Setting up Internet Cafe

jayo2004

Hi just wondering what type of hardware or software would i need to secure the network. I would like no access to local pc at all maybe a web based program that starts up straight away with a logon page and then straight to the internet( no access to c:\ from typing into address bar or anything like that). Also resirct certain webpages. Anybody setup anything like this and it needs to be very stable.

egan007

Considered Sun?

Something different - to give you the edge.

As a server:
Sun Fire X4200 Server, 2 * AMD Opteron Model 280 processors, 4 * 2 GB PC3200 DDR-400 memory, 2 * 73 GB 10000 RPM SAS drives, DVD-ROM, 2 * PSUs, Service Processor, 4 * 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 4 USB 1.1 Ports, 1 * 64-bit/133 MHz PCI-X slot, 1 * 64-bit/100 MHz PCI-X slot, 3 * 64-bit/66 MHz PCI-X slots, no power cord, order Geo-specific x-option

Dual core dual processor server with 16GB of RAM
7000 Euro....

20 X SUN ray clients 770 Euro each
15400 Euro

20 User Sun Ray licence
1780 Euro

Comes preinstalled with Solaris 10 -
Software - Open Office, Firefox,Thunderbird, Tirllian (all instant messengers) GAIM, Gimp graphics editor - Google Desktop, Skype, ....loads more...

Your question about security is answered as there are a total of 0 problems with security on solaris. You never have to worry about viruses as it's been virus free for 20 years.....The sun ray is a thin client so you have only one machine to administrate (the server)

State of the art Internet cafe....about 25K.....

jayo2004

Thats a pricey here is the setup

there is 7 pc's setup for access for poker at the minute (irisheyespoker.com i think). In future they might use it for complete web access. I did not set it up but the owner asked me to have a look at it as the computer company who set it up were suppose to secure it but the other day young lads had virutal girl installed and having a great time. lol.....

Is there something i can do so the pc boots straight into that website and have no acess to the local pc at all. I think they are using a sonicwall ill know more later as im going to have a look at the setup.

NutJob

Linux may be an option you can do all this with ubuntu and is relatively easy to install.


Cloneing machines is a must try to buy as many identical machines as possible to make ur life easy. There is debate about cloneing going on in the os -> windows section.


There is pre packed cafe software out there try it out havnt used it

Also there is a tool calld deep freeze which rolls back the systems to a previous state on reboot (internet cafe guy said it was cool) but saved docs get lost unless there on a network drive and u know people come back looking for stuff.

If ur hardcore a shell replacement may be the answer but ill just say agggggggggggghhh!!!

And whats wrong with virtual girl

egan007

I can't see how you can call 1200 per system expensive. especially for state of the art.....and ultra low maintenance

jayo2004

They already have computers in place (hp i think)dont know if they have a server. I know the company who set it up and id say it cost big money so there is no way they will spend much more. im heading up there now and ill have a look at the setup.

i71jskz5xu42pb

jayo2004 wrote:

Hi just wondering what type of hardware or software would i need to secure the network. I would like no access to local pc at all maybe a web based program that starts up straight away with a logon page and then straight to the internet( no access to c:\ from typing into address bar or anything like that). Also resirct certain webpages. Anybody setup anything like this and it needs to be very stable.

One machine, six video cards. Assuming you are just providing Internet browsing services a few half decent machines could keep a small internet cafe chugging along nicely.

You can find locked down versions of most internet browsers and it would be pretty easy to do the same with whatever window manager you use on Linux machine. Well, pretty easy for somebody that knows how - and I guessing you'll be hiring somebody to set this up for you (http://www.linux.ie/ is a place to look)

>State of the art Internet cafe....about 25K.....
Hmmmm. I guess you get what you pay for but if I was starting a business like this I'd try spend less money on hardware and more on other stuff.