Project Guidance for very specialized Access Control System

Projects General Guidance
1

To begin I would like to say I have not bought any hardware (except the tag reader - HID Wiegand Reader) and trying to determine if Arduino can accomplish everything I am looking for.

Background:
1. I currently have a access control system which is connected to a MSSQL database. (can you believe an additional door license costs $1000????) I figured how the table structure works and able to obtain all the required info for this project.
2. I have created PHP code that interacts with the MSSQL Database for the Arduino or some other micro-processor to interact with (No storage of cards/fobs required on the Arduino).

What I need it to do:
1. Once the tag is presented to the reader, the Arduino connects to the HTTP server via an address intranetip:8150/access.php?q="HEX CODE OF FOB"
2. The HTTP server will respond with the following syntax: "First Name, Last Name-PREDEFINED KEY"
3. The Arduino will check to see if the PREDEFINED KEY is the one on file (there will only be one).
4. If it does match it will "Sign In" the user it will activate the relay - and activate LED on reader(relay will stay active).
5. Once ANY fob is presented again to the reader it would "Sign Out" the user and deactivate the relay.

Nice to have:
1. See current status of the state - Signed Out or Signed In with Name of person
2. Have a html web page on the Arduino showing the last 25 activity of the showing name and time signed in and out.
3. Sign In or Out from Web Interface
4. Have a offline copy of all fobs stored on the Arduino (no more than 100) so in event of server issues it can use that database.

So far I determined the products I need is a Arduino with Ethernet Shield, and Relay.

Any insight if I can accomplish this with Arduino?

2

To be honest, it sounds more like Raspberry Pi project.

But to answer the question of do I need anything else, you might want an SD card reader if you are looking to store info at an Arduino node, and you might want a two or four line LCD at the scan point for user feedback.

3

Assuming you have no issues interfacing your fob/id reader with the Arduino, no, there should be no issues with it possibly working.

This might however void your warranty with the original door security system.

Also I agree on the Raspberry Pi comment. It will do it easier. Or you can always get a Yun, which has built in ethernet support.

4

Wow... Superfast response.

I was considering Raspberry Pi as well - I was just worried about the code base. Only reason why I was looking into Arduino because there was already a code ready to go for the HID readers. I will look into this.

Also I'm not worried about voiding the warranty as there is never any writing to the database -only searching. Plus the service contract has expired now.

5

Yeah, I see the HID Wiegand code:

and that does look attractive.

I did see this: