Hardware go-live checklist

Run through this once, on-site, before you open the doors. It’s the final check that the hardware you set up in this section actually works together — the printer prints, the drawer pops, and (for a network printer) only your register can reach it. Each item links to the page that explains it.

If you run a USB printer plugged into the register, skip ahead to USB printer? — most of this is for a network printer.

Printer & cash drawer

• You’ve chosen an 80mm thermal (ESC/POS) printer — and a network one prints over port 9100. See Choosing a receipt printer.
• The cash drawer is plugged into the printer (RJ-12), or you’re using a USB-trigger drawer.
• The printer is wired in with Ethernet (not Wi-Fi) and powered on.

Print agent (network printer)

• The print agent is installed as a Windows Service on a store PC on the same network. See Installing the print agent.
• The PC is set never to sleep while plugged in (powercfg /change standby-timeout-ac 0).
• In Settings → Devices, the agent shows online and that it can reach the printer.

Network & security

• The register tablet, the print agent PC, and the printer are all on the same local network. See Setting up your store network.
• The POS gear is on its own segment, and the printer’s port 9100 is reachable only from the print agent PC. See Securing your store network.
• Each printer’s default admin password is changed and unused services are turned off.
• From a device that is not the agent PC, you’ve confirmed you can’t reach the printer on port 9100.

Final test

• A Test cash drawer from a till’s Station screen pops the drawer and prints.
• You’ve rung up a real sale and the receipt printed cleanly.

That’s go-live. If a receipt ever stops printing, start at the agent’s online status in Settings → Devices.

USB printer?

A USB printer plugged into the register is much simpler — there’s no print agent or store network to set up:

• The printer is plugged into the register computer and powered on.
• You’ve paired it in Receipt printers & devices.
• A test print and a real sale both print, and the drawer pops.