Bandwidth & Network connection

[Ezecom]

Hi,

I am about to set up a sort of cybercafe with 13 computers that would be only for web browsing and checking email (no games). The Internet connection will be a shared bandwidth via KU-band VSAT.

Please what is the minimum recommended bandwidth for the 13 PCs and what kind of network connection/server that will be very good for the PCs?

Thanks in advance.

Ezecom

could you explain what a KU-band VSAT is? i assume its some sort of satellite?

For web browsing and email a simple cable modem connection should work. (maybe a business line) Make sure you have the ability to disable peer to peer progs as those can suck up bandwidth. And lock those computers down

[Ezecom]

Hello Groundzero3,

Thanks for your immediate reply.

Yes, KU-band VSAT is an Internet satellite system. VSAT stands for " Very Small Aperture Terminal ". It's a small-sized telecommunications earth station that may transmit and receive voice, date, fax or video conferencing. Ku-band is one of the major signal bands available on the VSAT system. Typically, interactive KU-band antenna sizes range from 75 centimetres to 2.4 metres. KU-band antenna and other equipment look like normal satellite TV equipment.

I hope this has answered your question.

You mentioned that I should lock the computers down. Please what do you mean by that? Explain it in details.

Ezecom

Well locking down the computer, since i assume anyone from the street can come into the cafe, pay you a fee and do what the need to do on your computers. Since you will have so many different people coming onto the computer you will want to put some security measures on. Locking down is the term to make it so that people can only do what you allow them to do.

I.e. not install programs, not access other computer on the network, not access certain programs or settings, deleting files or programs, installing updates you don’t want, etc....

These settings are based on the os. The os you will want to use is something with the NT kernel which is the newest and used commonly in businesses now. Win2k and winxp are the two popular out right now. Try to stay away from win 95, win98, win Me as they lack built in security. (Although there are some programs out there that cost that you can control what people do on the computer)

With computer accessing the internet and checking emails you will need to install anti virus. Or your network will become a breeding ground for all the lovely worms that plague the internet. And it’s not hard now in days to get infected

With lockdown the computer, this will limit you spending time fixing what others have done. i.e changing your desktop backgrounds to porn pictures, deleting your programs, and infecting your computers.

Also you want to consider getting a copy of a program called Ghost, it makes images of a computers hard drive so you can reload it to the image state in case you install a new hard drive or have a problem with one computer.

Hope that helps

Jason