What type of data networking products are most important for companies
in the retail industry?

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Request for Question Clarification by passive-ga on 13 Oct 2004 07:58 PDT

By data networking products, are you asking what type of
network-related computer hardware would be appropriate for a retail
setting?
If so:
Are you asking as a retailer, or someone looking for information on
what retailers need?
Also, the needs will vary by size of retailer, so if you are looking
for specifics, give us an idea of the size.

Hopefully we can help you with this.

Passive

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Clarification of Question by dantemm-ga on 13 Oct 2004 10:35 PDT

Thanks for looking into my question. Here are some points of clarification 

>>By data networking products, are you asking what type of
network-related computer hardware would be appropriate for a retail
setting?

I?m talking about the network hardware required. For example in a
small setting (like a coffee shop) you may have 2 network devices:

1. A security router with wireless and at least 1 WAN port and 1 LAN
port and VPN capabilities. Example:
http://www.sonicwall.com/products/tz170_wireless.html

2. Simple unmanaged Layer2 switch with 4 to 8 ports. Example:
http://www.alliedtelesyn.com/products/details.aspx?22
 
I?d like to know about different retail settings and what they should
have in their network. Simply saying ?a router? is not going to be
good enough because ?a router? is too vague and can cost as little as
$70 or as much as $10,000.

>> Are you asking as a retailer, or someone looking for information on
what retailers need? Also, the needs will vary by size of retailer, so
if you are looking for specifics, give us an idea of the size.

I am asking as someone looking for what retailers need. Here are the
types of retailers that would be useful to me:

-Chain stores with small locations (like a shoe store in a mall)

-Chain stores with large locations (like a Costco or Wal*Mart)

-Chain Petroleum retail/Gas Stations (like Texaco and BP)

-Chain Fast Food (like McDonalds)

-and any other types of retail organizations that you may know of or come across.

I?m most interested in retail organizations that have many locations
and need to communicate with them over a WAN connection.

I hope this helps.