This document will describe the installation and usage for PDS plug-in – SYNCARD.


This software allows synchronize information between card servers. One of the servers is “Head”, other servers – “Client”. Both servers have the same information. It is like a copy or backup of card server.

“Head” server is installed in central office, on PC, which has static external IP address (or there is port routing to that PC from router), “Client” server is installed on restaurant level. (See diagram 1) 

Diagram 1

SynCard replaces the old solution with FarCards. It is better because it doesn’t require full time online Internet connection.

How it works

Card server has 3 working modes: single, head and local. On what mode server is working depends on marks in database. These marks are made by SYNCARD application; user doesn’t have to do anything additionally. If card server is working without SYNCARD, then there is no mark – server is “single”.

These marks are kept in database forever and user cannot change them.

  • “Single” server can be marked as “Head”
  • “Single” server can be marked as “Local” only if it’s database is empty.
  • “Local” server can be marked as “Head”
  • “Head” server cannot be marked as “Local”

To any of these card servers can be connected with PCARDS application. But only in modes “Head” and “Single” users can edit cards. In mode “Local” users can view cards and reports.

In what mode server is working can be checked in PCARDS: Help->About->Access.

Installation

In this manual we assume that technician knows how to install stand alone cards server and we will describe only installation of SYNCARD.

SYNCARD should be installed on restaurant level.

Copy files to some folder.

Copy to this folder communication protocols (RTCP.DLL, RNETBIOS.DLL, RLOCAL.DLL). The same as for card server.

Open SYNCARD.INI and set following parameters: 

[Options]
Period=10  - how often connect to “Head” server after successful previous connection (In minutes).
               If connections wasn’t successful – SYNCARD will try reconnect in 1-2 minutes.
[Local]
DLL=RLocal - protocol which will be used to connect to “local” server. Also can be used RTCP and RNETBIOS.
Gate=1     - number of parameters for this DLL

[Head]
DLL=RTcp  - protocol which will be used to connect to “head” server.
Gate=1     - number of parameters for this DLL Modem=0    - using modem: 0 - do not use; 1 - always use; 2 - use if direct link didn’t work
TryLink=1  - only when Modem=2,after how many unsuccessful connection start use modem  [Modem]
BEntry=   - Name of connection for modem.

[Rlocal]
Client1=Syncard - Client name for connection through RLocal protocol
Port1=0         - Number of port. On card server should be running RLocal protocol with the same port

[Rtcp]
Client1=Syncard   - Client name for connection through Rtcp protocol - usually to remote "head" server
Server1=127.0.0.1 - IP address where remote server is running
Port1=4000        - Port number. The remote server should be using the same pory number

SYNCARD can be run in 2 modes:

  • Application – run with parameter \desktop
  • Service – run with parameter \install. To uninstall run with parameter \uninstall

Upgrade

 Upgrade should be done starting from “Local” servers, and only then “Head” server. If to do in opposite way, synchronization won’t work till “Local” server has the same version as “Head”

Remarks

Important: Database from one restaurant CANNOT be copied to another. If for some reason in one restaurant database is lost, just install empty database and SYNCARD will synchronize all the data from “Head” server.

 If not empty database is copied to restaurant, then SYNCARD will give an error:

Can not mark [Local] as Local DB because it is not empty.

 If empty “Head” database is copied to restaurant, then SYNCARD will give an error:

Can not mark [Local] as Local DB because it is Head DB.

If to “Head” server is copied not empty “Local” database, then SYNCARD will give an error:

Can not mark [Head] as Head DB because [Local] DB is not empty

Versions

SYNCARD works with card servers starting from version 7.01

SYNCARD v 1.06 works with card server version 7.06

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