In my problems at the store post from this morning, I had mentioned that our POS program was having database "issues". Turns out to have been a hard disk crash. The two sale terminals run the POS software but they also connect to a central server which stores all the transaction information, inventory, etc... The server or the network can go down and each lane can operate independently and they will all re-sync once connection is reestablished. Very nice and well thought out software.
The problem is that because this is not a commodity application like a spreadsheet or word processor, the cost to develop and maintain this software is high so they need to be careful that people do not pirate it. This is done through the use of an encrypted USB dongle. As long as that dongle is plugged in, everybody is happy. If the dongle is not visible to the system, each of the sales terminals will run for fifteen days and then cease to operate.
Since the software is proprietary, only the vendor can maintain it. Since we were running out of days of grace (and needing to access our inventory data), I spent six hours driving down from Maple Falls to Auburn (south of Seattle) through rush hour. The server should be ready sometime tomorrow so I get to drive down and back through the Seattle traffic again.
The software is really good but sheesh - I wish I could have simply swapped out the disk here. Since Camano is much closer, I am spending the night here and waiting for a phone call tomorrow.
At least, we will be fully online for Wednesday's opening at Mt. Baker
Surf for a bit, YouTube and then bedtime.
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