Cybercafe Info | how to setup a cyber cafe

Part 2: Wireless Internet Cyber cafe

2008-08-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

For the past entry, i gave you some introductions and definition about wired and wireless networking technologies.

Now it is time to make some comparison between both of them. I will tell you from the beginning of the installation process to the conclusions. Please read it throughly.

Installation

For me, wired networking installation is a bit messy because you need a lot of wires and there are very long to manage. You also need ethernet adapter where the wire connect between your cyber cafe computers or your router. It also can be time-consuming and difficult to run cables on the floor or manage to hide it especially if you have computer sit in different rooms. Now, we are using CAT5 cables, it is new technology for wired cable networking, it make you networking process easier and minimizing unsightly cable runs.

For wireless networks, you just need a wireless router and wireless reciever adapter. Your internet broadband output mustbe connected to the wireless router and the reciever adapter must be installed to each of your computer. That's all you need.

Wireless LANs only work for certain range. If you buy wireless router only support 500 meter range, so that's it. If you want to gain more range you must upgrade your wireless router or buy a new router which support you desire range. It different to wired cables networking. You can make as wide range as you can as long as you have long cable. It's unlimited to space.

After hardware installation, the remaining steps in configuring either wired or wireless LANs do not differ much. Both rely on standard Internet Protocol and network operating system configuration options.

Part 1: Wireless Internet Cyber cafe

2008-08-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The most "must-have" thing in your cyber cafe is networking. Either wired or wireless networking.

This thing actually can bring up your internet cafe business or down. So watch it out. If you not reading one of my article about common mistake that internet cyber cafe businessman always do, you better read it because it is very valuable for you to know before you starting this business.

In computer networking world, wireless technologies is the latest technology compared to network that use cables. Most people agreed that wireless networking represent the future of computer and internet connectivity worldwide. Wi-Fi, one of the latest networking technologies, continues to be the pre-eminent technology for building general-purpose wireless networks.

Any kind of network technology (either wired or wireless) increases the usefulness of home and business computers. Wireless networks offer even more benefits than wired ones. Is that true?

The questions are can this technologies is the best thing you can apply to your cyber cafe?

How much can it cost you?

How about the performance?

How about everything?

I will reveal everything in this article. You may be took a long reading but i will separate it into few parts so you don't jump into boring situations :). Please continue your reading.

Computer networks for the home and small business can be built using either wired or wireless technology. Wired Ethernet has been the traditional choice in homes and in small business too, but Wi-Fi wireless technologies are gaining ground fast these past few years. Both wired and wireless can claim advantages over the other; both represent viable options for home and other local area networks (LANs).

The major key point that you must look before you choose any networking technologies are:

1. ease of installation

2. total cost

3. reliability

4. performance

5. security

Wired LANs

We have been using this networking technology for many years. Even in my cyber cafe, i still using it. To me, the wired cables networking is the best. But most people can't 100% agree to that.

Wired LANs use Ethernet cables and network adapters. Although two computers can be directly wired to each other using an Ethernet crossover cable, wired LANs generally also require central devices like hubs, switches, or routers to accommodate more computers.

For dial-up connections to the Internet, the computer hosting the modem must run Internet Connection Sharing or similar software to share the connection with all other computers on the LAN. Broadband routers allow easier sharing of cable modem or DSL Internet connections, plus they often include built-in firewall support.

Wireless LANs

Popular WLAN technologies all follow one of the three main Wi-Fi communication standards. The benefits of wireless networking depend on the standard employed:

1. 802.11b was the first standard to be widely used in WLANs.

2. The 802.11a standard is faster but more expensive than 802.11b; 802.11a is more commonly found in business networks.

3. The newest standard, 802.11g, attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b, though it too is more a more expensive home networking option.

Cont. to Part 2

Part 3: Ecafepro | Cyber cafe managment software

2008-08-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

Setting up Client Computer

From "menu", under "setting" tab, click on "client pc".

I think many people out there can setup their computer IP, right? What is IP? IP stand for Internet Protocol. It is a numerical identification (Logical Address) that is assigned to devices participating in a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol for communication between its node (Wikipedia).

Now, click "edit".

Enter your choosen IP number to blank box there and click "save". You IP address should be similar example like this :192.168.0.XXX, where XXX is a combination number between 1-9. It should be serial number. If you put 192.168.0.1 for computer no. 1, computer no.2 should have 192.168.0.2 IP Address and so on until the last computer.

Now finish one step.

