[EdgyUser]

Assuming I have a 3 stores that I want to use Retail Edge & link all locations together:

1. Does RECON need to sit at all three locales, or just one machine that polls the the other machines?
2. If just one, can that machine also run the workstation without any problems, or should that system be isolated?
3. If just one, can the server/workstation/RECON all be run on the same machine, or would it be preferable to split one machine running server/workstation and a different one running workstation/RECON?

4. Assuming the RECON machine can be run along with the other server/workstation components, is a computer with the minimum/recommended requirements of the RECON (highest requirement) server sufficient, or is it recommended to go a little above that?

One thing I'm trying to get at with these last 2 questions, is: can I buy one monster machine that handles server/recon/workstation, and then use some meeker machines for all my others (operating only as workstations)...


5. I have a 4 port router at each locale with 2-3 computers at each (which would be workstation machines if we used your software). Since these workstations (and the RECON and server machines) now have 192.168.x.x IP addresses behind the router, what is needed to allow these machines to communicate with the server at another location (behind another router with a different 192.168.y.y internal address) ?

Thanks

[RetailEdge Moderator]

1. RECON does not have to be at each location. RECON sits on a machine at any location and polls the other locations.
2. This machine can also run the workstation. However, the performance of this station may not be what you would like it to be if you are also using it as a workstation. RECON will be synchronizing data from your other locations every 10 minutes or so. So depending on the amount of data going back and forth and the processing capability of this machine, you may experience degraded workstation performance during the synchronization cycles.
3. RECON typically resides on the same computer as the RetailEdge data server, but you can have RECON on a separate machine.
4. The bottom line is that you can have a RECON/Workstation/RetailEdge Data Server machine however we would not recommend that you do this for the following reasons:
a. Security. RetailEdge Data Server and RECON both work as services which means that you can have a dedicated server box that does not have anyone logged in and can be tightened down in terms of internet security. Also it won't be running other applications (like e-mail, web browsers) that increase the threat of downloading malware or viruses onto the machine.
b. Stability. If RetailEdge Data Server and RECON are sitting on a dedicated box, then you don't have the risk that someone will be running other applications on the box and crashing out the system.

When we are talking about a dedicated box we are not talking about a machine sold as a server machine. This can simply be something that meets the RECON requirement and is a good quality desktop machine.

5. RECON and RetailEdge Data server listen on ports 12005-12008. You would need to have your routers port forward these ports to the internal address of the machine where the RetailEdge data server/RECON sits.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to call us at 800-755-9692.

Hope this answers your questions.

Assuming I have a 3 stores that I want to use Retail Edge & link all locations together:

1. Does RECON need to sit at all three locales, or just one machine that polls the the other machines?
2. If just one, can that machine also run the workstation without any problems, or should that system be isolated?
3. If just one, can the server/workstation/RECON all be run on the same machine, or would it be preferable to split one machine running server/workstation and a different one running workstation/RECON?

4. Assuming the RECON machine can be run along with the other server/workstation components, is a computer with the minimum/recommended requirements of the RECON (highest requirement) server sufficient, or is it recommended to go a little above that?

One thing I'm trying to get at with these last 2 questions, is: can I buy one monster machine that handles server/recon/workstation, and then use some meeker machines for all my others (operating only as workstations)...


5. I have a 4 port router at each locale with 2-3 computers at each (which would be workstation machines if we used your software). Since these workstations (and the RECON and server machines) now have 192.168.x.x IP addresses behind the router, what is needed to allow these machines to communicate with the server at another location (behind another router with a different 192.168.y.y internal address) ?

Thanks