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fatality_uk
February 25th, 2008, 05:27 PM
Hi all. I have been trying to find a ready to roll Linux based ePos system for my company. Having completed a 6 month evaluation of a Linux conversion for our business, I am in the process of managing the first "real" phase of the deployment.

This will switch an initial 15 PC's to Ubuntu (Linux) and a further 2 servers. We are forced into keeping 2 Windows 2003 SBS servers as 5+ years worth of sales & business data is there, for now.

The rest of the business will be moved over the coming months, however, as part of the evaluation, a requirement for an ePos system that could link into our existing systems and/or work independently was highlighted. To date, the evaluation team have been unable to find anything to match our needs.

So, I turn to you guys. If anyone knows of any FOSS ePos system, please feel free to fire suggestions here. No matter how many or how old they may be. If I can generate a long enough list, I should be able to weed out those that are unsuitable quite quickly.

Many thanks in advance!

kamrananvaar
March 21st, 2008, 09:46 AM
hi
i was out for an epos as well , there used to be a site by linuxpos.org i think but definately was linuxpos ,not there any more but some really useful links articles etc u could try archives.

the things i have left by mailing
I,ve been looking at open source epos solutions and came across
following articles,quite intersting read
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3049201509.html
http://www.ericom.com/story_allders.asp
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2736912506.html
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3219242716.html
http://www.open-mag.com/features/Vol_30/monkey/monkey.htm
http://www.linux-pos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
http://www.open-mag.com/features/Vol_65/POS/mercator.htm
http://www.linuxbusinessweek.com/story/39193.htm?DE=1
http://www.ensight.org/archives/2004/01/08/linux-pos/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2003/07/30/linux-pos/
http://www.capterra.com/point-of-sale-software
http://www.novell.com/collateral/4613412/4613412.html
http://www.discountpos.com/viewtouch.htm


regarding epos solutions i tried to locate pizza pos but could,nt find
the link, the open source solutions there is a Free POS Software /
Free Cash Register Program(proffittcenter) by dale harris what do u
think about that and can it be ported to linux also there is a Barcode
Writer in Pure Postscript by terry burton
? do u think about turbocash ,gshop,gnupos and tuxshop
I,m new to this field and do need some expert advice so sorry for all the hassle

all the links i,ve got for open source solutions
http://www.terryburton.co.uk/barcodewriter/ (Barcode Writer in Pure
Postscript)
http://pages.prodigy.net/daleharris/pos.htm (Free POS Software /
Free Cash Register Program.)
http://english.hk.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Retail_Management/Software/Point_of_Sale/
http://www.newslave.co.uk/downloads.htm
http://www.proffittcenter.homecall.co.uk/Help/
www.bananapos.com
http://sourceforge.net/projects/redpos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/nofusspos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ntpv/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/redpos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tinapos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tkkasse/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/fisterra/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/inhunmi/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/freemercator/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ck-ledger/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/vt/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tuxshop/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ck-erp/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/quickorder/
http://www.javapos.com/
http://sarovar.org/projects/openpos/
http://l-ane.net/
http://nola.noguska.com/gpage.html
http://www.compiere.org/
http://gshop.sourceforge.net/
http://www.linux-pos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
http://auto-auction.sourceforge.net/
http://www.turbocashuk.com/Accounting-software-help.html
http://www.discountpos.com/viewtouch.htm
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnupos/
http://paginas.ccm.itesm.mx/~00924689/postre.html
http://mozpos.sourceforge.net/

http://www.linuxcanada.com/ ( Quasar Accounting 1.4.3 Available
in Open Source)
http://www.lynuxworks.com/products/bluecat/bluecat-linux-pos.php


http://www.lynuxworks.com/
http://www.viewtouch.com/
also
http://www.carltoncollins.com/pos/pos1.html (Comprehensive Listing
of All Known Point of Sale Solutions)
http://english.hk.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Retail_Management/Software/Point_of_Sale/

? do u think about bluecat-linux-pos
is there a newsgroup about epos on linux or a forum ,can we start a
thread on liux pakistan???