Now install client software and run it on your computer. Enter "admin" password when window like below popup.

You should see something like picture below.

Few step you must follow:

1. Enter server IP number so the client computer can interact between server computer

2. Enter your computer number

3. Tick at box says "Load at windows startup"

Now all your computers can interact between them and it's time to make money from internet cyber cafe business. Enjoy reading...

Part 2: Ecafepro | Cyber cafe management software

2008-07-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Setting Up Server Computer

We are going to setup server computer. So, when you finished download the software that i've mention earlier, it's time now to install it. You must extract the file you download using whatever zip file software like Winzip or Winrar or iZarc. And then click setup to install Ecafepro server software. After finish install it, click Ecafepro shortcut to run the program.

Ok, now i will explain to you about the "setting" tab.

Under "company & general" tab, you will put your company address, phone numbers and not to forget, your company's name.

Under "general info" tab, you will put amount of your computers in "total pc" and you will pun your "currency sign" (If in Malaysia we put "RM", if in USA, put $).

Under "loading option" tab, you will choose your computer icon in "icon view option". There are 4 icons. You may choose whatever you want but i suggest you choose number 4 icon because it easy to see which one of the computer finish it's time and your computer usage timeline.

Now click at "ecafepro loading at startup" so whenever you start your server computer, the ecafepro program will loading at startup. We skip for "login option" and go straight to "pc logout setting".

The most important setting here is "after login, the client pc will restart". Which means after customer finish using the computer or finish their prepaid, the computer will automaticly shutdonw and restart by it self. Neat huh!!! :).

On "pc locking message", you can create whatever messege you want to display. Like me i show "Welcome to My Internet Cafe". It's not so important. You can leave it blank.

Under "Miscellanious option", click "allow refund for prepaid" and click save button. Go to "setting" and go to "rate". Click at "charge rate". Click "edit" and put your usage rate for an hour. For example you want to charge $1 for an hour, so put $1 on "charge rate".

Cont. to Part 3

Part: 1 Ecafepro | Cyber cafe management software

2008-07-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to introduce you one of the best cyber cafe management software, behold, Ecafepro.

Long time ago, they called it "cafe123". Now they changed it name to "Ecafepro".

With this software, you can control client computer, you can observe your daily and mothly profit, restart and shut down your computer automaticly and many more. To be precise, this software can make your internet cafe management easier than ever.

There also another cyber cafe management software like "Handycafe". It stabil and the best part, it's free. You can manage your client computer from server. But i'm not going to recommend it to you. I only recommend you what's the best only.

Preparation

Back of the days, the software company only allowed 5 computers to be controlled with Demo version of software. If you buy the full version of the software, you may add up to 255 computers. Nowdays, the company with big heart gave 10 computer for Demo version of the software. That's the good news to us.

Now, to get start it, you must donwload the software. There are 2 softwares, it's for client and for server.

To download Ecafepro for server click HERE
To download Ecafepro for client click HERE

Take note that this software use low requirement of computer. Even computer with Pentium 166Mhz and RAM 64MB can run it (I've test it). So, if you have oldies computer, don't just throw them. Make use of them or you can upgrade it if you want.

Cont. to Part 2

Why do you need cyber cafe billing software?

2008-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today article i'm going to write about how important cyber cafe billing software and why you must have it.

If you're going to run cyber cafe, i will tell you some important thing, that is the way you manage your billing things.

Some people called this software as cyber cafe billing software, some people described it as cyber cafe management software, and other called it account management software. But to me, all them are same. It use to manage your internet cafe billing.

Now, we going to the very best part. I used to go to a cyber cafe with no proper billing managment. Yes! Back of the day, they use log book to write your name and time your use the internet service. After finish use the internet, the owner will calculate your time of usage and multiply it by the charge they put. Let say the charge is $2 per hour. You use 2 hours. They will calculate it using calculator and you got to pay $4. What if you use 2 hours and 45 minutes? Can they calculate it fast and without mistake? What if the people who calculate the bill are new staff? Is that something we call good billing managment practice? I don't think so. Customer will loose confident over you cyber cafe if your cyber cafe got such problem.

I think every cyber cafe have the same problem with bad customer. What would you do if the customer wont leave the computer even the time is finish? What would you do if customer use you computer without pay first? What your staff would do to such matter?

There are too many reason why you need a cyber cafe billing software (If only you are running the internet cafe business). Most of the time cyber cafe billing systems also have many other functions that will make thing easier to manage your internet cafe.

