Network Requirements

This document is intended for Information Technology staff to prepare a site for Bbot installation by either a contractor or the customer. This document assumes that restaurant management has already determined the locations for tablets and printers.

Please also see our Dedicated Network Setup Guide to help create a safe and secure environment for your hardware and connections.

During a typical Bbot hardware installation, you will install:
  1. Tablets
  2. Ethernet printers (if not using existing networked printers)
  3. One Bbot printer control box
Bbot’s printer control box is a small Linux computer that will be installed in the networking closet. It connects to the Bbot server to receive a print queue. It then sends print commands to networked printers, such as Epson models TM-U220 and TM-T88.
The printer control box is equipped with two Network Interface Cards (NICs), to support restaurants where the printer network is separate from the internet-connected network (this is common in Enterprise environments).
This usually does not apply to small-business network setups: Some Enterprise networks have a restrictive firewall that prevents outgoing connections. If so, please configure it to allow the connection types below.
52.34.23.5
54.202.83.14
TCP outbound Ports 80, 443
35.166.57.55
TCP outbound Port 22
8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 TCP and UDP outbound Port 53

Additionally, the outbound connection must be allowed within the protocols below.

  • ssh to robots.bbot.menu (This has a guaranteed IP address that can be whitelisted)
  • https to bbot.menu (This does not have a guaranteed IP address that can be whitelisted)

If bbot.menu cannot be whitelisted based on the DNS hostname, then the below fall-back servers can be used. (Please note, the use of proxy servers is less preferred)

  • https to proxy1.bbot.menu
  • https to proxy2.bbot.menu

Bbot Network Architecture Options

(Option A will almost always and is preferred)

Physical Network Detailed Requirements 

Prep stations: 

  1. Each Bbot tablet location, if an Elo Tablet, should have AC power and an Ethernet connection to the internet. Samsung tablets need to be connected to wifi.
  2. The Bbot tablets do not need to be on the same network as the printers. 

If Ethernet printers are being installed: 

  1. Each new printer location should have AC power and an Ethernet connection to a network switch. 
  2. The Bbot printer control box requires a connection to the printers’ network switch and an internet connection. Therefore, either 
    1. The above switch should have a connection to the internet, or 
    2. Alternatively, an internet-connected switch should be nearby, with at least 1 free port. 
  3. There should be an AC power outlet available at the network switch, where the Bbot printer control box will be installed. (Only 1 Bbot printer control box needs to be installed per network. It can send print jobs to any number of printers.) 
  4. All printers should be configured with static IP addresses to ensure reliability.

Cable runs should use standard Ethernet cables (Cat5 or higher). The cable runs can simply be Ethernet cables, ready to plug into a device. Or, Ethernet wall jacks may be installed. The restaurant must have a reliable internet connection, at least 10Mb/s download, 1Mb/s upload. Standard high-speed internet connections meet this requirement. 

The restaurant internet connection, network switches, and cable runs must be ready at the time of Bbot installation. Bbot can recommend local contractors if you need help with cable runs.   

Logical Network Setup

  1. If ethernet printers are being used, the printers and Bbot printer control box need to be plugged into the same physical network switch. (In technical terms, they must be on the same subnet.) The Bbot printer control box and tablets do not need to be on the same subnet. 
  2. There is no need to set up any port forwarding; the Bbot equipment does not use inbound network connections. 

WiFi Network

The Bbot tablet (and certain special Bbot printer configurations) require a WiFi network. A standard internet-connected WiFi access point should be available. It should NOT show any sort of captive portal (such as “click here to accept these terms”).

If you have any questions, contact your Bbot rep or support@bbot.menu

Info Needed

When the network is ready, please send this info to your Bbot representative (or if you’re unsure, send to support@bbot.menu): 

  1. Confirmation that all tablet and printer locations have Ethernet, and the Ethernet cables are connected to the networking switch. 
  2. Pictures or clear descriptions of the location where each tablet and printer should be installed. (Physical labels or post-it notes are very helpful to avoid mistakes.) 
  3. For each existing network printer to be used, the specific printer model, the printers IP address, and the subnet (such as 192.168.0.x) of the printer network. If you cannot determine your printer IP addresses, the Bbot installers can discover the IP addresses of printers for an additional fee. 
  4. The switch and physical port where the printer control box should connect. (If the network closet has multiple switches, pictures are appreciated.) 
  5. The WiFi SSID and password. 
  6. The point of contact (name, email, phone number) for IT questions during the installation.