IP over USB
Connect terminal and ECR with a single USB cable and route all traffic through the ECR.
Local integration with AIC on the ECR computerIP over USB is described for Local integration with AIC installed on the ECR computer. The terminal connects to AIC on the ECR.
With IP over USB, one USB cable connects the terminal to the ECR. The terminal gets a private network connection through the ECR, and all internet traffic from the terminal goes through the ECR's connection. Windows and Linux ECRs are supported.
Benefits
- Simple installation: one USB cable, no extra network cables.
- Controlled connectivity: all traffic goes through the ECR.
- Works with all Aera services: transactions and terminal management.
- Backup: the terminal can keep taking offline payments even if the store network fails.
- Faster: IP-based communication means faster downloads and installation.
How it works
The terminal connects to the ECR with the RNDIS protocol, which creates a private TCP/IP network over USB. You don't need to install drivers on the ECR.
| Connection | How |
|---|---|
| Terminal to AIC | Terminal connects to AIC on the ECR, port 8001 |
| ECR to terminal | ECR connects to AIC on 127.0.0.1, port 8002 |
| Terminal to Aera | ECR routes the traffic (NAT). On Windows this uses Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) |
IP addresses
| Device | IP address |
|---|---|
| Terminal | 192.168.137.129 (static) |
| ECR USB network adapter | 192.168.137.1. This is the terminal's gateway and DNS |
On Windows, this is standard ICS behaviour. On Linux, you must set it up yourself. The terminal must also reach everything in Network requirements.
Security
All traffic from the terminal to Aera is encrypted. We recommend blocking unknown USB devices and only allowing supported terminals:
| Terminal | Vendor ID (VID) | Product ID (PID) |
|---|---|---|
| Ingenico RX5000 | 0x26f1 | 0x6064 |
You can also allow specific terminal serial numbers. You will then need to update the list every time a terminal is installed or swapped.
Requirements for the ECR
- Reliable Internet Connection Sharing (Windows).
- Able to handle two network interfaces: the physical one and the virtual one for the terminal.
Aera provides a setup guide (below) and supports you with the setup. Contact your Aera contact.
Set up IP over USB
Steps can differ between Windows and Linux versions and POS software. Always check the latest documentation for your platform.
1. Connect the cable
Connect the terminal to the ECR with USB before you start.
2. On the terminal (technician)
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & Tethering.
- Turn on USB-PC Internet share.
- Select your Windows version. For Windows 11, select Windows 10.
- Select Next, read the instructions and select OK.
3. On the Windows ECR
- Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
- Find the new adapter. It is called something like Ethernet 2 (Remote NDIS based…).
- Right-click your main network adapter and select Properties → Sharing.
- Select Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
- In the list, select the terminal's adapter (for example Ethernet 2) and select OK.
- Make sharing survive restarts. Add this registry value:
- Path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedAccess - Name:
EnableRebootPersistConnection - Type: DWORD
- Value:
1
- Path:
- In Services, set Internet Connection Sharing to Automatic (Delayed Start).
4. Install the terminal
During terminal installation, select TEM call instead of autoinit, then Check for updates.
Tips
- Check that firewall rules allow traffic between ECR and terminal.
- Some settings may reset after a restart. Consider automating them.
- Always follow security guidelines for network sharing.
Updated 14 days ago