THE SITUATION
Today’s typical retail network supports
many different types of applications, such
as Point of Sale (POS) terminals, voice
key systems or PBXs, routers for Internet
access, and Virtual Private Network (VPN)
appliances for secure corporate Intranet
access. And typically, these applications
are supported by an assortment of different
carriers and service providers. The goal
of the Retail Industry is to find ways
to reduce overall transport costs, to simplify
billing, and to streamline operations.
THE CHALLENGE
- To avoid the high cost
of a system upgrade, network managers
want to leverage existing installed
base of voice PBXs, legacy POS terminals,
and other equipment while implementing
a graceful migration to an IP-based
network. In addition, they want to:
- Reduce
transport costs by consolidating carrier
services in use and moving towards
broadband access technologies.
- Increase network
visibility, while dramatically improving
manageability, availability, and survivability.
- Provide a secure foundation for
transmitting electronic transactions
over the public IP infrastructure.
- Introduce a reliable,
cost-effective method for remote support
and management that will reduce high
operational costs.
THE SOLUTION
Encore Networks’ BANDIT-Plus™
— a purpose-built, multi-service IP+Legacy
VPN device that easily consolidates multiple
services and applications over its single
platform ELIOS™ operating system — is
an ideal product for the Retail Industry.
The versatile BANDIT-Plus™ accommodates
voice, data, VPN, and security applications
over a single broadband network connection.
It also supports TDM voice termination
via “drop & insert” functionality,
as well as Voice over IP (VoIP) via an
Ethernet interface. With IP Quality of
Service (QoS) support, the BANDIT-Plus™
identifies, classifies, prioritizes,
and tags VoIP traffic. In addition, the
BANDIT-Plus™ can seamlessly connect many
different legacy PoS terminals, while
setting the stage for migration to a
broadband IP infrastructure.
The BANDIT-Plus™
features built-in VPN support using IPSec
or GRE, IP routing, and stateful inspection.
It is a complementary, integrated IP+Legacy
VPN solution that enables retail institutions
to send financial transactions and other
sensitive information over secure, broadband
IP network connections.
The BANDIT-Plus’
extensive monitoring capabilities that
extend to Layers 1–4 enable network operators
to watch for traffic disruptions on all
ports. Carriers and enterprise customers
can drill down and locate the sources
of problems that would be otherwise hidden.
BANDIT-Plus™ KEY
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Built-in
support for IP routing using GRE or
IPSec with stateful inspection for
VPN
- Ability
to aggregate a large number of remote
sites and locations
- Support of TDM
voice termination via drop & insert
or VoIP over Ethernet
- Extensive IP
QoS and traffic management features
- Support
for legacy data protocols, such as
SDLC, bisync, TC500 Poll Select, polled
async, X.25, and others
- Optional serial T1
CSU or 56/64 kbps DSU for simplified
network deployment
- Higher availability
via built-in dial backup and service
fail-over
- Agnostic to broadband access
technologies (DSL, cable, satellite)
NETWORK
CONFIGURATION 
SUMMARY
Encore Networks offers compelling
solutions for migrating retail networks
from legacy to packet-based networks:
- Reduces transport costs by consolidating
applications over a single carrier
and migrating networks to a broadband
IP infrastructure
- Supports legacy protocols,
such as TC500 Poll Select, bisync,
and X.25 for seamless connections over
existing equipment
- Offers investment protection
for existing installed bases of PBXs,
routers/FRADs, and POS terminals
- Provides
enhanced security via built-in IPSec
or GRE VPN and stateful inspection
- Streamlines
operations via superior built-in diagnostic,
troubleshooting, and remote management
capabilities over the proven ELIOS™
operating system
|
