ofbiz pos architecture advice

Discussion:

hzzg6y

2011-08-29 17:40:34 UTC

Need your help on architecturing OFBIZ. I am on a VPS with CentOS 5.6 Linux.
I have taken Ofbiz 10.04 Zip & using PostgreSQL.
This VPS is my Central upstream main server having single Postgresql DB
server.

Now consider a case : I have Retail shop having 3 tills. Every till should
work even though the network is down so that they can indepenedently trade

Option 1 :I need to know whether I need to have three independent postgres
SQL DB on each till ? I feel yes, so that performance &
network down do not impact trade.

Option 2 : If We make any one main master Till having Postgres SQL DB ( or
inside Retail shop inside server ) & other tills are just acting as
Dummy tills emulated POS terminals then if master till ( Retail shop inside
server ) goes down, we cannot trade at all.

Option 3 : If the retail shop don't have Touch screens tills, can they use
the Webpos based on Retail shop inside server based locally.

Please can you explain me the difference between WEBPOS & POS instance on
Touch Screen.
Please advice how can I have just use Pos.jar ( light version if possible)
file instead of ofbiz.jar

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BJ Freeman

2011-08-29 21:32:58 UTC

Permalink

I am not sure how a VPS is different from a
Dedicated server.
So I will answer based on a Dedicated server.
I also run Centos 5.6. 3GHz cpu, 4 gig of memory
Using a 128GB SDXC for swap.

I don't know mich about the inner workings of the
web POS, I use the POS with seperate computer for each station.

The biggest different I do know is the Web uses the HTML, I am not sure
but WebPos can not interface to POS displays and drawer.

The POS use java SWT under XUI and uses the JPOS libraries to interface
to the Displays and drawers, which is why only one instance can be run
on one machine under one instance of ofbiz.

so to use JPOS, any Gui under linux will have to support the Java runtime.

Touch screen has no relationship to ofbiz. it is a function of hardware,
or one c0mputer per touchscreen. the Touchsceen interfaces through the
keyboard port.

Postgresql work on Server with may db's capabile.

OOTB ofbiz uses 2 or 3 dbs per instance. I have 5 instances of ofbiz
running on a single Postgresql server.

if the server is running on a Intranet, and not on the internet, then no
exrra security is required.

Post by hzzg6y
Need your help on architecturing OFBIZ. I am on a VPS with CentOS 5.6 Linux.
I have taken Ofbiz 10.04 Zip & using PostgreSQL.
This VPS is my Central upstream main server having single Postgresql DB
server.
Now consider a case : I have Retail shop having 3 tills. Every till should
work even though the network is down so that they can indepenedently trade
Option 1 :I need to know whether I need to have three independent postgres
SQL DB on each till ? I feel yes, so that performance &
network down do not impact trade.
Option 2 : If We make any one main master Till having Postgres SQL DB ( or
inside Retail shop inside server ) & other tills are just acting as
Dummy tills emulated POS terminals then if master till ( Retail shop inside
server ) goes down, we cannot trade at all.
Option 3 : If the retail shop don't have Touch screens tills, can they use
the Webpos based on Retail shop inside server based locally.
Please can you explain me the difference between WEBPOS & POS instance on
Touch Screen.
Please advice how can I have just use Pos.jar ( light version if possible)
file instead of ofbiz.jar
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BJ Freeman

2011-08-29 21:38:44 UTC

Permalink

also we are experimenting with 10.5 tablets as POS stations.
that takes care of touchscreen. the displays and drawer are done over
the USB.

Post by BJ Freeman
I am not sure how a VPS is different from a
Dedicated server.
So I will answer based on a Dedicated server.
I also run Centos 5.6. 3GHz cpu, 4 gig of memory
Using a 128GB SDXC for swap.
I don't know mich about the inner workings of the
web POS, I use the POS with seperate computer for each station.
The biggest different I do know is the Web uses the HTML, I am not sure
but WebPos can not interface to POS displays and drawer.
The POS use java SWT under XUI and uses the JPOS libraries to interface
to the Displays and drawers, which is why only one instance can be run
on one machine under one instance of ofbiz.
so to use JPOS, any Gui under linux will have to support the Java runtime.
Touch screen has no relationship to ofbiz. it is a function of hardware,
or one c0mputer per touchscreen. the Touchsceen interfaces through the
keyboard port.
Postgresql work on Server with may db's capabile.
OOTB ofbiz uses 2 or 3 dbs per instance. I have 5 instances of ofbiz
running on a single Postgresql server.
if the server is running on a Intranet, and not on the internet, then no
exrra security is required.

Jacques Le Roux

2011-08-29 21:38:00 UTC

Permalink

You don't need touchscreen to use the POS, nor Webpos of course The main difference between Webpos and POS is you can't use JavaPOS
devices with Webpos. Also they have not exactly the same features at the UI level.

Option 1 (each till has its own DB) is safer at 1st glance but need a consolidation using Entity Sync
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/Sync+Setup+Notes+and+Example. It works, but is not obvious to settle and use. On
the other hand, if you are on a local network, accessing a sole DB is relatively safe and certainly easier (no need to worry about
syncing). Of course this needs a reliable LAN. Performance should not be an issue. In other words if you can trust you LAN and have
an independent safe server with Postgres running you can connect the 3 tills on it, et voilà. As you mentionned there are cases when
this architecture might fail: if the DB servers or the network goes down. It's a trade off, if you think they are reliable enough
you can go this way. On the server side I think you should only fear hardware issues, Postgres is very reliable. Same for the
network, but it's not applicable for a WAN of course.

OOTB, in all cases you need ofbiz.jar. (see startofbizPos.bat)

Jacques

hzzg6y

2011-08-30 11:08:30 UTC

Permalink

THanks for all the input. I appreaciate your prompt reply

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