Network Infrastructure
Reliable networking is the backbone of your restaurant technology.
Internet Requirements
| Restaurant Size | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Small (single location) | 50/10 Mbps | 100/25 Mbps |
| Large (single location) | 100/25 Mbps | 200/50 Mbps |
| Multi-location HQ | 200/50 Mbps | 500/100 Mbps |
Fiber is strongly recommended for any location running more than five connected devices. Cable is acceptable where fiber is unavailable.
Redundancy and Failover
Every location should have two independent connections:
- Primary -- fiber or cable from your main ISP
- Backup -- 4G/5G cellular via OlympusEdge or a second ISP
| Scenario | System Response |
|---|---|
| Primary down | Auto-switch to backup within 10 seconds |
| Both down | OlympusEdge enters full offline mode |
| Primary recovers | Automatic failback after 60-second stability check |
POS Network Architecture
Isolate traffic with VLANs for security and performance:
| VLAN | Purpose | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| VLAN 10 | POS and payments | Tablets, terminals, printers |
| VLAN 20 | Back of house | KDS, kitchen tablets |
| VLAN 30 | Management | Office PCs, OlympusEdge server |
| VLAN 40 | Guest WiFi | Customer devices (fully isolated) |
| VLAN 50 | IoT and signage | Digital boards, sensors, cameras |
PCI DSS requires payment devices on an isolated segment. Use WiFi 6 access points (one per 1,500 sq ft), 5 GHz for POS and 2.4 GHz for IoT/guest WiFi.
Vendor Recommendations
| Category | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Router/Firewall | Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro, Meraki MX |
| Access Points | Ubiquiti U6 Pro, Meraki MR46 |
| Switches | Ubiquiti USW Pro, Meraki MS (PoE) |
| Cellular Backup | Cradlepoint, Peplink |
Related Guides
- OlympusEdge Overview - Edge server administration
- Backup Procedures - Data protection and disaster recovery
- Network Troubleshooting - Fixing connectivity issues