Dear Everyone

I am sorry to ask this basic simple but too wild question..

It is Internet Cafe with 40 computers

and we don't actually have any internet servers yet.

Just using modemRouter to connect all these PCs

Can you guys please suggest good solution?

what kind of server should I build?

is that better to get ADSL2 Modem?(or Can I use current one??)

Thanks

Hi mate

First up i will jump in and help out, the thread title is a bit misleading..

The OP needs some advice re: this thread forum-replies.cfm?t=667870&p=1

He has an internet cafe with 40 users, and needs to max out his bandwidth, the cheapest and most effective way for the op to do it would be to have multiple adsl2+ connections..

The OP needs someone based in melbourne who could build a linux multi wan gateway, add a squid cache, bandwidth control maybe a billing solution that would handle the multiple users..

Ourmelbourne i dont suggest trying this yourself, it wont be an easy task, and you want to make sure it is 100% secure so know one breaks anything on you :) It is going to take someone very skilled to do this job properly for you..

Also can someone explain what it will take to make this happen, what packages to use, and how much work is involved so the op can get an idea of the work involved.

I spent about two weeks testing and configuring my OpenBSD multiwan router.

Adding a second WAN link to a router requires a different set of routing rules to a normal router. It isn't simply a case of ticking a box and telling it to use the additional bandwidth.

This is even without IP-based traffic accounting or any of the "cafe" functionality.

Just adding squid as a proxy adds another level of complexity. I gave up trying to get the squid setup to handle multiple routes.

It is definitely a better solution than I could have even found in a router, but it came at a price. I wouldn't call myself a novice, but I would think twice before taking on such a project in a commercial environment. Doing this yourself runs the risk of downtime. I suspect that your margins aren't large enough to handle a week of customers complaining abo0ut being unable to access the internet.

I second the suggestion that you find a contractor that will install and configure a solution that meets all your needs. So, rather than look for a linux distro, look at making a list of the functions that you require the system to perform.

noonereallycares writes...

So, rather than look for a linux distro, look at making a list of the functions that you require the system to perform.

I agree :)

We better list the functions for the OP to take to a contractor, so he gets a fair deal..

Just adding squid as a proxy adds another level of complexity. I gave up trying to get the squid setup to handle multiple routes.

Would it be easier to have a second machine that handles squid cache proxy, and maybe some other services?? on the multi wan gateway have the internal network card going to the second machine.. Might help with simpler config etc.. (just a thought)

Thanks heaps every one

I will try to find some contractor who can build up server.

sad thing is I don't know what I need... I feel so bad..

Thanks a lot

I

ourmelbourne writes...

hanks heaps every one

I will try to find some contractor who can build up server.

sad thing is I don't know what I need... I feel so bad..

Thanks a lot nvestigate viking proxy server . winblows based
or consider e-smith

Does this really require multiple adsl2+ connections, damn there are many networks with way more computers out there with much slower connections.
One adsl2+ connection with a nice bsd or linux based router/firewall and squid proxy server will do the trick.

Just go with something simple like Clarkconnect.

Its great for buisnesses that just want thier server to "work" with out having to configure alot.

+ its got a built in web config feature to get you all started and running

jetoblaster writes...

Does this really require multiple adsl2+ connections,

40 users all using youtube at the same time???

Its going to need a fair bit of bandwidth.. Who wants to go to a net cafe with slow internet!!

jetoblaster writes...

Does this really require multiple adsl2+ connections,

If you could get the full 24Mbit then I'd say you'd *just* have enough bandwidth if 40 computers are at 50% load. However if you were getting much less than 24Mbit, I'd expect multiple WAN lines because it is a Internet Cafe and people expect decent browsing and gaming speeds.

I went to an internet cafe a while back that had 256k adsl shared between 15 computers

Thats a bad choic for the owner of the cafe..

If i went to a internet cafe and cant watch a youtube link a friend has sent me etc i would be peeved..

Next time i would find a different net cafe,

hence repeat business lost.

I highly doubt 40 users would be all going to youtube at the same time.
Depending on the quality and amount of cash the owner of the business had they could also use a fiber link like uni and some public schools that have 30mbit+ download speeds.

The line has to be drawn somewhere...

You could have a gaming section where people just play games?? Separate the network like that and have two connections with two servers.

It would be a good idea to have an identical server sitting idle in case of failure too.

jetoblaster writes...

I highly doubt 40 users would be all going to youtube at the same time.

Nah me neither truthfully, but if i owned an internet cafe i would make that the target, making sure each client can watch youtube style sites..

Thats just me though..

A Zyxel 662HW will let you use 2 ADSL lines (load sharing) with your present modem, give you on the fly virus protection and many restrictive features that may be good to lock down users plus wireless it has a lot of features in a small box.

I would not bother trying to configure a pc to load balance. Rather purchase a dual wan adsl1 or 2+ modem and let it do the load balancing. Then have a pc with your firewall/filter etc and a nice big fat proxy on it. This way you can aviod the problems associated with load balancing on a machine that also servers as the proxy cache.

I'd buy something like this:

www.infosmart.com.tw/p-ndr3024.htm

and use a nice web gui based *nix distro to setup your proxy cache firewall etc. You could go all the way and have a different machine for your firewall and another machine for the content filtering/proxy but that may become a little expensive.

Certainly have a good cache as you will save a lot in bandwidth with some of the more commonly visited sites.

EDIT: Myself I'd only use OpenBSD/pf for the firewall as excellent prioritising and bandwidth limiting features (by protocol, port etc).