Networking & Devices Site Readiness Guide

In this Article:

• Networking & Device Site Readiness Overview
• Site Readiness Checklist
• Additional Details About Network Cabling 
• Cabling Organization
• Additional Details about Electrical/Power
• Additional Details For Site Readiness 
  • Ladders and Ceilings 
  • Counter Tops
  • Wall Mounting 
• Construction
• Additional Resources

Networking & Devices Site Readiness Overview

Basic install site readiness for networking and devices. 

Your location must be properly prepared to ensure a smooth Toast installation. This guide outlines the site requirements for your space prior to implementing your system.

The following information is intended for customers who will have a Toast-monitored network. If you plan to be self-managed or work with a third-party network manager, please review our Toast Network Requirements and Toast Firewall Allowlist.

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Site Readiness Checklist

If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, consider consulting or hiring a third party to prepare your restaurant by running cabling or planning for the below. In general, your site is ready for a successful Toast install when the following is true:

You recognize the limits of your Toast install, including reviewing the terms of the onboarding package you purchased. 

• Toast does not run networking cables.
• Toast will not complete the install if the Ethernet cables are less than 100MB (Cat5e). 
• Toast does not provide networking infrastructure like ports, cords, or outlets.
• Toast does not set up wall mounts.
• For an on-site install, Toast does not mount wireless access points higher than 10 feet.
• Toast will not install if the location is in active construction. Active Construction means: 
  
  • Heavy construction is not fully complete.
  • Construction machinery may be in use;
  • Construction is required, which could compromise the hardware or cause it to be moved.
  • If anyone in the building has to wear hard hats or other safety gear, or
  • Any other construction that may put install technicians in danger. 

You've procured an Internet connection, and it's fast enough to take payments. 

• An Internet account must be established prior to the Toast installation.
  • For most restaurants, this will be a landline Internet service (Cable or Fiber. DSL is not recommended since a 15 Mbps download speed is the minimum to use the system.
  • For mobile restaurants, this may be a 4G (or greater) mobile hotspot that must have an Ethernet port.
    • If utilizing only a Handheld device, please note that cell phone hotspots are not recommended, as they often lack the reliability needed to run a POS system. Bandwidth is often throttled by the carrier, and/or the bandwidth may be used by other apps, causing the connection to lag or drop completely.
• Your Internet modem has an available port for the Toast router.
• Confirm your modem configuration with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  • If you have dynamic IP (DHCP), no additional information is needed.
  • If you have a static IP, please contact your ISP and record the following information:
  • static IP address for Toast,
  • default gateway,
  • subnet mask,
  • DNS (Domain Name System) 1, and DNS 2. This information is important to pass along to your Onboarding Consultant or technician regarding your networking install
• Two important steps to take to ensure your printers will work:
  • Enable multicast or mDNS, as your printers use Bonjour service to be discovered.
  • Disable client isolation. 

You’ve taken time to plan out the space and decided where items will go. 

• You’ve cleared a path for your install by removing trash, equipment, tools, or debris of any kind in the area where your install technician could be working.
• Access points are installed (or ready to be installed if ceilings are less than 10 ft high) in or on the outside of the building.
• Your network cabling (Cat5e or better) runs from the router or switch, to each piece of Toast hardware and item of networking equipment.
  • This includes outdoor considerations, like wireless access points, and kitchens, like Flex 22’’ screens for your Kitchen Display System (KDS).
  • Toast requires that all Ethernet cables be rated at 100 MB or higher.
• You have a power outlet within 6 feet of where you are placing your router, and all terminals or printers.
• A scale will require its own power outlet.
• Access points do not need an outlet in the ceiling. They operate on Power over Ethernet (PoE) by way of the switch or a PoE injector. 
• Wall mounts for Toast devices are installed.
• The bar(s)/counter(s) are finished and, if necessary, holes are cut to accommodate the necessary cords and cabling. 

