Overview

Keyless card access uses contactless, magnetic stripe, and other forms to open doors and grant access to secure areas.

Texas A&M Facility Access & Security serves as general system administrators for the Matrix keyless card access system. Provided in partnership with the Aggie Card Office and Building Access, along with many of The Texas A&M System offices, the Matrix system allows any department or system part member to easily manage access to doors and secure areas using Frontier software.

Keyless Card Access

To submit a request for keyless card access, visit AggieWorks. You may also contact keyless@tamu.edu or Facility Access & Services at facse@tamu.edu.

Help and Support

During normal business hours, contact keyless@tamu.edu. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Read more about keyless card access on the FAQ tab.

FAQ

What is keyless card access or keyless entry?
It is the system that uses card-swipe readers, which grant access to doors and secure areas instead of keyed locks. To access a door or area, a user swipes their badge or enters a specific keypad code. If that user has been granted access to that door or area, the door unlocks, granting them entry. Texas A&M University and many A&M System offices use the Matrix system, which is administered by Texas A&M Technology Services.

Do I need a special student or staff ID or badge?
Any Texas A&M ID issued by the Aggie Card Office since April 2004 will work with the Matrix system. A&M System member IDs issued independently from the Aggie Card Office can be added to the system by their local badge offices.

I lost my ID/badge. What do I do?
Please contact the Aggie Card Office or your local badge administrator.

I cannot get access to my dorm/room/building. What do I do?
During normal business hours, please contact your building proctor, RA or local door administrator, or email keyless@tamu.edu. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

My ID/badge is saying "rejected" on a reader. What does that mean?
"Rejected" means that you do not have access to enter that door. If you feel that is incorrect, please contact your building proctor, RA or local door administrator.

My ID/badge is saying "invalid" on a reader. What does that mean?
"Invalid" can mean the card reader did not register a successful swipe or there is a problem with your card. To check, verify that you are swiping your badge correctly or try your badge at a different card reader where you have access. If you are still having problems with your card, please contact the Aggie Card Office or your local badge administrator. If you think that the card reader may be broken or defective, please email keyless@tamu.edu.

My reader is dirty and needs maintenance/My reader says "invalid" for all badges/My reader is not working. What do I do?
Reader maintenance and repair is performed by Building Access. An AggieWorks order must be submitted to request maintenance.

In Frontier, what is the difference between a badge, a credential and a person?
In recent software releases, Matrix has transitioned from "Badges" to "People & Credentials." Similar to an individual having multiple forms of identification (i.e., driver's license, University ID, passport, etc.), "People" in Frontier relates to individuals and "Credentials" relates to methods that allow access. These methods could be badges (such as those issued by the Aggie Card Office), fingerprints (or other forms of biometrics) or HID/RFID/Prox devices.

A person/credential is showing as "invalid" or in "disuse" in Frontier. What do I do?
"Disuse" is a process in Frontier that invalidates credentials when the credentials have not been used at any reader on the system for more than two years. This process runs weekly. "Invalid" persons or credentials require investigation to determine the proper credential status. In both cases, please send the UIN to keyless@tamu.edu.

What is Matrix?
The A&M System chose Matrix Systems as the hardware and software supplier for the integrated campus solution of access control and keyless entry.

How do I request a hardware estimate or door installation?
Complete a Keyless Entry Service Order to request Matrix hardware. Once submitted, you will be contacted to schedule a walk-through. For door or lock work, an AggieWorks order to Building Access may be required.

My door is not locking or unlocking properly. Whom do I contact?
During normal business hours, please contact us by emailing keyless@tamu.edu. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

What is Frontier?
Frontier is the PC-based software that allows administrators to control access to doors, add or edit badges, as well as grant or remove access to doors. Currently, the Frontier software is offered in two versions, a browser-based client and a thick client. The browser-based client is the most common and can be accessed by visiting https://keyless.tamu.edu.

What is required to install Frontier?
The browser-based client is available to authorized users who are connected to the campus network by visiting https://keyless.tamu.edu. Thick client installations are only done on an "as needed" basis. Thick client installations require contact information, a static IP address for the PC, administrator rights/access on the PC, and department or current administrator approval.

Can I access Frontier from off campus?
While the Frontier client is now browser based, it is not "web based" and is not directly accessible from off-campus connections. To access Frontier from off campus, an authorized user would first have to connect to campus via a VPN connection. Read more about connecting to VPN.

How do I request an account on Frontier?
Complete a Frontier Software Installation work order. Once submitted and with appropriate departmental approval (if necessary), you will be contacted with the credentials and any necessary training.

How can I get additional training?
Complete a Frontier Software Installation work order. Once submitted, you will be contacted to schedule a customized training to fit your requirements.

Do you support biometric readers?
Yes, both Matrix and Technology Services support biometric readers on campus. We currently have an integrated Fingerprint solution installed in multiple facilities on campus. Interfaces from other biometric devices can be implemented with appropriate specifications to the Matrix system. If you are interested in biometric readers or further information, please contact keyless@tamu.edu.

Can I use PROX/RFID/HID?
For Proximity Badges, Matrix is natively integrated to HID compatible badges and readers. At this time, the badge issued by the Aggie Card Office only supports Mag-stripe. For implementation or further information, please contact keyless@tamu.edu.

Resources

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