Internet Cafe free essay sample

All the hardware or devices need to be connected each other to the Local Area Networking (LAN), to enable them share one internet line to get connected to the Internet. This is a basic idea on how to connect all your hardware to the LAN. Connecting the Computers All PCs have to connect to the switch/hub, which are merge as a LAN. A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). In this article I assume that all PCs have been completely installed with Windows 98 operating system and using static IP Address instead of dynamic IP (DHCP) for each system because CCAutoSoft cyber cafe management software currently only support static IP Address. Installing and Configuring Ethernet Adapter Card In order to enable each PC communicate with each other we have to install the networking protocol. We will write a custom essay sample on Internet Cafe or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Common ones used in a simple network are IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. To install, open Network Neighborhood properties, click â€Å"Add† button, Select â€Å"Protocol† and â€Å"Add† button, scroll down in the manufacturer list and select Microsoft, select IPX/SPX and click â€Å"OK†. The next one should be the same, but select TCP/IP instead. Once installed, select TCP/IP in the Network Neighborhood Properties window, click â€Å"Properties† button. Insert into TCP/IP Properties: The PC’s IP Address, e. g. 192. 168. 1. 2 -Each PC must have different IP Address e. g. : 192. 168. 1. 2, 192. 168. 1. 3, 192. 168. 1. 4, 192. 168. 1. 5 and so on. Gateway: 192. 168. 1. (modem/router IP Address) DNS: refer to your Internet Provider. In this case I use Malaysian TMNet’s DNS: 202. 188. 0. 133 and 202. 188. 1. 5 Click â€Å"OK† button, and restart PC. The computer will be ready to get connected once it is restarted. Do the same to other PC. Cabling/Wiring Commonly use cables are co-ax and cat5 with RJ-45 an d BNC connector. Most of new NIC only support RJ-45 connector, so we use Cat5 (also called 10BaseT) cable. Other than RJ-45 connector and Cat5 cable, you also need a crimping tool. Measure the length from the client to the switch, perhaps a little bit longer. Cut the cable and crimp RJ-45 connector at both of the cable end. The next step is the easiest part, put one end of the cable into the client’s NIC port and the other end at the switch/hub’s port. You have to make another 20 cables if you have 20 units of clients with 1 unit of server. Connect all 20 PCs, PC Server and the modem/router to the hub/switch and connect a phone line to the modem/router. Configure the modem and router setting. There are many broadband modem with built it router out there. The configuration is off course different with each other. But the basic configuration is to set the router as the gateway. You also have to insert your dialing properties in the router, such as your username and password. Most of the modem can be configured through the web browser at any connected clients. For example, if the modem/router’s IP Address is 192. 168. 1. 1, just type http://192. 168. 1. 1 in the web browser URL’s box on any PC in the LAN. Sharing a Printer Usually, a printer is connected to the server PC, so the internet cafe staff can easily manage printing process whether from clients or by walk in customer. Configure network neighborhood properties of the server to share printer, this will let printer sharing with the LAN. After install the printer driver into the server, make it shared. â€Å"Add printer† at each client by browsing in the LAN and find shared printer at the server. Connecting A Scanner Scanner needs to be connected to a PC to operate. Connect it to a client if you prefer customers to use the scanner themselves, or connect it to the server if you want the cyber cafe staff to scan for your customers Unlike other types of shop, internet cafe needs one more wiring other than electrical wiring which is network cable wiring. A good planning is needed to suite the location of every device in the internet cafe. Unlike electric wiring which only needs 3 to 6 cables in each electric wire casing to the switches, plug or sockets, network cable is exclusive one cable for each device. This is about Category 5 (Cat5/Cat5e) cable. Cat 5 is required for basic 10/100 functionality, you would want Cat 5e for gigabit (1000BaseT) operation and Cat 6 or higher gives you a measure of future proofing. If you do not want to work hard, there are many contractors who like to offer their services at a fair price and quality workmanship, but doing the job yourself is not as hard as you think. And it’s fun! (at least for me ) There is an old article I wrote about connecting all hardware in internet cafe. I wrote it in 2005, so it may have some outdated information. In this article I will show you how I planned to connect the entire computer to one switch and to the router/modem and finally to the internet as the image below. Network How do we connect a computer to a switch? A computer can be connected to a switch by a network cable. Common network cable used is Cat5. Each end of the cable has a plug, called RJ45 connector or plug. You can make the network cables yourself if you want to cut down the cost of setting up your own internet cafe. It is not so difficult. You only need Cat5 cable, RJ45 connectors, crimping tools and a lot of patience. Of course you must know how to arrange the wires by their colors. RJ45 + Cat5 cable + Crimping Tool = Network Cable And this is the latest ‘my’ internet cafe plan. One end of each cable from 14 computers will run through the ceiling via electrical ‘casing n capping’. For computers at the center, there is a permanent structure built for electrical and network wiring purpose. The casing is mounted on the structure then all the cables run through the casing to above the ceiling. All rj45 plugs/cables from 14 computers run down from the ceiling through the casing and then are plugged into the switch’s port. The others 6 computers connected to the switch by the cables run through casing mounted at the wall. Other then 20 computers for the clients, devices needed to be connected to the switch are modem with built-in router, computer at the counter, and perhaps a server ( I planned to put an Ubuntu server in the LAN for NAS (network-attach storage), squid cache server, proxy server and might be an intranet web server – refer to Part 1). The switch I need is a 24 ports switch because I have 22 computers and 1 modem/router. So have only 1 extra port. Usually, there are 4 ports at the router/modem but one is used to connect to the switch. So overall I have 4 extra ports, which might be useful soon Business plan Computers (high-quality devices complete with monitors, mice and keyboards) Software (Operating systems, productivity software, gaming software) Networking equipment (routers, switches, cabling) Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) units to protect from power surges Furniture I was looking at something like this myself. I think its best to keep both the power consumption and the price nice and low. Despite the ultra low power consumption and low price though, this should play most games on ultra high settings. (At 1366768 at least) Intel Pentium G620 G. SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) ASRock H61M-VS Sapphire HD 7750 1GB Seagate Barracuda 500GB Fractal Design Core 1000 SeaSonic SS-300ES Bronze 300W Samsung DVD Burner Total $439. 92 The max power draw should be between 100-150W and it should still be great for gaming. That Pentium in particular gives insane gaming performance for the price compared to AMDs offerings. The price/performance on the graphics card is OK but the main reason for it is the ultra low power consumption. Roger Magana Get a 24-port switch or at least one that covers your minimum specification. Now you need to get cables for each PC you want to connect to the switch. so it is like this: Cloud(Internet)gt;Routergt;Switch connected to the number 1 port of routergt;PCs connected into each port of switch. Windows XP you said, you got to make sure they are all in the same network/subnet and have the gateway pointed to the router. Usually the router would be: 192. 168. 1. (check this with your current PC, if any, and go to your command prompt and type ipconfig without quotes and look at the IP address next to gateway to confirm) the switch is usually a passive device (auto-configured) but if you manage to get a hold of a Cisco switch or something, the default-gateway would be the routers IP. As for the PCs, according to my guessed IP of your router: You can either choose DHCP from the router, but if you want to manage easier if anything because its an Internet-cafe, have their IP address configured manually and number them: (PC1 for example)192. 168. 1. 101 (PC2) 192. 68. 1. 102 (PC 10) 192. 168. 1. 110 the subnet, if it is asked in XP, should be the class C one (255. 255. 255. 0) and the gateway should be 192. 168. 1. 