I agree with @markjw - What you have described is a pretty standard Server + Client(s) set-up on a Local Area Network (LAN).
In a LAN set-up…
- one computer will be called a “server” and will run Microsoft SQL Server (The Express version is free, and suitable for running a SambaPOS installation). For best results, you should also install and run the SambaPOS Message Server on the server computer.
- other computers will be called “cleints” and these will run the SambaPOS software and connect to the server, where they will all use the same database at the same time. Note: When you install SambaPOS you can opt NOT to install the Local Database software (since you will be using SQL Express instead)
- Optionally… The “server” might also have the SambaPOS software installed, so you can actively use this hardware to make sales - The fact that this hardware is actually the server for the other computers isn’t something that regular POS users will be aware of (these options can be locked away from non-admins).
I recently wrote a very top-line summary of some of the steps to consider when setting up Microsoft SQL Server Express on a LAN. You can read my comments here: