Overview
Edge is a central connection point for all the point of sales and access control hardware, which then connects to our Edge Platform (hosted in Gantner Cloud). The Edge Platform communicates with Recreatex and/or Enviso.
In order to ensure stable hardware integration, a mini-computing device, Edge Gateway is used on the Edge Agent side. It is a rack-mountable computer with Edge Agent pre-installed.
The Edge Gateway provides secure outbound communication to Gantner Clouds (Recreatex/Enviso). This mini device has sufficient computing capabilities for multi-vendor hardware integration.
Example of Edge in use
A visitor scans his ticket at the entrance scanner. The scanner sends the scanned ticket number to the Edge Agent, which in turn sends the ticket number to the Edge Platform for validation.
The Edge Platform checks with the database what instructions should be given based on the settings in Recreatex/Enviso. Given that the ticket number is valid, the Edge Agent will then communicate with the scanner to allow entry.
Remote configuration and monitoring
Edge Agent serves as a single point for secured communication, remote configuration, and monitoring of your connected devices.
The Logging page provides critical information and insights which help support engineers to troubleshoot specific issues when the connection is interrupted.
Highlights of Edge
Edge supports both, Recreatex and Enviso applications. It is primarily a replacement for the previous driver and the Next gen driver.
Supports Gantner and Salto's point-of-sales.
Multi-vendor support for access control partners.
Easy and secured web-based configuration that can be operated remotely.
Monitor status at the system well as device level.
Better logging and troubleshooting capabilities for the field and remote support engineers.
Supports all primary scenarios for access control, building control, and point-of-sales.
Edge architecture
In essence, the Edge Agent is installed on the device locally, which communicates with the Edge Platform. The Edge Platform communicates with the client application.
The Edge Platform consists of Edge venue(s), which is a central communication point for a customer in the Enviso Edge ecosystem.
Depending on the chosen mode of Edge service, the Edge Agent allows configuring devices, venues, Client, Agent and Platform.
Terminologies
This section explains the terms used in the Edge Agent document.
Term | Description |
|---|---|
Edge Service | There are three Edge Services, namely, All-in-one, Agent and Platform. |
Mode | It refers to how the Edge Agent will function. Depending on where your database is hosted and how your hardware devices need to communicate, a mode is selected. |
Edge Agent | The Agent is connected to the hardware of the customer. The hardware could be all POS hardware such as payment terminals, printers, scanners, and so on. The agent is used to facilitate the communication between a hardware device and the database, via Edge Platform and Client. |
Edge Venues | The venue on Enviso Edge is the central connection point for a particular customer that wants to connect with some hardware. Edge Venues behave differently depending on the selected mode.
|
Edge Platform | The Edge Platform service is a central service hosted in the cloud that can communicate with several Edge Agents locally. |
Edge Gateway | Edge Gateway is a rack-mountable mini-computing device that provides secure outbound communication to Gantner Clouds (Recreatex/Enviso). It has computing capabilities for multi-vendor hardware integration. Edge Agent is pre-installed in the Edge Gateway. |
Agent endpoint | The Edge Platform service is a central service hosted in the cloud that can communicate with several Edge Agents locally. The Agent endpoints are a connection between the Edge Platform and the Edge Agent. |
Client endpoint | The client endpoints facilitate communication between the Edge Platform or the Agent (in case of All-in-one Edge Service) and the devices such as the Recreatex sales points, vending machine, APIs that are used for access control, eg. Enviso scan API, Recreatex Access (control). |
Platform endpoint | The platform endpoints facilitate communication between the Edge Platform or the Edge Agent. |