Branch Server; Functionality; Operating System - Novell SLRS 8 Admin Manual

2 Architectural Overview
Local Package Lists: It defines site and customer–specific packages
from SLRS and SLES that are added to the POS system image.
Application: Packages and start command.

2.2 Branch Server

The branch server (BS) provides the network boot and system management
infrastructure for the POS systems as well as a generic system platform for in-
store applications, like database systems and back-ends for the cash register
applications.

2.2.1 Functionality

The BS provides the following services:
DHCP: Controls the network boot process.
TFTP: Provides PXE control files, operating system images, and configuration
files.
XNTP: NTP server for time synchronization.
SYSLOG: The logging target for the cash register systems.
SNMP: Standard MIB2 monitoring is set up with net-snmp.
DNS: Name resolution for the local network.
The BS has a software distribution mechanism based on rsync and is able to
pull new POS operating system images from the administration server. Con-
figuration data is taken from an LDAP directory system on the AS. For large
branches, the corresponding LDAP subtree can be replicated to the BS.

2.2.2 Operating System

The BS is built from a standard SLRS or SLES operating system. An AutoY-
aST2 control file is provided for the basic setup, together with detailed doc-
umentation and tools to configure the server easily. If only the functionality
for running the POS infrastructure is necessary (no additional applications),
the branch server can also be deployed as a control terminal running on POS
hardware.
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