To the next post, i'm going to write about billing software, Ecafepro! This is the recommended software by many cyber cafe. Although it's a demo version but there is no limitation of use. So stay tune for more info about how to setup your billing managment system

Part 2: Connecting All Hardwares In Internet Cafe

2008-07-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Configuring the modem and router

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. "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.

Conclusion

Now we have finished build a LAN with 20 units of PC, a printer and a scanner, which sharing single phone line to connect to the internet. This is just a brief idea on how to connect all hardwares in a cyber cafe. Of course, you may search the details explanation in the search engine or in later articles.

Part 1: Connecting All Hardwares In Internet Cafe

2008-07-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

This post is a brief idea, how to connect all hardwares in internet cafe. This is not a complete guide but it will you get an idea before you setup your own internet cafe.

All the hardwares 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 these article I assume that all PCs have been completely installed with Windows XP operating system and using static IP Address instead of dynamic IP (DHCP) for each system because a best 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. To date motherboard have ethernet adapter built-in. So, no need to add it. But if your motherboard dont have it, you must add it.

Common ones used in a simple network is IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. To install, open Network Neighborhood properties, click "Add" button, Select "Protocol" and "Add" button, scroll down in the manufacturer list and select Microsoft, select IPX/SPX and click "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 "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: 192.168.1.1 (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 "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 and BNC connector. Most of new NIC only support RJ-45 connector, so we use Cat5 (also called 10BaseT) cable. Other then 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.

Cont. to Part 2

Basic Internet Cafe Requirement

2008-07-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

Every internet cafe has its' own and different requirement, but this is the basic requirement for every cyber cafes.

This is the most basic requirement for an Internet Cafe as a reference. However, every Internet Cafe or Gaming Center have their special requirement and setup.

Hardware needed

1. 20 x Client PCs

2. 1 x PC to control Clients a.k.a Server

2. 1 x 24 ports Switch (or Hub?)

3. 1 x Modem with built-in Router because it is easier to have modem with built-in router (broadband modem).

5. 1 x Printer - any brand

6. 1 x Scanner - any brand

7. 20 x USB extender (If only the USB ports are in the back)

Client PCs x 20 units

Minimum specification to run internet applications, office applications and games. It is important to have the same specification on all the clients system to minimum maintenance job. If you have more budget, try at least buy 3 more computer as spares.

1. Processor - at least Pentium 4 or AMD Sempron or Athlon XP

2. 80GB Hard Disk Drive

3. 256MB RAM Memory

4. Monitor - 15" or 17" or 21"!

5. Motherboard - Good brand with Integrated sound and VGA but separated AGP card is the best!

6. Keyboard & Mouse - Any good brand keyboard and mouse with scroll.

7. Speaker or Headphone with Microphone (i will not recommend speaker because it's make your cyber cafe like disco!, but still it your choice)

8. 100Mbps Network Card

9. CDRW Drive (optional)

10. Web Cam (optional)

Server PC x 1 unit - not so important, at least can run cyber cafe management software is good enough. But more number of clients means higher specification needed.

1. Processor - at least Pentium 4

2. 40-80 GB Hard Disk Drive

3. 512MB RAM Memory

4. Monitor - 15"

5. Motherboard - Good brand with Integrated sound and VGA

6. Keyboard & Mouse - Any good brand keyboard and mouse with scroll.

7. 100Mbps Network Card

9. CDRW Drive (optional)

10. Web Cam (optional)

Softwares in Clients

Most needed application by customers. It is important to have the same applications on all the clients system to minimum maintenance job.

1. Operating System - WinXP is the best

2. Office Suite - Ms Office or OpenOffice.org

3. Browser - FireFox or Opera (I will not recommend Interner Explorer)

4. Adobe Reader

5. File Compressor - Winzip or WinRar

6. QuickTime

7. Media Player - WinAmp5 and Window Media Player

8. Messenger - ICQ, Yahoo, MSN and AOL

9. Anti Virus - Norton AntiVirus or McAffee or free antivirus such AVG and Avira

10. CD Burning Utility - Nero or Alcohol (optional)

11. Reboot Restoration Utility - Deepfreeze or Norton Goback, Norton Ghost or Juzt Reboot card (optional). Although it is optional, I think it will reduce almost 95% of internet cafe's maintenance. Think about it!

Softwares in Server

Preferably the same with clients, because it is easier to troubleshoot problem if something happen.