some open source epos links
http://www.carltoncollins.com/pos/pos1.html (Comprehensive Listing
of All Known Point of Sale Solutions)
http://www.terryburton.co.uk/barcodewriter/ (Barcode Writer in Pure
Postscript)
http://pages.prodigy.net/daleharris/pos.htm (Free POS Software /
Free Cash Register Program.)
http://english.hk.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Retail_Management/Software/Point_of_Sale/
http://www.newslave.co.uk/downloads.htm
http://www.proffittcenter.homecall.co.uk/Help/
www.bananapos.com
http://sourceforge.net/projects/redpos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/nofusspos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ntpv/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/redpos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tinapos/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tkkasse/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/fisterra/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/inhunmi/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/freemercator/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ck-ledger/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/vt/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/tuxshop/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/ck-erp/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/quickorder/
http://www.javapos.com/
http://sarovar.org/projects/openpos/
http://l-ane.net/
http://nola.noguska.com/gpage.html
http://www.compiere.org/
http://gshop.sourceforge.net/
http://www.linux-pos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
http://auto-auction.sourceforge.net/
http://www.turbocashuk.com/Accounting-software-help.html
http://www.discountpos.com/viewtouch.htm
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnupos/
http://paginas.ccm.itesm.mx/~00924689/postre.html
http://mozpos.sourceforge.net/

http://www.linuxcanada.com/ ( Quasar Accounting 1.4.3 Available
in Open Source)
http://www.lynuxworks.com/products/bluecat/bluecat-linux-pos.php

sometimes u need to look at what the competitors got and get ideas that u might be able to implement in ur own epos or get someone to do it for u
windoz epos links
http://www.multipos.com.ar/ (Multi
Pos for Restaurant 3.01)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/353844.html (Retail Man POS 1.50.821)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/341566.html (Retail Plus Lite POS
Software 1.0)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/335346.html (ezPower POS (Point
of Sale) 8.0)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/343806.html (Retail Plus POS Software 2.0)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/319559.html (4POS Retail 62.00)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/220716.html (MainRetail 2.0)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/195265.html (PowerTerm InterConnect 6.6.2)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/351253.html (Volutive 1.1.0)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/290985.html (Winrental 398.00)
http://www.tucows.com/preview/260596.html (Retail Boss POS
(Point of Sale) 9.9c)http://www.retailbosspos.com/
http://www.ccrsystems.co.uk/epos_office.htm
http://www.accpac.com/products/epos/
http://www.opensys.com.hk/openpos.htm
http://www.r-kidz.co.uk/software/
http://www.comcash.com/
http://www.capterra.com/point-of-sale-software

news
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3049201509.html
http://www.ericom.com/story_allders.asp
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2736912506.html
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3219242716.html
http://www.open-mag.com/features/Vol_30/monkey/monkey.htm
http://www.linux-pos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
http://www.open-mag.com/features/Vol_65/POS/mercator.htm
http://www.linuxbusinessweek.com/story/39193.htm?DE=1
http://www.ensight.org/archives/2004/01/08/linux-pos/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2003/07/30/linux-pos/
http://www.capterra.com/point-of-sale-software
http://www.novell.com/collateral/4613412/4613412.html

Here is a list of most of the proprietary software packages I checked
out. I will not rank them because it depends on price. A good value
one was http://www.fbsaust.com.au but it was still well over AU$40,000
for our business. But some of these were AU$100 - 200,000 for an SME
like us.

Arel Retail http://www.arelretail.com
2Clix http://www.dnmcomputers.com.au/2clix/2clixframeset.htm
Acumen http://www.acumensystems.com.au
AdvanceRetail http://www.advanceretail.com
AMC http://www.amc.com.au
Counter Intelligence http://www.kudos.net.au
Creative Computing http://www.creativecomputing.com.au
Enigma Solutions http://www.esol.com.au
Fujitsu http://au.fujitsu.com/FAL/CDA/Articles/0,1029,379,00.html
Futura http://www.futura4retail.com
Future Business Solutions http://www.fbsaust.com.au
JDA Software http://www.e3corp.com
Merlin http://www.kendle.com.au
Micro Solutions http://www.micro-solutions.com.au
Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/Retail%20Management/default.mspx
MYOB http://www.myob.com.au/products/retailmanager
POSPerfect http://www.posperfect.com
Pronto Software http://www.pronto.com.au
RetailWorks http://www.pacsoft.net
Retek http://www.retek.com
SmallBiz http://www.smallbiz.net.au
Surefire http://www.surefire.com.au
Sym-Pac http://www.sympac.com.au/FS_SOLUTIONS.HTM
System 77 http://www.system77.com.au
Technology One http://www.techone.com.au
Thomson Data Corp http://www.thomsondatacorporation.com
Univex http://www.univex.com
Whitech http://www.whitechsolutions.com

Open source you would know:
Compiere www.compiere.org
Banana www.bananapos.com

Plus a few more but they were not seriously considered.

