internet cafe

[wide angle]

hi guys,
i found this site very helpful and interesting.
could someone tell me the basic requirements in putting up internet cafe?
i plan to start with 15 workstation and one server and 24ports hub.
is there any other software needed?

Awaiting for your valuable reply.

henry

[BFD Deadeye]

Wow! Big investment. Make sure you run Windows XP or 2000, and you should be fine. It's basically a network not unlike that of an office. So a good version of Windows should be all that you need.

[Orcmonkey]

That should do it. Make sure to set your policies up to limit what you want... Also I've heard of places like this or libraries using ghost to restore the computer to the same settings (every night automatically for example) This might be a good Idea.

[BFD Deadeye]

Oh yeah, it might also be a good idea to look into software that prevents the public from changing anything. Seems like I remember something called V Shield.

[shecky981]

Just as a warning...................

Channels Internet Cafe is a 'net cafe right near where i live, and, they are an excellent example of how NOT to do an internet cafe. The fodd is awful, the prices are INSANELY expensive, and so on and so on. I know people who know people, and i have heard this company is loosing roughly $1 million a year, and that is just at ONE location, plus the supposed "content" they provide thats "exclusive" to the cafe patrons. Take a look at the site, Channels and you can see 'about us' then 'retail stores' what they try and offer.

just a warning is all. there is a company out of the UK (i completely forget the name) that is supposedly doing fantastically well with its chain of internet cafes, so, i guess it can be done.

[Blakhart]

We have a cafe here and I am the "tech" that keeps it running.
We give 15 mins internet time for every drink purchased. Drinks range from .75 to $2.95 in price. Some folks just pay us for the internet time instead.
Theres a dsl modem/router and that feeds a switch and on to the comps.
It can be loads of fun and a headache at times.
If you just want to allow browsing you can get by with a dialup and ics to a switch but if you want to let people play games (think teenage boys here) you gotta have bandwidth. There are sometimes 40 kids in the cafe all wanting to get on the systems. We are p0rno blocked by the isp (the only real way to do it) and if we have any trouble with the comps I generally do an format and install.
They are all Intels and use ME as the os.
It works well for us.