Deployment without turning the museum into an IT project
LÆFAN is deployed per organisation. Where a source needs local network, radio or hardware access, LÆFAN Edge provides a small acquisition layer rather than putting another full application server inside the museum.
The deployment model
Some sources need an appliance on the museum network. Others do not. LÆFAN deliberately supports both routes.
Use LÆFAN Edge when environmental data needs to be collected locally from supported devices, gateways or building systems on the museum network.
Do not add an Edge appliance where the source can be collected centrally or imported safely through the application.
LÆFAN Edge
Connect to the supported local source and collect its readings.
Package the measurement with source identity, observed time and the information needed by central ingestion.
Keep a durable short-term queue if the main server cannot be reached, then retry without changing the observed timestamp.
Send data to LÆFAN over a secure outbound connection and report collector/appliance health.
Network boundary
The museum appliance initiates the connection out to the main LÆFAN platform. Local source credentials stay with the collector where practical, while the central platform receives normalised readings and health information.
Outbound connectionNo requirement to expose the Edge appliance to the public internet for routine collection.
Small attack surfaceEdge is not a general remote terminal or second copy of the application.
Source credentials kept narrowCollectors only need the access required for their source.
Exact network design and security controls are agreed for the client environment rather than assumed by a marketing page.
When the internet goes away
The Edge buffer is resilience for collection, not a substitute for the central long-term environmental database.
What museum IT needs to know
Network routeCan the required local source be reached from the proposed Edge network segment?
Outbound accessCan Edge reach the LÆFAN service over the agreed secure outbound route?
Source accessWhat approved credentials or local access does LÆFAN Edge need for the source?
Power & placementWhere will the managed appliance be installed and powered?
Support boundaryWho owns the source system, museum network and LÆFAN appliance respectively?
The diagrams describe the intended LÆFAN architecture, not a promise that every museum network is identical. Final firewall, identity, backup, update and recovery arrangements should be agreed against the organisation's own IT policies and the sources being connected.