If you want more, just ask.

about ideas for epos
One solution is Gazelle, from GNU Solutions in the UK.

Gazelle was one of the first POS Linux platforms out there and has an
installed user base with customers such as Budgens and Krispy Kreme.
Its developed and sold by GNU Solutions and its partner PCMS.

PCMS btw. has standardised on Gazelle for its Beanstore product -
which is interesting since PCMS have also done work with IBM on IRES
in the past.

Gazelle differs from IRES in a number of ways.

First its a dual layer OS. It consists of a small Linux distro about
16MB in size that provides device driver, setup, integrety checking,
install, SSH, web and autoconfiguration components.

It always runs and can do so from a disk bootstrap, CDROM or network.
Thus if your disk crashes, or the system gets corrupt, it will always
run and allow you to log into the system and find out what went wrong
and implement a manual or automatic fix.

Since it runs in a ramdisk, its also imune from hacking and deliberate
modifications, since the next time you reboot, the changes made
disapear.

This service layer then starts your application in a run time
environment, that is a complete POS Linux distribution that can
provide all the services required for Java, X and database.

Key libraries are checksummed at build time and if these libraries are
modified, then the system will refuse to run - allowing a greater
level of trojan and card collection hacking protection.

Gazelle, unlike IRES is designed from the ground up to be a POS
opperating system and thus its smaller and more reliable. IRES is
based on a Server product and has a number of wrappers applied to it
during build that tweak the OS to work in a POS environment. Since
IRES is based on SUSE Linux, IBM may not have complete control of the
distribution, Gazelle on the other hand is a complete source neutral
product and thus we have complete control over how its build, what
goes into it and how it works. This allows us a greater level of
flexibility and control that can be reflected in delivering what the
customer needs, not what the vendor thinks is required.

Also, because we are not a Vendor solution, we can also run on many
different POS platforms including Wincor, PCPOS, HP and fujitsu as
well as IBM hardware - thus as a customer, you are not tied into a
vendors hardware platform, allowing you to take advantages of a more
competetive pricing landscape.

If you want more information on Gazelle, please feel free to drop us a
line, or visit the web site at www.gnu-solutions.com

kamrananvaar
March 21st, 2008, 09:47 AM
epos ideas
I want to make a point-of-sale Portal site that will enable any store
to securly give in stock, make sales, inventory and even orders and
transfers to other stores of his allowed group. There is a very large
request around this here in uk, but I guess also worldwide
because I didn't find it anywhere!
This website will need a very, very large database or be able to start
another databases for each new loged-in (and paid) customer. There is
a lot to earn even asking very low prices!

An Example:
- Surfing the web I find this interesting online point-of-sale site.
I just need to log in and I can start selling my products, for 1 free
month.

After that I can pay a small amount that represents the sales I make
(maybe 0.1% or just 1 penny for each product sold) or with a
bank-deposit done a few days before with a special referance (there
are a lot of countries that don't have that much creditcards in use)

- Then I go to "sales" I type in the product name or barcode(could use
a keyboard switched barcode-reader) Because it ain't in stock, the
program asks for the name, price and amount in stock and updates the
stock.
The received money has been entered, ticket printed on standard
printer and I've made my first sale with it!!!

- Then some day I read in the hole stock entering the price and
product names for each not already existing read barcode. And now I
have all the products in my online database!!! I can even upload a
ASCII or Excel file lay out just the way the website askes it.

- Inventory with placing a 20 meters cable between the barcode-reader
and keyboard-switch. Using a barcode-card for entering the amount of 1
product before the product is being scanned. The PC gives sounds or
even speaks for what is happening. So there is only 1 input field that
automaticly sees if it is an instruction, barcode or amount. So I've
got now my entier stock online!!!

- I can go to logs and have sales charts and statistics.

- I can download all my data(stock,sales,transfers,...) in a textfile
or excel sheet.

-I can add other stores that can have a look in my stock and make/ask
transfers and orders.

