quote:
Originally posted by syf0n:
when it calls that number it authenticates the cc# with a humungous server at Visa world headquarters, the server that handles like 15,000 transactions per second.
Where the fuck did you get that steaming pile of goat shit? Lets think about this...why would they make EVERYONE call one place. First of all for everyone but a select few it would be a long distance call. Then you would have to have a MASSIVE fucking server cluster to handle the millions of requests per day.
<non-bullshit story> The people i bought my sun server from were called Integrion. They did all the CC validation for the DC metro area(maryland, Washington, Northern VA, and a small part of WVA) They had 52 Sun enterprise servers that handled that small area. They held a database that had everyones credit limit and current spendings for people in the area. They were also attached to Visa's private network. If someone from outside their area called in they would pull that persons records over the private network and validate the transaction or deny it. When small businesses gets a mechant account with visa or master card they have to buy a card reader.(there is a standard so you can use 1 reader to call Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Diners club) They also get the local access number for visa. They have to put the access number in themselves. When a visa card is swiped the card reader knows its a visa and calls visa. If its mastercard it calls master card. Their private network is a dedicated isdn, just like portions of the FAA. </non-bullshit story>
And yes best buy does use Win Nt for their registers and their service terminals(If i have to see that damn S.T.A.R. screen one more fucking time...) The registers use an AMD k6-2 board, a 350 processor and 32megs of mem. The S.T.A.R. system is how they track merchandise and service items. Its a VB front end that ties into a SQL database that FUCKING CRASHES EVERY THIRD TRANSACTION. And the internet connection is done by vpn(usually over satellite) back to BB headquarters and the merchant accounts. Also the music you hear in the store is playing off a monthly Cd thats distributed to the stores with their "WAKE YOUR ASS UP EARLY IN THE MORNING ON A SATURDAY AND WATCH THIS BORING ASS TAPE" that they show at 6:00 in the morning to the employees one saturday a month. Toys R Us on the other hand gets all their shit piped in hot and steamy from marketing via satellite.
just in case you were wondering....