Question about Unix

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10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Question about Unix

My dear friends I do apologize if this is off topic. But I question what
systems many gas station cash registers are using and I question how they
connect to the bank to change my credit/debit cards. This always fascinated
me. I see many of these places using modems. What baud are they? Then I
see large retailers like Walmart using Fibre optics or osmething of the
sort.

John

--
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not
break in and steal (Matt 6:19-20).

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10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

OT Troll Re: Question about Unix

On comp.unix.questions, in <1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net>, "Jeremiah" wrote:[color=blue]
> Subject: Question about Unix
> From: "Jeremiah" <jeremiah@truth.org>
> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:27:30 -0800
> Message-ID: <1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net>
> Lines: 17
> Organization: The kingdom of Heaven
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> X-Received-Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:23:00 PST (newsspool1.news.pas.earthlink.net)[/color]

<body not downloaded>

Well. I see that "John the Baptist Jr." is back, hiding behind
yet another Biblical name.

Told you he was a troll. From the Usenet Bible:

"Thou Shalt Not Assist Trolls."

Alan

--
[url]http://home.earthlink.net/~alanconnor/contact.html[/url]
see also: links.html and newsfilter.html
Other URLs of possible interest in my headers.
10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Re: Question about Unix

I once interviewed a guy and asked him a similar question.

He claimed to have worked for the Air Force installing and configuring radar
computer systems, but it was all classified, so he couldn't tell me anything
that he had done.

He also claimed to work for a company that installed point of sales systems
for Texaco. I asked if they used dial-up or dedicated lines. He said he
wasn't 'allowed' to say.

Needless to say, he didn't get the job.

The real answer doesn't really matter. All that has to be sent is the credit
card number (16 chars), expiration date (4 chars) amount of the sale (7
chars max) and the merchant ID. You're really only looking at under 100
characters. Even at 110 baud, you're talking under ten seconds. More than
that to dial and connect. Wait a few seconds and get a five or six char
confirmation number.

I would guess a 9600 baud modem could handle the entire load from the
busiest Wally-world store.

"Jeremiah" <jeremiah@truth.org> wrote in message
news:1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net...[color=blue]
> My dear friends I do apologize if this is off topic. But I question what
> systems many gas station cash registers are using and I question how they
> connect to the bank to change my credit/debit cards. This always[/color]
fascinated[color=blue]
> me. I see many of these places using modems. What baud are they? Then I
> see large retailers like Walmart using Fibre optics or osmething of the
> sort.
>
> John
>
> --
> Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
> where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
> in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
> where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not
> break in and steal (Matt 6:19-20).
>
>
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet[/color]
News==----[color=blue]
> [url]http://www.newsfeeds.com[/url] The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+[/color]
Newsgroups[color=blue]
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10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Re: Question about Unix

In article <maSDf.316063$qk4.31948@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, Steve Foley wrote:[color=blue]
> I would guess a 9600 baud modem could handle the entire load from the
> busiest Wally-world store.[/color]
In areas where broadband isn't used. thats eactly what
merchants do. all of their POS terminals I/O goe to the backroom where
a modem calls the Credit card service. Some stores keep their
connection to the credit card service open during the whole day. Ditto
for Debit card transactions (usually same company). I even had used
serveral ATM machines that dialuped to their banks to handshake and
pass info back and forth. ONe such ATM is in Torrington at Patco on
Main Street.

--

From the Desk of the Sysop of:
Planet Maca's Opus, a Free open BBS system. [url]telnet://pinkrose.dhis.org[/url]
The New Cnews maintainer
B'ichela
10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Re: OT Troll Re: Question about Unix

Alan Coner I need to pray for you.

