Perle Systems Application Note

PoE in Retail Market Opportunities

IOLAN STS P and SDS P Terminal Servers

Many retail companies are now facing the need to install new types of equipment such as wireless access points, network cameras and RFID readers. The location of this equipment is often in areas of the retail store or warehouse that does not have AC power readily available. By utilizing these devices with Power Over Ethernet technology, deployment of new equipment becomes easier and more cost effective.

It may be necessary to connect legacy POS equipment such as serial printers, displays, and bar code readers to the internal retailer’s network. A serial device server such as the IOLAN SDS P or STS P will attach these serial devices to the IP network and with its support for PoE, take advantage of the new power technology.

Features and Benefits of the IOLAN SDS1 P in a Retail Environment

Software Selectable EIA-232/422/485:  Most POS peripherals are based on EIA-232, however some equipment such as weigh scales require EIA-422 for longer distances (warehouse, loading dock, etc). The IOLAN SDS P with its support for all of these interfaces, ensures that it can be deployed with any of the serial devices in the retailer’s operation.

15Kv ESD Protection:  Perle 15Kv surge protection also reduces the effects of static.  This is especially important for carpeted retail locations where disruptions caused by static discharge is a constant challenge.

Secure data transmission via SSH serial tunnelling: Many credit card companies are now having their merchants enforce rules in the way credit card information is processed and transmitted across their network. These enforcement programs, such as Visa’s CISP, require that information from devices such as credit card readers be encrypted using SSH technology. The IOLAN SDS1 P can encrypt sensitive and confidential serial data across an IP network.

PoE Support: Full compliance with the IEEE 802.3af standard supporting both end-span and mid span power sources.

Power POS peripherals over serial: The IOLAN SDS P  and STS P have the ability to power low power ( 5 Volt, 1 Watt ) parasitic devices over the serial connection. This eliminates the need to install separate power for the peripheral, saving costs and eliminating a possible point of failure.

The bottom line: By providing a flexible, secure and reliable serial connectivity solution, IOLAN DS servers are ideal for connecting serial POS devices across an IP network for retail applications.