Additional Details About Network Cabling 

Most Toast devices require Ethernet cabling to be run from the switch to the device. This includes:

• Standalone printers (both receipt printers and kitchen printers)
• Kitchen Display System screens
• Access points (in-ceiling)
• Kiosks

The only Toast devices that are currently configured to use wireless as their primary connection are:

• Toast Go®s
• S1 Handhelds
• M60 Handhelds
• Castles S1
• Verifone e285/e285p
• Castles AMS1
• Verifone P400/P400Plus
• Verifone V400m

These devices rely on the access points, which do require ethernet connection to the router or switch. Please note, you can run the Toast devices on Ethernet cables rated between 10 MB and 100 MB, although it's NOT recommended. Cables rated between 10 MB and 100 MB often lead to system inconsistencies. Any cable rated below 10 MB should not be used. 
 
A single Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable must be run from the desired location of each of the above pieces of hardware to the location of the Internet modem or Demarc. Terminal cable drops must be terminated with a RJ45 FEMALE jack to the T568B wiring scheme, ideally into a wall plate or a surface mount box. Six to 10 feet of slack should be left on each end of each cable to accommodate last-minute adjustments. Each cable must be labeled with a matching identifier on each end. Use a different identifier on each cable to facilitate troubleshooting.

The home runs next to the Internet modem or DEMARC should be terminated to a patch panel for organization and labeling purposes, as shown in the image below (left). However, if only a few cables are being run, they can be terminated to a wall-mounted plate as shown in the image below (right). Or, in some cases, the internet modem might not be located in a networking area (e.g., under the counter, host station, up on the shelf). In this case, the cables should terminate near the modem and be labeled as clearly as possible (for example: POS1, POS2, Kitchen, KDS, Dining Room AP, etc.). 

Note: As long as the correct Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables are used with a compatible splitter, it would be possible to connect two printers to one Ethernet port using a splitter. 

Cabling Organization

Toast's network should be isolated. Only Toast hardware should be connected to the Toast Meraki/Switch. If our Onboarding Consultants are assisting with the installation remotely, it will be the responsibility of the location to keep Toast's network isolated. If you've purchased on-site installation, our technicians will assist with organization as much as possible; however, they can only organize Toast's network. If the location's other systems are disorganized, this may impede Toast's ability to install your system. 

If your existing cabling is unorganized, it can lead to a number of challenges:

• Increased installation times are not accounted for in your quote.
• Difficult troubleshooting with Toast Support and other service providers.
• Communication problems leading to system instability.

If your cabling is disorganized, we can recommend contractors to help organize your network. 

Additional Details about Electrical/Power for Site Readiness

While Toast does not currently require isolated ground circuits, it's always a best practice to avoid plugging terminals into any outlet with appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, or blenders. Motorized devices cause power fluctuations, negatively impacting Toast devices and leading to hardware instability.

Additional Details For Site Readiness 

Ladders/Ceilings for Site Readiness

The Toast technicians do not travel with ladders. We require that customers provide ladders or step stools if necessary. Common installation activities that require ladders or step stools are:

• Wireless Access Point installation
• KDS installation
• Network installation

For more information, see for some great pointers for installation.

Counter Tops for Site Readiness

If terminals or terminal bundles will be placed on counters or bars, especially customer-visible surfaces, then 2-3 inch holes must be cut into the surfaces before installation to allow the cables to run underneath. These holes must be located within two feet of each terminal. Remember that a cash register may be placed directly underneath the terminal, potentially blocking any holes for cords you’re planning out. Make sure not to drill holes too close to the exact location of the terminal. Check out this for more information on your hardware. 

Wall Mounting for Site Readiness

Toast requires that customers install all wall mounts before installation. You can purchase and install any wall mount that meets the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) standards. If you've purchased a Kitchen Display System screen, you'll receive a wall mount with your hardware. You are still required to install it. Learn more about mounting your .

Construction for Site Readiness

Toast does not recommend installing your POS hardware while there is, or will be, active construction.

Here are common problems we find with systems installed before or during construction:

• Dust from the construction gets into the terminals or handhelds and breaks them. Hardware broken by dust will not be replaced.
• The Toast network setup is interfered with as your other contractors work in the space. This leads to increased installation hours to fix any problems that may arise. Problems can be as basic as a contractor unplugging a network device to charge their cellphone or more complicated, like a contractor reworking the whole network to accommodate a security or music system. 
• If Toast has to investigate or correct the network before your implementation date, it may lead to implementation overages.

Additional Resources