Open Systems Integration
The “Open System” philosophy
allows for total flexibility in determining the specifications
that will meet your needs, whether they be modest or seriously
intense. Scalability allows you to select the entry level
of hardware configuration that fulfills your present and future
demands.
TOTAL Retail was first launched in 1986 on
the UNIX platform, and has continued to grow and evolve,
natively in UNIX ever since. UNIX has proven itself to be
the platform of choice time and again for its rock solid
stability, security, and communications power. With the
advent of Open-Source Linux, the natural evolution has been to
keep pace with the times and the technology so that, now, all
new development is in the Linux environment.
Total flexibility also means that TOTAL
Retail will port to most any flavor of UNIX as well as
Apple’s OS X (UNIX) platform.
“Open Systems” means that you
may have your applications installed on the supported platform
of your choosing, i.e. Compaq, IBM, or DELL servers.
While Magstar has a VAR agreement with HP/Compaq and will
be pleased to provide quotations, you may elect to source your
hardware components elsewhere.
Server requirements will vary, based on number of users and
activity.
In a multiple-user environment, dual
processors are recommended and SCSI Hard Drives and an internal
DDS back-up tape drive are required. Relative to your
demands and security concerns, add multiple Processors,
Redundant Power Supply, and RAID V with 2 or more additional
SCSI, hot-pluggable, 15K rpm Hard Drives.
TOTAL Retail uses standard TCP/ I P
protocols. Use the the TOTAL Retail server to create your
own local network, or simply add it to your existing Microsoft
or other 3rd party TCP/IP network. TOTAL Retail then
becomes simply another address on your network. GUI
desktop client software, provided with your installation
package, connects your users seamlessly to TOTAL Retail on
their existing PC’s, with no disruption to your current
configurations.
Did we mention “Open Systems”
?
The whole concept of Open Systems
couldn’t be more apparent than when it comes to talking
about POS installations. Any PC-based system, capable of
running Linux (typically with 256MB RAM) is a candidate for
running the TOTAL Retail POS applications in
“stand-alone” mode. With supported monitor,
Touchscreen is also available. Real-time,
character-based POS clients can be Linux, Windows or Mac OS X,
running terminal emulation software (included with Linux and OS
X).
TOTAL POS does not lock you into any
specific brand or required configuration. Industry
standard peripherals are all supported from the likes of Epson,
Symbol, Metrologic, Star, Preh, and more. TOTAL POS is
certified on both IBM and DigiPOS all-in-one POS’s or you
are free to select from a variety of
“best-of-breed” components. Magstar strongly
recommends that only “tier 1” sources be selected
for the POS processor. Down time can be devastatingly
costly at the sales desk, so it is important to choose hardware
from a proven source that has the ability to provide prompt
service and support, regardless of where your stores are
located.
“I already have PC Cash registers.
Will your software work on
them?”
It is quite possible that it will.
If you are currently using industry standard printers,
scanners, and drawers, and your processor meets, or can be
upgraded to meet the minimum requirements for running Linux
(Pentium or equivalent with 256MB RAM and at least a 3GB HD),
then it is very likely that some, if not all, of your legacy
hardware could be recycled.
The point is, that based on your
priorities, Magstar will work with you to determine the most
economical approach to satisfying your POS hardware
requirements, without compromising on functionality or
efficiency.
Just as with the Head Office server,
optional in-store servers with TOTAL Retail’s In-Store
Back Office application run on the Linux OS platform.
Relative to the number of users, and
intensity of activity, Magstar will assist you in determining
the suitable configuration. For example, stores which
require access for several concurrent users and/or are running
real-time interactive POS clients will be encouraged to select
a model with high speed drives and dual processors.
Internal DDS tape back-up drives are also essential.
Other than that, and just in case you
missed it earlier, Magstar TOTAL Retail is an
“Open-System” solution. “Open
Systems” means that you may have your applications
installed on the supported platform of your choosing, i.e.
Compaq, IBM, or DELL servers.
