M2SYS Bio-Plugin 6.0

Bio-Plugin allows software application developers to include biometric access control within their applications with the addition of some simple code that communicates with the Bio-Plugin client-side software through an ActiveX bridge. Because all of the biometric work is being done by the client and server sides of the product, all the application needs to do is communicate.

The product consists of two parts: the client side and the server side. The purpose of the client side is the collection and transmission of information from the M2SYS fingerprint scanner. It then transmits that information in an encrypted format over the network to the server.

The server has two functions. The first is to analyze the fingerprint data and compare it to stored enrollment data that is kept on a standard SQL server. On completing the analysis, the server either accepts or rejects the fingerprint credential. The second function is to communicate with both the client and the attached database. It communicates with the client for the purpose of collecting data and returning a pass or reject decision. It communicates with the SQL database for the purpose of storing relevant data.

We found that the implementation of this product for an application developer is acceptably easy. M2SYS provides sample code in several programming languages. For system administrators, installation of the client and server are a snap. The product comes encapsulated in Microsoft MSI files making enterprise-wide deployment straightforward. The product is adequately documented, using the client and server help files as documentation.

Support is available from M2SYS, but the company uses integrators heavily and most support will come from the integrator. However, the M2SYS support team is in contact with integrators as implementations progress.

The product’s features are typical of those expected in an SDK, with the exception that it requires little work on the part of the developer to integrate with an application under development. At US$499.99 for the SDK and one fingerprint scanner the price is extremely
reasonable.