Modem Server Option The Modem Server Option allows Windows workstations to share modems for EDC authorizations and settlement transactions.

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1 Modem Server Option The Modem Server Option allows Windows workstations to share modems for EDC authorizations and settlement transactions. 3/29/2004

2 Modem Server Option 2 Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Overview... 3 Who Should Use Modem Server?...4 Requirements for Running Modem Server...4 Setting up Modem Server... 5 Overview of Modem Server setup... 5 Contact your EDC processor... 5 Configure SYNEDC.CFG... 5 Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture... 6 Using Modem Server... 7 Starting Modem Server...7 Point of Sale / Draft capture / Modem server...7 Automatic startup...8 Processing EDC requests... 8 Authorization...8 Settlement...9 Modem Server status screen...10 Viewing active modem servers Shutting down a modem server...11 Viewing the Server Zoom window...12

3 Modem Server Option 3 Introduction Overview Modem Server is designed to be used in high-volume CounterPoint network environments. By leaving the phone connection to the processor open after completing one authorization, Modem Server allows subsequent authorizations to take place more rapidly. With Modem Server, processing time for each authorization can decrease to as little as 3-5 seconds. (Actual performance varies widely and depends on the service level of the card processor, quality of the phone lines, modems, and many other factors.) Modem Server is a separate application that runs on a CounterPoint workstation. Other Windows workstations send their authorization requests to Modem Server, then Modem Server obtains the authorization and returns the authorization to the requesting workstation. In a typical Modem Server configuration, a dedicated workstation acts as the Modem Server for multiple client registers. While you can use the Modem Server computer as a ticket entry workstation (by running another instance of CounterPoint in a separate window), you may find that ticket entry performance is unacceptably slow on this workstation. If you are using CPGateway and your local Internet service fails (your ISP or communication lines go down), CounterPoint will automatically switch to dialup mode and call your card processor directly CounterPoint will automatically use the Modem Server Option, if available (see the Credit Card Setup chapter or visit Two instances of Modem Server can be active on the same computer (running in two separate windows) as long as two modems are attached to this workstation. An example Modem Server configuration is shown in the diagram below: Workstation 1 CounterPoint running ticket entry Workstation 2 CounterPoint running ticket entry Workstation 3 CounterPoint running ticket entry Modem 1 Dials phone # 1 Workstation 4 CounterPoint running 2 Modem Servers Modem 2 Dials phone # 2

4 Modem Server Option 4 Who Should Use Modem Server? You should consider using Modem Server if your location: Requires EDC authorizations more frequently than one per minute OR Runs CounterPoint in a networked environment (NetWare or Windows NT). NOTE: Modem Server is not available for CounterPoint for Unix. Requirements for Running Modem Server CounterPoint running in a network environment (NetWare or Windows NT). A workstation running CounterPoint (this workstation does not have to be dedicated to Modem Server it can also be used as a workstation for ticket entry if slow performance is acceptable for that workstation). A phone line and modem for each authorization phone number. Additional CP users aren t required if Modem Server is started in automatic mode. An additional Pervasive user is needed to run Modem Server on an extra machine. The previous example configuration would require a 3-user CounterPoint configuration (one user for each workstation running Ticket Entry) and a minimum 4-user Pervasive configuration).

5 Modem Server Option 5 Setting up Modem Server Overview of Modem Server setup 1. Follow the normal draft capture setup steps as described in Getting Started, Chapter Contact your processor to arrange for them to leave your connection open (see Contact your EDC processor, page 5). 3. Add the RCY switch to SYNEDC.CFG (see Configure SYNEDC.CFG, page 5). 4. Assign a Server Group ID to each EDC phone number (see Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture, page 6). Contact your EDC processor Before using Modem Server, you must contact your EDC processor to arrange for them to leave your connection open for an adequate period of time after each transaction. This service is often called multi-tran (multiple authorization transactions on a single phone call) or retain connection. Some processors (such as PNC, the processor used by the Counterpoint Merchant Program) will hold the line open for up to 60 seconds, while other processors may only allow shorter periods of time. Configure SYNEDC.CFG CounterPoint EDC processing requires a configuration file called SYNEDC.CFG, as described in the Draft Capture chapter. This file contains parameters specific to your processor along with any required modem initialization string. To use Modem Server, you must add the RCY switch to SYNEDC.CFG. This switch tells your processor to leave the connection open for subsequent transactions. NOTE: If you are using multiple modems that require different initialization strings, you will need to create a separate configuration file for each modem (as described in the Draft Capture chapter). Adding the RCY switch Add RCY\ to the end of the first line of the configuration file. For example: \PL1234\MS13\MZ38138\ would become: \PL1234\MS13\MZ38138\RCY\ NOTE: If the first line of the configuration file contains only a tilde character (~), add a blank line above the tilde and enter \RCY\ on the new first line. For additional information on using the RCY switch see the Credit Card Setup chapter.