"Alan Connor" <i3x9mdw@j9n35c.invalid> wrote in message
news:slrndtvaak.186.i3x9mdw@b29x3m.invalid...[color=blue]
> On comp.unix.questions, in <1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net>,
> "Jeremiah" wrote:[color=green]
>> Subject: Question about Unix
>> From: "Jeremiah" <jeremiah@truth.org>
>> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:27:30 -0800
>> Message-ID: <1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net>
>> Lines: 17
>> Organization: The kingdom of Heaven
>> Path:
>> newsspool1.news.pas.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!elnk-nf2-pas!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newshub.sdsu.edu!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!nx01.iad01.newshosting.com!newshosting.com!news-out.nntp.be!sp6iad.superfeed.net!sp6iad.superfeed.net!not-for-mail
>> Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc,comp.unix.questions
>> Reply-to: "Jeremiah" <jeremiah@truth.org>
>> X-Proxy-User: $$$hg6n0tgj
>> X-Priority: 3
>> X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>> X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
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>> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180
>> X-Report: Please report illegal or inappropriate use to
>> <abuse@newsfeeds.com>. Forward a copy of ALL headers INCLUDING the body.
>> (DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS)
>> X-Comments2: IMPORTANT: Newsfeeds.com does not condone,support,nor
>> tolerate spam or any illegal or copyrighted postings.
>> X-Comments: This message was posted through Newsfeeds.com
>> Xref: news.earthlink.net comp.unix.misc:47564 comp.unix.questions:126494
>> X-Received-Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:23:00 PST
>> (newsspool1.news.pas.earthlink.net)[/color]
>
> <body not downloaded>
>
> Well. I see that "John the Baptist Jr." is back, hiding behind
> yet another Biblical name.
>
> Told you he was a troll. From the Usenet Bible:
>
> "Thou Shalt Not Assist Trolls."
>
> Alan
>
> --
> [url]http://home.earthlink.net/~alanconnor/contact.html[/url]
> see also: links.html and newsfilter.html
> Other URLs of possible interest in my headers.[/color]

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10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Re: Question about Unix

"Steve Foley" <steve.foley@DELETEatt.net> wrote in message
news:maSDf.316063$qk4.31948@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...[color=blue]
>I once interviewed a guy and asked him a similar question.
>
> He claimed to have worked for the Air Force installing and configuring
> radar
> computer systems, but it was all classified, so he couldn't tell me
> anything
> that he had done.
>
> He also claimed to work for a company that installed point of sales
> systems
> for Texaco. I asked if they used dial-up or dedicated lines. He said he
> wasn't 'allowed' to say.
>
> Needless to say, he didn't get the job.[/color]

I guess some military people have a hard time getting employed.
[color=blue]
>
> The real answer doesn't really matter. All that has to be sent is the
> credit
> card number (16 chars), expiration date (4 chars) amount of the sale (7
> chars max) and the merchant ID. You're really only looking at under 100
> characters. Even at 110 baud, you're talking under ten seconds. More than
> that to dial and connect. Wait a few seconds and get a five or six char
> confirmation number.
>
> I would guess a 9600 baud modem could handle the entire load from the
> busiest Wally-world store.
>[/color]

But what are most companies using? 56K modems or do you think there are
plenty of old 2400 baud modems out there? Or is the bank using a 2400 baud
modem to answer the calls?

John

[color=blue]
>
> "Jeremiah" <jeremiah@truth.org> wrote in message
> news:1138721165_10369@sp6iad.superfeed.net...[color=green]
>> My dear friends I do apologize if this is off topic. But I question what
>> systems many gas station cash registers are using and I question how they
>> connect to the bank to change my credit/debit cards. This always[/color]
> fascinated[color=green]
>> me. I see many of these places using modems. What baud are they? Then
>> I
>> see large retailers like Walmart using Fibre optics or osmething of the
>> sort.
>>
>> John
>>
>> --
>> Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
>> where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
>> in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
>> where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not
>> break in and steal (Matt 6:19-20).
>>
>>
>>
>> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet[/color]
> News==----[color=green]
>> [url]http://www.newsfeeds.com[/url] The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+[/color]
> Newsgroups[color=green]
>> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption[/color]
> =----
>
>
>[/color]

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10-03-2007, 11:51 PM
unix

Re: Question about Unix

"B'ichela" <mdalene@pinkrose.local.net> wrote in message
news:Iu0Ao0.FpD@pinkrose.net.dhis.org...[color=blue]
> In article <maSDf.316063$qk4.31948@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
> Steve Foley wrote:[color=green]
>> I would guess a 9600 baud modem could handle the entire load from the
>> busiest Wally-world store.[/color]
> In areas where broadband isn't used. thats eactly what
> merchants do.[/color]

Yes there are plenty of remote areas out there. My hometown was one, until
recently when broadband came to town. But cell phone service does not exist
here (as of yet). But as soon as I find a good job I am moving to the city.

all of their POS terminals I/O goe to the backroom where[color=blue]
> a modem calls the Credit card service.[/color]

Does this go over the Internet, or is this a modem to modem connection?

Some stores keep their[color=blue]
> connection to the credit card service open during the whole day. Ditto
> for Debit card transactions (usually same company). I even had used
> serveral ATM machines that dialuped to their banks to handshake and
> pass info back and forth. ONe such ATM is in Torrington at Patco on
> Main Street.
>
> --
>
> From the Desk of the Sysop of:
> Planet Maca's Opus, a Free open BBS system. [url]telnet://pinkrose.dhis.org[/url]
> The New Cnews maintainer
> B'ichela
>
>[/color]

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