same local network.
• The terminal has a fixed IP address (or a DHCP reservation), unique on the network.
• A network socket at the terminal’s location (cable is more stable than Wi-Fi).
• If the terminal pushes its own punches (PUSH mode), the PC also has a fixed address and its firewall allows the connection on the private network.

3. The terminal

• Model and firmware checked with the software vendor (compatibility matrix).
• GMT+0 time zone without daylight saving — Morocco’s legal time since 20 September 2026 — and NTP enabled.
• Administrator password changed, unique, kept safe.
• Unused services disabled (cloud, SSH).
• Location out of direct sun and rain, well lit for face recognition.
• Tamper switch checked once the device is mounted.

4. Attendance rules

• The shifts of each team, including split and night shifts (scheduling method).
• The lateness grace period and overtime rule, with the person who approves it (lateness and overtime rules).
• Leave types and opening balances.
• The year’s public holidays (lunar dates to confirm).

5. Employee data

• An up-to-date list: employee number, name, department, site, hire date.
• Numbers compatible with the terminal (on the DS-K1T321MFWX: letters and digits only, 32 characters at most).
• An enrolment schedule for the terminal (a few minutes per person), including absentees.

6. The employer’s obligations

• CNDP process completed before any biometric collection (in Morocco).
• Information notice given to employees and displayed.
• An alternative to biometrics planned (card, code).
• A decision on data retention and on any copy of templates in the software. See biometric attendance and privacy.

7. Software users

• Who is administrator, who is HR, who supervises (and which departments), who only reads reports.
• Training planned for each: register, corrections, schedules, reports.
• A monthly closing procedure (monthly report).

8. Backups

• Scheduled backup to the USB drive or network folder.
• Backup encryption password written down away from the PC.
• A restore tested at least once.

On installation day

With these items ready, setting up Atlaxys Tempo follows a simple order: terminal preparation, software installation and setup wizard, employee import, shift creation, terminal connection (six-step test), employee enrolment, training. Details are on the small business page.