SG Broadband Community

My uncle plans on setting up a small netcafe. I need some help with the setup.

The netcafe will be used for surfing the interent, word processing and printing. Maybe later on gaming will be included

Probably will be starting with 10 computers then upgrade later.

-What topology should i use Bus or Star?
-Server based or Peer to Peer.
-Connection to the Internet..... Business DSL or Cable (other)?
-Printers for each machine or 1 or 2 printers with a hub?
-Type of media (cable etc.)
-If server based...how many servers and what type of hardware?

*Most importantly with all hardware bought there needs to be room for upgrade/expansion

thanks for any ideas

Hmm... what else am i leaving out?

Bus topology is long gone (coax), everything is 100Base-T now, even going to 1000 Base-T in mid to larger setups. Cat5e or Cat6 cables.

You'll want something of a higher grade bandwidth, depending on what's available in your area, in my area, cable doesn't let businesses subscribe, only DSL provides business class bandwidth, and only DSL provides higher bandwidth packages (we run a 6 meg DSL line at our office). May be different in your area, say you can get Optimum Online cable or something. For 10 computers always hitting the internet at the same time, I'd want something higher than a standard 1500 down connection. You'd also want a business class account because they get higher priority...when it goes down, they're the first to go back up. Faster trouble tickets when it comes to support.

You could even get two broadband accounts, and get a router like Nexlands Pro800 Turbo, to load balance the two connections.

You will want a 10/100 switch, hubs are long outdated. Switches are superior, perform better.

The purpose of your network is purely for internet access, so you don't really need a server.

I'd go with a nice big HP networked laserjet that they can all print to through TCP/IP Jet Direct.

As to control them....hmmm, access limits to keep the kids from surfing porn, I'll let someone else fill in here, I don't really deal with that kind of stuff. A nice router running NAT will protect your network pretty well, but won't keep the peeps from surfing porn 'n stuff. Running a proxy server or Microsoft ISA 2000 server can let you control them much better, but that's a handfull to learn and manage.

You'll probably want to implement policies, to keep people from messing with the computers. You'll want good anti-virus software kept up to date on all of them. You'll want to keep up on all your Windows Updates. You'll probably want to keep a few drive images as backups to quickly re-image the machines that blow up.

thanks for the reply.

We decided to make the computers available for gaming and hosting are own email accounts.

So i guess we will need an email server (what specs should i use for the server?)

And a file server to host the games or would i need to just install them on each computer? (also what specs for this server?)

Also i am a bit clueless as how to set up this network. We will be using the Star topology through business dsl 1.5mbps speeds.
Should i go 11 computers>switch>router>server?
or some other route. (Hook printer to switch?)

Should i order the parts and build 11 computers. Or try and find someone who sells computers that are good enough to handle good games?

TIA

I'd want to lead you away from trying to run a mail server. That's something you don't "dabble" in lightly. Why would you want to run a mail server at an internet cafe anyways? It's always different people. If you have a "core" of regulars, just find a hosting place like [url]http://www.burlee.com,[/url] buy a bunch of POP3 mailboxes, and let them log in through a web interface.

If you want to run games, you'll want to have a "server" which runs the game in dedicated console mode. Yes you'll also have the purchase and install the same game on each computer. Specs? Similar to todays high powered desktops...just more RAM.

Else, I don't see any other reason for a server.