-I can add logins with passes for employees.

kamrananvaar
March 21st, 2008, 09:48 AM
Over the past few years, Retail Systems Reseller and other industry
magazines have tended to support proprietary solutions, whether they
were constructed in-house or built on top of Microsoft operating
systems. The best explanation for their support is that older
solutions tended to be in-house proprietary or built on top of a small
real-time kernel. This situation was necessary, because a lot of
functionality had to be crammed into a slow CPU with limited RAM.

As inexpensive CPUs became faster and RAM became larger, purchasing
more software became cost-effective, because there now was space and
speed to run less optimal solutions. In return, device drivers no
longer had to be written for many common peripherals. The downside, of
course, is the OS now had to be treated as a black box; previously, it
was code that could be viewed and modified as needed.

Some vendors, IBM being one example, recognized the advantage of
building point-of-sale systems based on Linux. Device drivers were
included with these systems, and the source code was accessible.
Unfortunately, industry trade magazines didn't seem get it.

Now, however, things are starting to change. The September Products to
Watch section of Retail Systems Reseller contains two examples. First,
the LC6000 Industrial Computer, by Logic Controls, is described as
follows, "The LC6000 is based on an Intel-compatible x86 processor, so
it can run many Windows and Linux-based applications." Assuming this
statement isn't marketing hype, this is positive because this system
is completely solid-state, including the flash disk. In other words,
Logic isn't saying you only can boot your Linux CD here.

Although less dramatic, the second example is the Flex POS by Touch
Dynamic. The description reads, "The unit ships with an internal
floppy and an optional 3.5" hard drive with any operating system." The
choice of the word any is a little strange, but it certainly sounds
like Touch Dynamic has noticed choices are available.
Getting into This Market

Seeing this new Microsoft-free approach in a magazine like Retail
Systems Reseller made me think about business opportunities for Linux
in this market. Although writing a complete POS system is possible,
doing so is a huge project. Besides that, some of these systems
already exist. So, what other possibilities are there? Scanning the
magazine further provided some inspiration.

The first idea comes from an ad for Ithaca printers. No mention of
Linux is made, but the ad is for wireless receipt printers--they speak
802.11b. Some POS systems likely exist (in a restaurant, for example)
with an assortment of wired printers that don't really address the
needs of the business but with hardware that cannot support more
printers or wireless printers. How about a Linux box with an 802.11b
card that plugs into the POS printer port and does some intelligent
printer traffic routing? You may not get rich off this system, but you
probably could get your and Linux's foot in the door for a future
conversion.

I continue scanning the magazine's pages, and I see an article titled
"The Government Plays Market-Maker". First, the author discusses how
retailers are dragging their feet on full-scale POS replacement
because of the soft market, but then explains that some add-ons are
being required because of government legislation. The most common
piece of legislation is that many states require stores to provide a
customer-accessible device that scans barcodes and displays product
prices. This stipulation is made so stores can avoid individual
product price labels. Providing this device, of course, requires a
system that can access the price database of the current POS system.
It seems Linux is game for that task. So, why not a Linux-based unit
that allows customers to look up prices? While you're at it, be
creative and have it display ads when not showing prices or even offer
a coupon system.

Finally, I read an article titled "Post-Modern Scanning Draws VARs"
that essentially is about the need for new scanning devices to handle
2-D barcodes. Shipping companies, such as UPS, are using them, and
they also are appearing on drivers' licenses. These barcodes require
newer software, as well as more CPU power, to be decoded than do
traditional barcodes.

So, if you feel you have written enough computer games and want to see
if you can make some money with Linux, I hope I have provided you with
some ideas for projects. In each case, what you do now could be the
ticket for getting Linux in the door in preparation for the next major
POS upgrade.

kamrananvaar
March 21st, 2008, 12:30 PM
BEL SBX 1-4 Final
belsbx1-4final.iso = BEL Server-Basic 1-4 Xfce Final

BEL SBX is a Small Business server based on PCLInuxOS 2007, but using a modified Xfce interface to make a lighter, faster GUI experience for those who come from another server background ( like maybe Windows Server) or perhaps are visually oriented people, finding their way around the OS/system better when they can "see" things. It takes all kinds of users and we aim to please as many of them as possible.

BEL SBX can be run easily with this light, fast and resource easy GUI or it can be run just as easily without any GUI at all, saving on the resources the x window systems uses natively. Either way, SBX users will have a small business server that can perform with the best of them.
http://pclosbe.org/mwiki/index.php?title=BEL_Server-Basic_Xfce
http://pclosbe.org/phpbb/index.php

http://linuxtracker.org/download.php?id=5012&name=belsbx1-4final.iso.torrent

Keldix Linux
Keldix is a Linux distribution primarily for the Small business Office and Home Office (SOHO) market. Keldix is a live-dvd built on PCLinuxOS.

Keldix has the following features:

* Danish translations
* Skype
* shorewall firewall automatically activated
* automatic setting of syncronized time
* login by password or ssh passphrase
* dr.dk TV is working
http://keldix.com/

kamrananvaar
March 21st, 2008, 02:24 PM
hi.
sorry if the above looks a bit mismatched , thats all i could gather,do have a look at IS4C by co ops
more about that here
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/322550.shtml

http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com/2005/08/worlds-first-open-source-point-of-sale.html

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/13/0116212
http://www.roseindia.net/opensource/open-source-pos.shtml
http://www.durhamfoodcoop.org/pos
http://www.linux.com/articles/56598
http://www.cooperativegrocer.coop/articles/index.php?id=588

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_August_7/ai_77024948
http://www.robertpeake.com/index.php?/archives/100-Open-Source-POS-With-PHP.html


http://www.openden.com/viewprod.php?pid=70885817812&mcatid=564040362135&scatid=46399511378&set=
http://www.openden.com/point-of-sale.php
http://www.openden.com/business-software.php
http://www.openden.com/index.php

the one i liked was dhpos or dale harris pos its dos based but not open source , though it does depend on your need, what u intend it for , plz do let us know how u get on and oh sorry forgott to mention
http://www.aegislinux.com/
the forums down at the moment but did have a healthy discussion there and loads of links
also if u find any useful links etc keep us posted

thankss

regomodo
March 21st, 2008, 02:58 PM
hi.
sorry if the above looks a bit mismatched , thats all i could gather
thankss

You shouldn't have to apologise. You've done more than enough

kamrananvaar
March 22nd, 2008, 09:49 PM
http://www.openbravo.com/product/pos/

http://dev.emcelettronica.com/Top-POS-resources
http://ofbiz.apache.org/
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/24/2012230
http://www.retail-it.info/
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8365122751.html
http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/02/007254

kamrananvaar
March 24th, 2008, 05:11 PM
http://www.paul-boggia.me.uk/LinuxDistros.htm

What is HospitalityMachine?

HospitalityMachine is a self-booting 'Live CD' containing a complete and modern desktop operating system and suite of applications. It is targeted towards owners and managers of bars, pubs, clubs, cafes, etc.
http://www.hospitalitymachine.co.uk/

fatality_uk
March 24th, 2008, 09:03 PM
kamrananvaar thanks so much. I come back from 4 days away and see THIS lot. Seriously, you have done a great deal of work there and I imagine I will have about 3 months worth of reading there ;)
One of the aims of my project is to release us from the constraints placed upon us by our current ERP solution provider and to support a good EPOS project.

kamrananvaar
March 25th, 2008, 01:37 PM
hi fatality_uk have u got a project going on ? or thinking to start one, the hospitality project by paul-boggia is also from the uk ,also there is the business edition by pclinuxos team thats quite good , it all comes down to what ur after, i got these links by looking for a solution to get rid of epops lock in, they charge u more for the yearly contract and stuff , some of the links are dead like the ones pointing to linuxpos.org ,what a loss they had realy good discussions,links technical specs and examples etc

if its for a grocery store the one i liked was dhpos but its not opensource or i would have even paid someone to get the news agent feature and video rental feature in it ,also do have a look at IS4C by co ops its for the cop store round the corner , as its developed by people already in the business its really functional

plz keep us posted on the progress

Noel McShane
November 10th, 2009, 12:07 AM
Hi Guys

I run an epos system on Suse linux servers. It is a dos epos system which we run across seventeen stores
in Ireland. The system is called EPOS 2000 from Avon business computers based in Bristol.
This has proven to be a very good solution over the last ten years and with use of both Linux and dosemu
I hope it will for some time to come.

Regards

Noel McShane

noelhome@hickeyfabrics.ie