6 Modem Server Option 6 Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture Select Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture to assign a Server Group ID to each phone number used for EDC transaction processing. Server Group ID s can consist of any one or two characters you choose. For example, if you use two phone numbers for EDC transaction processing, you might use 1 and 2 as the Server Group ID s, but you could also use S1 and S2, or VS and AM (for Visa and American Express), etc. The Server Group ID s you define here are used when starting Modem Server to identify which phone number the Modem Server should dial. NOTE: The software does not prevent you from assigning the same Server Group ID to different phone numbers. This configuration does provide the advantage of requiring only a single phone line and modem. However, this configuration doesn t work with retain connection, so the RCY switch should be removed from SYNEDC.CFG, and each authorization will require a separate phone call.

7 Modem Server Option 7 Using Modem Server Starting Modem Server Point of Sale / Draft capture / Modem server Select Point of Sale / Draft capture / Modem server from a CounterPoint workstation to start Modem Server. Server Group ID: Enter the Server Group ID that corresponds to the phone number this Modem Server should dial. The Server Group ID must match an ID that has already been defined in Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture. If you specify the same Server Group ID for multiple instances of Modem Server, those servers will share workstation requests in round-robin fashion (i.e., the first available server will process each request). Using Server Groups of multiple Modem Servers enables you to process multiple requests simultaneously and to continue operations if one server fails. WARNING: Do not assign the same Server Group ID to different phone numbers. Device ID: Enter the device ID of the modem (e.g., COM1, COM2, etc.) Log filename: Specify the name of the file to use for logging Modem Server activity (e.g., xx.log, where xx is the Modem Server ID) <blank> To disable logging

8 Modem Server Option 8 If you specify a log filename, the server will log: When it was started and stopped Authorization requests with authorization code Settlement requests with batch number All error responses (e.g., device errors and host returned errors) The log file is located in the CounterPoint top-level directory. NOTE: If the specified file already exists, log entries are appended to the end of the file. You should periodically archive and/or delete the log file to conserve disk space. WARNING: Each instance of Modem Server should use a different log file to prevent confusing data in the log file. Any change? Specify whether to make any changes to the information on this screen. When you answer N to Any change?, the Modem Server Status window appears (see Modem Server Status Screen on page 10). Automatic startup If you want to start Modem Server automatically from a batch file such as AUTOEXEC.BAT, you can use the following commands (in the order indicated): SET EDCSERVER = xx,com#,xx.log (Where xx is the Server Group ID, com# is the device ID, and xx.log is the optional log filename.) SET WINEDC=WINxxx (Where WINxxx is the base filename of the.exe file for your processor, as described in the Draft Capture chapter.) SET WINSYN=/EF:SYNEDC.xxx (Where SYNEDC.xxx is the specific EDC configuration file for this Modem Server workstation.) SYNRUNW company A user-id PS/PSMSVO (Where company is the CounterPoint company ID and user-id is a valid CounterPoint user ID.) When you execute a batch file containing these commands, CounterPoint will start automatically and the Modem Server Status window will appear (see Modem Server status screen on page 10). Processing EDC requests Authorization When you accept payment in ticket entry using one of the EDC pay codes, the workstation will automatically contact the appropriate Modem Server. You will see the following sequence of messages at the bottom of the ticket entry screen:

9 Modem Server Option 9 Sending request to server group xx press F1 to cancel Waiting for response from server please wait The Modem Server processes the request and automatically returns the response to the workstation. No active servers in group xx - (A)bort, (R)etry or process (L)ocally? This message displays if there are no active servers with the Server Group ID assigned to this pay code s phone number. Press: A To abort this EDC transaction and specify a different pay code R To retry the transaction using the same Server Group ID L To process the EDC transaction locally instead of using a Modem Server NOTE: In order to process an EDC transaction locally, the workstation must have its own modem and phone line, and the proper modem device code must be specified in Setup / Point of Sale / Registers for the current register. NOTE: If the workstation is running in offline mode (using the Offline Ticket Entry Option), local processing is attempted automatically. Modem Server is not available while in offline mode. Settlement If the settlement phone number defined in Setup / Point of Sale / Stores / Draft capture specifies a Server Group ID, then the workstation will automatically send settlement requests to the appropriate Modem Server when you select Point of Sale / Draft capture / Settle. No active servers in group xx - (A)bort, (R)etry or process (L)ocally? This message displays if there are no active servers with the Server Group ID assigned to the settlement phone number. Press: A To abort settlement L To perform settlement locally instead of using a Modem Server You may find that settlement is slower using Modem Server. Local processing is recommended for EDC settlement. NOTE: In order to perform settlement locally, the workstation must have its own modem and phone line, and the proper modem device code must be specified in Setup / Point of Sale / Registers for the current register. NOTE: If the workstation is running in offline mode (using the Offline Ticket Entry Option), local processing is attempted automatically. Modem Server is not available while in offline mode.

10 Modem Server Option 10 Modem Server status screen The Modem Server Status screen displays when you start Modem Server. This screen displays: How long the server has been running since it was last started General performance statistics The last few requests made to the Modem Server (with the current request at the top), along with their results A complete list of requests is written to the log file, if you specified a log file when you started the Modem Server. NOTE: Response and Time are blank for the current request. These fields are valid only for completed requests. When the Modem Server is idle, Request displays None and the Received time updates continuously to indicate that the server is still active. While the Modem Server is processing a request, the following sequence of messages displays at the bottom of the screen: Initializing modem press F1 to cancel Dialing press F1 to cancel Waiting for answer press F1 to cancel Waiting for host press F1 to cancel Transmitting press F1 to cancel Waiting for response press F1 to cancel Receiving press F1 to cancel Terminating press F1 to cancel While processing messages are displayed:

11 Modem Server Option 11 Press F1 to abort this transaction. While the Modem Server is idle: Press F1 to shut down this Modem Server. OK to shutdown server? This question appears when you press F1 to shut down the Modem Server. Specify whether to shut down this Modem Server by pressing Y or N. NOTE: The Modem Server is active but unavailable to service workstation requests while the question displays on the Modem Server screen. Viewing active modem servers Select Point of Sale / View / Modem servers from any CounterPoint workstation. The View modem servers screen shows all active Modem Servers. Press F1 to refresh the list and update the current status of all Modem Servers. Press F3 to shut down the highlighted Modem Server (see Shutting down a Modem Server, page 11). Press F6 to display the Server zoom window for detailed information about the highlighted Modem Server (see Viewing the Server zoom window on page 12).Use the Up Arrow/Down Arrow, Page Up/Page Down, or Home/End keys to move between the active Modem Servers. Shutting down a modem server You can shut down a Modem Server from the Modem Server Status screen that displays on the Modem Server itself by pressing F1 when the Modem Server is idle. To shut down a Modem Server from a remote workstation, use Point of Sale / View / Modem servers and highlight the Modem Server you want to shut down. Specify whether to shut down the highlighted Modem Server by pressing Y or N. OK to shutdown server? This question appears when you press F1 to shut down the highlighted Modem Server. Specify whether to shut down this Modem Server by pressing Y or N. NOTE: The Modem Server remains active and available to service workstation requests while the question displays on the View modem servers screen.

12 Modem Server Option 12 Server shutting down Press F1 to cancel This message appears when you answer Y to OK to shutdown server? Press F1 to cancel the Modem Server shutdown. Viewing the Server Zoom window Press F1 to display the Server zoom window for detailed information about the highlighted Modem Server. The Server zoom window shows the same information that displays on the Modem Server Status screen (see Modem Server Status screen on page 10). When a Modem Server is processing a request, the process messages appear automatically in the Server zoom window. You can abort transactions using F1 just as you can from the Modem Server itself. Press Esc to close the zoom window. NOTE: You cannot shut down a Modem Server from the Server zoom window.