RFID reader project... Take 2

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In the first part[^] I asked some too vague and general question...
Now I have more thoughts in place so some more concrete (but not too concrete) question...

Now I have several (actually I build only one, but that's unimportant) RFID reader modules...These modules have the RFID reader itself, hooked to a card-size computer (Arduino), which have WiFi connection to some network...

The customer database accessible via web-service and hosted somewhere in the wild... (I mean it is not part of that network by any means)

That box is able to read RFID tags and send the ID (with some additional data) over the WiFi to...and that's the question...
I see two options here

1. The WiFi links to a local network and there is no internet access via that network. In that case I will place small server that configured to be a gateway between the local network and the internet...All the RFID reader box will report to that server and the server will send the calls to the hosted web-service...

2. The network to which the RFID boxes linked has access to the internet by its own record, so the boxes can directly call the hosted web-service...

My question goes two way:
1. Performance/reliability
2. Security

I know that this is a coding site, but I had no problem to write the actual code...What I need is your experience/knowledge in the area of networking via WiFi...

Posted 14-Oct-15 1:02am

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter

Updated 24-Oct-17 23:41pm

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Garth J Lancaster · Answer 1 · 2015-10-14T01:36:00

Solution 1

1. how long is a piece of string - reliability ? are we talking remote/out in the field or in an office, do you have 240VAC (or equivalent) power ?

If you are 'remote' and stable WiFi & Internet connection is going to be difficult but there is mobile/'Cell' coverage you could think about a GSM Shield for the Arduino - you'd then need a server somewhere with a GSM Modem which is connected to the internet so you could push the data packets from there

If you need to set up a WiFi link and you've got one 'close but not close enough' you could use Ubiquiti equipment to extend the range - indoor or outdoor - its reasonably priced and very good

Reliability - how much traffic are you sending ? I would imagine small data packets infrequently - If you're not running on AC power you'd have to think about your battery life

2. Security - well, obviously you have two layers - the data and the transmission - so you could encrypt the data and use HTTP/S for the web push - I'd also be worried about protecting the Web end of the HTTP/S connection from DOS attacks

Posted 14-Oct-15 1:36am

Garth J Lancaster

Updated 14-Oct-15 1:50am

v2

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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 14-Oct-15 7:48am

1. It is a warehouse like building, large (and high) space striped apart by temporary walls by the need of moment...So the RFID box may be moved around, where the only need is power outlet - which I have... The place is covered with fairly stable WiFi network, so I do not see problem there (but I have a buffering in the RDIF box in case no connectivity for some moments). The size of each data package is very small (32bit code + 10 byte datetime + 16 byte location id), and it comes in peeks, there will be times with no communication at all, and at the peek it would not cross the 50 packages per second, and would describe it as low traffic, even with up to 100 such RFID boxes around the warehouse...
2. HTTPS (client and server) is on place already, I was more thinking about hacking into the WiFi network and make it useless...

Garth J Lancaster 14-Oct-15 7:57am

1. I'd be adding an SD card to the Arduino's and recording the data on the card by date & timestamped (just in case) - or maybe if you detect the network is down you log to the card and send the data later - periodically I'd swap out the SD cards and read them and compare against the network received logs
2. you'd be using a WiFi Shield that supports WPA2 wouldnt you ? that would prevent hacking into WiFi (well, we almost never consider 'the threat from within')

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 14-Oct-15 8:09am

1. There is no need for such 'by-hand' check of the logs - not in my case...So I do buffer and send it later in case of no network.
2. I do have WAP2 (event I d not think I turned it on for now, as I do not know how, but I will I promise). I do not think insider attack is a possibility...For those have access to the network from the inside have only devices marked and can be easily identified, so if someone will hack from the inside we can know easily who one is...

Garth J Lancaster 14-Oct-15 8:13am

sounds like you have it in hand - I'd run a decent trial period with a number of devices before making it all 'production' - put some of the equipment in the worst possible/furtherest positions and see how the system reacts

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 14-Oct-15 8:23am

I'm in the stage to try and close gaps for a prototype of the system - if it will work we will set up a full test system in a real site (it is a very specific site and cannot be modelled, but with a huge amount of money) and test if for 6 months at least...