Continued from Setting up An Internet Cafe – Part   3

Unlike other types of shop, internet cafe needs one more wiring other than electrical wiring which is network cable wiring. A good planning is needed to suite the location of every device in the internet cafe.  Unlike electric wiring which only needs 3 to 6 cables in each electric wire casing to the switches, plug or sockets, network cable is exclusive one cable for each device. This is about Category 5 (Cat5/Cat5e) cable.  Cat 5 is required for basic 10/100 functionality, you would want Cat 5e for gigabit (1000BaseT) operation and Cat 6 or higher gives you a measure of future proofing.

If you do not want to work hard, there are many contractors who like to offer their services at a fair price and quality workmanship, but doing the job yourself is not as hard as you think. And it’s fun! (at least for me )

There is an old article I wrote about connecting all hardware in internet cafe. I wrote it in 2005, so it may have some outdated information.In this article I will show you how I planned to connect the entire computer to one switch and to the router/modem and finally to the internet as the image below.

 

Network

How do we connect a computer to a switch? A computer can be connected to a switch by a network cable. Common network cable used is Cat5. Each end of the cable has a plug, called RJ45 connector or plug. You can make the network cables yourself if you want to cut down the cost of setting up your own internet cafe. It is not so difficult. You only need Cat5 cable, RJ45 connectors, crimping tools and a lot of patient. Of course you must know how to arrange the wires by their colors.

RJ45 + Cat5 cable + Crimping Tool = Network Cable

 

And this is the latest ‘my’ internet cafe plan.

One end of each cable from 14 computers will run through the ceiling via electrical ‘casing n capping’. For computers at the center, there is a permanent structure built for electrical and network wiring purpose. The casing is mounted on the structure then all the cables run through the casing to above the ceiling.

All rj45 plugs/cables from 14 computers run down from the ceiling through the casing and then are plugged into the switch’s port. The others 6 computers connected to the switch by the cables run through casing mounted at the wall.

Other then 20 computers for the clients, devices needed to be connected to the switch are modem with built-in router, computer at the counter, and perhaps a server ( I planned to put an Ubuntu server in the LAN for NAS (network-attach storage), squid cache server, proxy server and might be an intranet web server – refer to Part 1).  The switch I need is a 24 ports switch because I have 22 computers and 1 modem/router. So have only 1 extra port. Usually, there are 4 ports at the router/modem but one is used to connect to the switch. So overall I have 4 extra ports, which might be useful soon.

From Second Article

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 this article I assume that all PCs have been completely installed with Windows 98 operating system and using static IP Address instead of dynamic IP (DHCP) for each system because

CCAutoSoft 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. Common ones used in a simple network are 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 202.188.1.5Click “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 than 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.

Configure the modem and router setting.

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 hardware or devices in a cyber cafe. Of course, you may search the details explanation in the search engine or in later articles.

(The article was written in 2005, so it has some outdated information)Related reference: Network Cable Wiring in Internet Cafe