Configuring Network Communications

There are 2 main options when setting up the Back Office and POS Lane Databases.

1/ POS Lanes all use a 'Central Database' and share data with the Back Office.

An MS SQL Server can be setup anywhere in the system on a 'Server Grade' PC.

• Server Grade PCs are built to be a server, with a Server Operating system such as Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2 or 2003 Standard Edition (NOT SBS or SBE).  They should have a RAID Hardrive set, a fast motherboard and plenty of RAM.
• A large capacity Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) and a secure area should be part of this setup
• The Server should be setup with MS SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2 or 2005 Enterprise, Standard or Express Editions.
• The SQL Server should be setup for Mixed Mode Authentication and with the TCP/IP communications protocol enabled.

The advantage to this system is that data is instantly available on the Back Office system as Transactions go through the Lanes.  The down side is that the entire system relies on one central server being available at all times and the POS Lanes functionality must be the same across the Store.

2/ POS Lanes and the Back Office use their own, Local Databases, all of each are Remote from the others.

• The SQL Server software is installed on each Lane and the Back Office. For a small store, MS SQL Server Express is recommended, installed on each PC.  A minimum of 2GB RAM is recommended for all PCs in the POS system. 
• For each machine, Integrated Authentication and the TCP/IP protocol should be enabled on the SQL Server Setup.
• The Lanes are responsible for pushing and pulling information to and from the Back Office Server.    

This has the advantage of a lot of system redundancy.

Lanes can have some differences in functionality between machines. The disadvantage is that the system has to exchange information between the Back Office and Lane databases to keep the Back Office database updated with the latest Transaction information.

The Setup for each type of Lane will now be detailed:

Central Lane Setup:

One SQL Database server is available to the entire system.

• The system's SQL Server must be available to other machines on the network. The connection must be fast and reliable. This configuration should be performed by a knowledgable IT person or your POS Software Vendor. However, once this is done the rest of the setup comprises of only a couple of steps. 

The NETBIOS Name of the Lane should already be setup in the Back Office Setup - POS Lanes - Lane Network table. e.g. LANE1, LANE2 etc...

• It is important to Define the Lane Type as 'Central'

When the Start Lane program first runs, it will present a form that allows the initial Lane database setup.

• For a Central Lane - Touch the Central Lane Database option and enter the Server Name and instance, as well as the Log In UserID and Password Information required for the SQL Server.
• Click 'Save Settings' then 'Test SQL Server Connection'.
• If the Lane can connect to the Server and its NETBIOS name is registered in the Back Office Lane Table then it will show a 'Success' message.  If not then, check the Server configuration and retry until this step does succeed. (Sorry! setting up a SQL Server is beyond the scope of this manual...) 

Save the Settings and Close the settings form. 

Restart the Start Lane software again and the Start Lane 'Strip' will appear at the top of the PC's primary screen. 

• Touch the 'Lane' button to Start the POS Lane Software or touch the 'Office' button to do work in the Back Office Software.

Remote Lane Setup:

The Remote Lane setup is very similar to the Central Setup in the way it talks to its Local Database, however, the Remote Lane setup has the additional tasks of

• Defining the Lane's ID and Store Number on the system.
• Setting up Communications to the Back Office Server.

Enter the Name of the SQL Server and the Instance on the Server separated by a Backslash (e.g. LOCALHOST\SQLEXPRESS)

• The SQL Server must allow the TCP/IP communications protocol for the default settings to work.
• 'Integrated NT Authorized' will work as the security settings for a Local database.

Click on 'Test SQL Server Connection' and if the program finds the Server then the 'Create New SQL Database' button will be enabled.

• Click on the Button and allow the program to create the New Database.

When the Database is created initially, it contains no data, and will require populating with data from the Back Office Server.

Click on the 'Close Settings' button at this point in time and proceed to open the Back Office Software.

• The Lane Network Information should be set up (as shown at the top of this page) prior to doing anything else.
• However, the Lane Type should be set to 'LAN' instead of 'Central'  
• When all the Lanes are setup in the Lane table with the correct status, exit the Back Office Software and restart it.

If there are any Remote (LAN Type) Lanes on the system then the 'POS Lanes' Menu option will appear in the Back Office.

• Choose Send Changes from the POS Lanes Menu.
• Click the 'All Information' checkbox as shown below.
• Uncheck the 'Poll Sales First' option
• Click Send Now and allow the system to complete the functions (You will see progress indicators).

• Click on the Globe Icon to see the Initial Store Data Setup
• This is important to get right as the Store ID and Lane ID MUST be unique on the system.
• The 'Store Lane ID' field should normally be the same as the Lane ID.
• This will be the number each Invoice generated by the lane starts with.  e.g. Invoice 11234 will be Lane 1 and 1234 in the list of Invoices generated by Lane 1
• Duplicate Invoices are not allowed by the Back Office, so ensure this step is correct for your system -
• EACH LANE MUST HAVE A UNIQUE ID IN EACH STORE

To make an entry to the Store, System and Store Lane ID fields, touch the Set button then Touch the number required on the Keypad.

• Click Close/End to exit the Start Lane program,
• Restart the Start Lane program and touch the Globe Icon to see the final setup screen required to activate this lane:

Set up the Server Name and port that is opened for Lane Communications on the Back Office Firewall.

• Click 'Test Server'
• If an OK comes back in the result as shown below then the Back Office Server can be reached from this Lane.

The Last Step is to Touch the 'Update Lane' button to retrieve the data from the Back Office.

• This polls the server for information and populates the Lane setup tables.
• Click 'Close Setup' once this is successful.
• Thereafter, the Start Lane program will work in the background pulling new data from the server and sending sales information to it, for further processing by the Back Office polling routines. 

Touch the 'Lane'  button on the 'Start Lane' strip to see the POS Lane Cashier Login Screen.