1. Operating System - and again WinXP is the best

2. Office Suite - Ms Office or OpenOffice.org

3. Browser - Internet Explorer, FireFox or Netscape Navigator

4. Adobe Reader

5. File Compressor - Winzip or WinRar

6. QuickTime

7. Media Player - WinAmp5 and Window Media Player

8. Messenger - ICQ, Yahoo, MSN and AOL

9. Anti Virus - Norton AntiVirus or McAffee or free antivirus on the net

10. CD Burning Utility - Nero or Alcohol (optional)

11. Internet Cafe Management Software - CCAutoSoft

Games to Choose

These are the most wanted games in the Internet Cafe or Gaming Center.

1. Half-Life

2. Conter Strike

3. Need For Speed - latest one

4. Warcraft 3

5. Doom 3

6. Everquest2

7. Galaxy LightSpeed

8. Halo for PC

9. Star Wars Galaxies

10. Battlefield 1942

11. Secret Weapons and Vietnam

12. Rise of Nations

13. Home World 2

14. Solider of Fortune

15. City of Heroes

16. Final Fantasy

17. Command and Conquer

18. Midtown Madness

19. Bass Fishing

20. House of the Dead and many more. Please make you choice after you make some surveys with your customer.

Internet Cafe's Common Mistake

2008-07-11T18:45:00.001-07:00

We are humans. We can't run away from mistake. All we have to do is make it less. As in internet business, you must know some common mistakes so you can keep your internet business at success and top performance.

There are some very common mistakes made by internet cafes owner which may bring down the business. As we might know, it is not easy to attract customer to come to your internet cafe, especially when you got so many competitors around within your area. It is easier for you to attract customer before you begin your internet cafe business. Before the openning, do some promotion like banners, flyers and in your advertising do not forget to state 'free surfing in the first and the second day'. It will cause customers from other cyber cafes come to yours in the first two days. People want to now how is the new cyber cafe, is it the same or different from other cyber cafes. Or may be they just want to have free surfing! Whatever they think or whatever the purpose, do not spoilt it with common problem of internet cafes.

Computer Crash

The main major problem, which will certainly make your customer go away, is computer crash. It is really frustrating for a customer if the computer they use got crash. They have to wait for reboot or have to use another PC. And how will you assure your customer that the other PC will not crash? If this problem is not solved, you will loose some customers.

Make sure your computers ware built by good brand of hardwares. Even though the specification of those machines is up-to-date, the brand built is also important. Computer built by any cheap motherboard with sound and VGA built-in will definitely crash very often. The worst case is the computer cannot be use only after a month you start your business. You start with 30 units of PCs, but in the end of the month you have only 20 units left! You just start your business and suddenly you have to change 10 units of motherboards!

The best is to use branded PC, such as Dell, Compaq, Hewlet-Packard or if you got little budget, built your own PCs by branded items such as Intel motherboard and processor, good brand of memory and etc. Try to get the best product with your little budget, if can, increase your budget a little. If you cannot afford it, do not install the highest end of games or software. Do not use Windows XP. Do not install Half-Life2. Do not install Ms Office XP. But how you could compete with other internet cafes?

Slow Computer

Another problem which will make you loose your customers. When your computer is slow, you cannot install up-to-date software and games. You will make those PC crash often if you do that. Although you cannot afford to buy the fastest PC for your cyber cafe, you also should not buy slow PCs. Choose in the middle or a little bit higher than the middle. So you will not be leaved behind by your competitors. If your targetted customers is not gamers, than you will have any problem with slow computer. Install Win98, Firefox browser, mIRC and Ms Office 97 is good enough. But slow computer still will make you loose in the competition.

Smoke

Do not allow smoking in your internet cafe. Smoking will only attract few customers, but avoid more customers. As always, smokers can get into non-smoker area, but non-smoker cannot. So we should choose the bigger number of customers. In the other hand, smoking will cause your internet cafe stinky and dusty.

Not Enough Computers

The number of computers also has major impact in your business performance. Imagine if your internet cafe is always 100% full. Customers have to wait for their turn. Of course, you will think this is a good sign for your business. But unfortunately, this sign will only bring your business down. In the future, people will always thinking your internet cafe is full so they will avoid you internet cafe and go to your competitors' internet cafes. So, to solve this problem, you must make sure your internet cafe is always ready for more customer. Your customer will be very happy if there is always available PC for them when they come.

