pete_c
Guru
One of my projects from last year was Card Access applications - my base testing was using the following - I was looking for a regional setup initially for domestic use then later for international and domestic use - one ID card for all.
1 - Software House CCure
2 - Honeywell's offering
3 - Lenel's OnGuard
Lenel -
I looked at a few of the locations in which we were using Lenel's OnGuard and created a base regional server for TX locations in the MW. The software was relatively easy to use. The Lenel software support folks installing my base server in the MW were bascially clueless and had really no idea what they were doing. Funny these technical software installation folks were basically using Lenel over the phone technical support and manuals. Most of the installation on a Windows 2003 standard server was done by me as I couldn't wait / no patience for this installation.
Over a period of approximately one year I utilized this software. I had some issues with the client piece of the software . It appears to have been written to be the only software on the computer and would cause many issues on my Laptop Windows XP pro installation. Calling Lenel support relating to my issues was basically useless with them referring me to the selling vendor. The selling vendor's only function in life appeared to be selling support for said installed system / upgrading system both hardware and software. To me worthless - next vendor.
Honeywell -
Appeared to be new to the game of card access software or coming back to a field that they once dominated. Everyone I dealt with was subcontracted and "used" to work for Honeywell. The PP presentations that I saw for what I could have were impressive. What Honeywell installed though was 3rd party very primitive software and kept promising better - never materialized.
Software House CCure -
I became very familiar with this software - ease of use and great support. The support personal were very knowledgeable and actually showed me enough to manage the system I installed that the only calls to them were related to hardware issues. This system that I installed was supported by a smaller alarm company.
Having evaluated these three I made the recommendation of utilzing the Software House CCure application for regional card access for domestic use. My recommendations were to put two regional domestic servers and utilize these for numerous locations thru out the United States.
Prices were all over the place - with Honeywell and Lenel charging the most and getting the least relating to both hardware and software.
One of my concerns was migrating from a lower bit encrypted RFID card to a higher bit encrypted RFID card and the ability to utilize multiple types of RFID cards at various locations. Easy to do with the CCure system (or at least I did it easily) and most difficult (or lack of knowledge) with the Honeywell offerings.
Part of this endeavor was also video security and building environmental & lighting management with a similar architecture. I looked at both WinTel and Linux boxes and leaned more towards a Linux platform for Video Security. Didn't really see or look at any offerings that would provide me a combo system (one that would include lights and HVAC).
1 - Software House CCure
2 - Honeywell's offering
3 - Lenel's OnGuard
Lenel -
I looked at a few of the locations in which we were using Lenel's OnGuard and created a base regional server for TX locations in the MW. The software was relatively easy to use. The Lenel software support folks installing my base server in the MW were bascially clueless and had really no idea what they were doing. Funny these technical software installation folks were basically using Lenel over the phone technical support and manuals. Most of the installation on a Windows 2003 standard server was done by me as I couldn't wait / no patience for this installation.
Over a period of approximately one year I utilized this software. I had some issues with the client piece of the software . It appears to have been written to be the only software on the computer and would cause many issues on my Laptop Windows XP pro installation. Calling Lenel support relating to my issues was basically useless with them referring me to the selling vendor. The selling vendor's only function in life appeared to be selling support for said installed system / upgrading system both hardware and software. To me worthless - next vendor.
Honeywell -
Appeared to be new to the game of card access software or coming back to a field that they once dominated. Everyone I dealt with was subcontracted and "used" to work for Honeywell. The PP presentations that I saw for what I could have were impressive. What Honeywell installed though was 3rd party very primitive software and kept promising better - never materialized.
Software House CCure -
I became very familiar with this software - ease of use and great support. The support personal were very knowledgeable and actually showed me enough to manage the system I installed that the only calls to them were related to hardware issues. This system that I installed was supported by a smaller alarm company.
Having evaluated these three I made the recommendation of utilzing the Software House CCure application for regional card access for domestic use. My recommendations were to put two regional domestic servers and utilize these for numerous locations thru out the United States.
Prices were all over the place - with Honeywell and Lenel charging the most and getting the least relating to both hardware and software.
One of my concerns was migrating from a lower bit encrypted RFID card to a higher bit encrypted RFID card and the ability to utilize multiple types of RFID cards at various locations. Easy to do with the CCure system (or at least I did it easily) and most difficult (or lack of knowledge) with the Honeywell offerings.
Part of this endeavor was also video security and building environmental & lighting management with a similar architecture. I looked at both WinTel and Linux boxes and leaned more towards a Linux platform for Video Security. Didn't really see or look at any offerings that would provide me a combo system (one that would include lights and HVAC).
