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It is intended to provide you with information about the LECOLO. Bookmark this site, and use it as a first line of support when issues arise.

How the COLO Connection Works

Connecting to the COLO is actually quite simple, and once you understand a little about how it works, you should be able to diagnose connection issues yourself. We promise not to get technical here, since we want your basic "computer illiterate" to understand how this works.

We want you to think of the internet like your telephone system. When you want to call someone, you take your connectivity device, aka your phone, and you dial their number. If they answer, you're connected. If they don't answer, you're not connected.

The internet works the same way. Instead of phone numbers, the internet uses IP numbers; instead of telephones to connect, the internet uses routers. The terminology is different, but the concept is the same.This can also be applied to the COLO.

There are several components that connect your store to the COLO:

The COLO servers (runs The POS software)

Your ISP (provides the "lines" that connect you to the Internet)

Your router ( your store's traffic cop; directs traffic to the proper place)

Your PC (like your telephone)

Alphacom (makes your PC act like a telephone & does the dialing)

The COLO server runs the POS software.

Your ISP is the company that provides your bridge to the internet. They are the ones that do all the technical stuff for you.

Your router is the traffic cop. It is your gateway to your ISP, and it also acts as the firewall, protecting you from the vermin that permeate the internet. Most small business routers permit outbound traffic, and prohibits inbound traffic.

Your PC is like your phone. It is the device you use to communicate.

Alphacom is the software that makes it easy for your PC to access the POS software.

What actually happens:

The COLO servers run the POS software. When you click on the green terminal icon, you're opening the Alphacom software. Alphacom has the COLO's ip (phone) number, and tells your workstation to "dial" the COLO's IP number. It then goes out your router, and connects to the COLO server. The COLO server does a password check and opens up a POS session.

Pretty simple, isn't it?