Employee Problem

If you have only 10 units of PCs, manage the internet cafe yourself. You will not able to pay your employee. If you got 20 and above unit of PCs then this is the right number to get a worker to manage your internet cafe. You cannot handle it by yourself. Employee also can bring your business up or down, so you must be very choosy. Some of them may cheat the amount of money paid by the customers and give their friends to use the computer free of charge. The best solution for managing your employee is by using the best internet cafe management software. The software must be able to log activity of the employee and be able to detect any suspicious activity by the logged data.

Bad Maintenance

Keyboard and mouse are the most important hardwares for your customers. Think. These two hardwares are the only hardwares interact with your customers. Bad maintenance keyboard or mouse will only make your customer use it for five minutes and then run away. They want the best for what they touch and hold. A higher budget for keyboards and mouses is needed to make sure your customers' satisfaction.

As a conclusion, you can make sure you are leading the competition if you try your best to avoid those mistakes.

Internet or Cyber Cafe Definition

2008-07-10T00:58:00.000-07:00

Before we go anywhere further, is better to know what is exactly definition internet cafe, cyber cafe, cyber center, internet center and gaming center.

Internet cafe or cyber cafe is a place where people can get connected to the Internet while eating or have a cup of coffee using publicly accessible computer. While the main activity in the cyber cafe is the Internet, such as email, newsgroup and web site surfing, other applications usually available are office suite to type document, spreadsheet, games, such as online games and other utilities such as printing service, scanning and digital photo service. Some internet cafes also sell computer accessories and computer related stuffs. People may have their food and drink at the computer table or at separate tables provide by the cafe. Modern cyber cafe also have wireless connection in their local area networking (LAN), where people can bring their own lap top and get connected to the Internet by paying a small fee.

What is Cyber Center or Internet Center?

Cyber center or Internet center is almost the same with cyber cafe or internet cafe. People can browse the Internet, playing games and typing document. The only different is cyber center or internet center do not sell food or beverage. They only concentrate in computers, not cafe. Other services usually available are printing, scanning, digital photo, CD and DVD burning. They also sell computer accessories. Because of the nature of their business, sometimes cyber center also sell computer and provide computer repair service.

What is Gaming Center?

Modern gaming center is more like a cyber cafe or cyber center. People can play online games or network games. People will come in groups so, they can play network game and fight each other to find out who is the best. Some come in solo just to filling in thier time. In the previous time, gaming center are full with kids but today adult also like to play game especially network and online games. In the gaming center, other then personal computer, Playstation or XBox are also used to play games. Although gaming centers are also connected to the Internet, people cannot browse the web site or use emails.

Internet Cybercafe decision!

2008-06-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

In business field, you must think carefully and must be wise because if you took the wrong step, you'll be regret. There's no turning back. You must make some important decision.

Same with Internet Cybercafe business. You must plan accordingly. You must sit with you partner (if you have one) and discuss about every aspect that might contribute to your successing Internet Cybercafe business.

So, what i did before i open up my Cybercafe are, i ask myself, why we (adib and me) wanted the Cybercafe? How much budget that we have to run it? How easy to setup it? How much profit will we get? So these are the questions linger in our mind for several month before we involve in real Cybercafe business.

So, to answer to all the question, i came to adib house and discuss it. We found that, it's not easy to setup a cybercafe. We found that we wanted this cybercafe because we want to have "freedom to work". It's mean that you dont have a boss, you are the boss and you control everything. You even have flexible work time and more carrier opportunities. Another part is we found that we will recieve a lot of profits if we plan it carefully. That the next best thing :).

After some discussion, we make a big decission that we want to run a cybercafe. The journey begin here. We have a lot of trouble then. So stay tune for more information.

Welcome to the Blog!

2008-06-27T01:18:00.000-07:00

Hai people!

Welcome to my new blog called "Cybercafe-info.blogspot". My name is Naim Noorazmi. I work as Research Officer at Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh, Malaysia. I've been blogging since 2006 and already involved in computer field about 7 years.

I've a lots of experience in repairing computer and animal researches. To date, i've been involved in Internet Cybercafe. My friend, Adib Kusran runs it. So we manage to setup nice cybercafe.

Back to 1 year ago, we start a cybercafe with little money and computer resources but now it's difference. It change a lot. Like older people to say, "susah-susah dulu, senang-senang kemudian" and in english, "no pain no gain".

Many people asked me "How to run or do a Cyber Cafe business?". So, I'm going to write on "How to Setup a Cyber Cafe" in this blog. I will tell you about almost anything on how to start a Cyber Cafe business. Take note that running a Cyber Cafe actually is fun and enjoyable job so stay tune with me for more info.

Best wishes,
Naim