The Hardware Gateway
The communications Gateways provide a reliable infrastructure to the field hardware which has its own robust communications. Note that clients send communications to the gateways through the Application Server. Clients and gateways do not communicate directly with each other, all communication goes through the Application Server.
Gateway to Controllers
On startup of the Gateway Service, the service requests its configuration from the Application Server. This configuration includes a list of controllers, communication parameters and cardholders. The service uses the communication parameters to open serial ports, dial modems, or open TCP sockets for communication with the controllers.Once the communication channels have been created, the controllers are "attached" to the channel according to their configuration. The setup of the communication channels for each gateway is covered in 'Communication Channels Setup'.
Gateway Limitations
Doors.NET supports multiple gateways and also co-habiting gateways (of different hardware types), however, only one gateway of each hardware type can be installed per PC. If multiple gateways are required of the SAME hardware type then gateways would need to be installed on multiple PCs. If an installation requires gateways of a different type, for example; PXL and NXT gateways (one of each type) then these can both be installed on the same PC.