1 To configure your PCs go to the start menugt;control panelgt;find network connectionsgt;double click on the interface you are connecting to the Internet withgt;click propertiesgt;on the list click ipv4gt;then propertiesgt;click on the radio button use the following IP addressgt;enter the values in their according fields. To setup LAN network for a cyber cafe, there are certain things to consider such as physical and logical setup. A cyber cafe is a business where you make money by offering Internet access to the public through cyber cafe software. This means, in order to attract more clients, your LAN should be well configured and secured. A well configured LAN should be fast and network cables should be run through cable ducts to make the cyber cafe look neat and avoid tripping or stepping on network cables. Items needed to setup LAN network include network cables, cable ties, cable ducts, RJ-45, crimping tool, cable peeler and an Ethernet cable tester. Basic devices used are Ethernet switch, cabinet, patch panel and router. A router will be used to connect to the Internet and the switch and patch panel will connect the computers. How to Setup LAN Network On A Cyber Cafe of 20 Pcs For the scenario, we will setup LAN network for a cyber cafe of 20 PCs. We will need an Ethernet switch with 24 ports. A good choice would be Cisco or D-link. When buying the Ethernet cables there are two choices: the industry terminated cables also known as plug and play or ready to use, and cables that you terminate yourself. Cable Termination: Means taking a cable and attaching a RJ-45 connector on both ends. This is done using a cable peeler to safely peel the coating and using a crimping tool to attach the RJ-45 connects to the cables. Cables used will be straight through cables. For a cyber cafe, Cat-5e (Category 5) is a good choice. This will give you speeds of 100Mbps in full duplex, but if you want to build a GbE (Gigabit Ethernet), go for Cat6 cables. Testing Ethernet Cables: After you have bought or terminated the cable, the next step is to test and that’s where the Ethernet cable tester comes in. All you have to do is plug both ends of the cable into the tester and press the test button. If the cable is working or not the tester will indicate. Labeling Network Cables: Now label each cable on both ends with a tag. This helps ease trouble shooting. An example would be using a tag with the following printed on it â€Å"PC-1Port-1†. This means that the cable will connect PC-1 to the patch panel port that links to the switch at port. Connecting to NICs: With the cables in place, connect them to NICs (Network Interface Cards) on your PCs and run them through the cable ducts up to the switch and cover the duct. Do not plug them to the switch yet. The switch, router and patch panel should be fixed inside a cabinet for security. Connect port 1 of the switch to port 1 at the back of the patch panel using patch cables that are bought together with the patch panel. Keep doing this until all 20 ports are connected. Connecting to Patch Panel: After you are through with the switch and patch panel, now connect the cables from the PCs to the RJ-45 ports in front of the patch panel in the order that you created. After this, you are done with the physical installation. Use cable ties to neatly tie cables together near the patch panel. You can tie them in bunches of five. Assigning IPv4 Addresses When you setup LAN network, allocating IP addresses can either be done manually by typing it on each computer or allocate using a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP is easier, faster and ideal when you setup LAN network. This can be configured on the router to assign each PC an IP address, subnet mask and gateway automatically. DHCP saves time and avoids typing errors. IP Subnetting: When setting up the IP addressing scheme use a subnet that will allow you to add more PCs or if you later add wireless Internet access to your cyber cafe. If you decide to use the most common, class C (192. 68. 0. 0) use a subnet mask of 255. 255. 255. 224 which allows you up to 31 hosts. So, with a cyber cafe of 20 PCs you can later add 16. VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking) avoids wastage of IP addresses. You have successfully setup LAN network and you can contact the ISP (Internet Service Provider) to configure your router for Internet access. Tips: After you setup LAN network secure the network and customers from hackers and viruses using firewalls, antivirus software and monitoring tools. Also, you might want to monitor and share bandwidth equally among your customers. This is because if your connection is not fast enough and a customer if making VoIP calls like Skype, other customers might experience difficulties accessing the Internet. Nowadays, internet cafes are really in demand because of the fast changing technology that the people embraced. Some have their own laptops and bring it to coffee shops so that they could relax and at the same time prepare their assignments and paper works. The people today are very busy and would want to do their jobs in a beautiful and innovative environment that could satisfy their needs and lessen their stress due to busy schedule.