Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to check out and touch all the programs for managing a computer room, but nevertheless I decided to make a small subjective review existing programs to control computer time in an Internet cafe so that you know what programs exist, where to download or buy them, and the main functions of these programs. I tried only the first two programs from the entire list.

GameClass
Pretty powerful, but buggy program. It is protected by the fact that when working on server Windows, it writes data to the MSSQL database running under a different user and the operator does not have access to change the data. I liked the account system, when users, having put money into their account, no longer bother the operators and sit down under their own password. Extended statistics system that shows how much each account has gained over a period of time. The ability to remove only one specific task without touching the rest. I did not like the format of the logs, according to which it is very difficult to find out who sat down when and how long he sat on what conditions. Very often there are glitches when a negative amount of money is received on the account, while at zero the account is blocked. When starting the game Generals, if you choose to turn off the computer, an error occurs, the GCC client falls off and the computer remains unlocked. This is very actively used.

Astalavista
Great program, but unfortunately I only worked with old version. An intuitive log of operations, a visual description of the configuration of each computer, a list of running programs, the ability to connect via vnc / radmin to the client directly from the program. I was able to run this program directly from Linux using wine. In one of my clubs, operators still administer the hall using Astalavista under Linux. By setting the path to vncviewer in the astalavista settings, even under linux, you can perfectly connect to the client computer. Under Linux, several glitches appeared: at 100% load on the processor, Astalavista stops responding to clicks. All programs work without even noticing this load, and astalavista does not even stir. The second is that the log of operations does not appear immediately, but after a while flush does not help.

astalaViSta SuperViSor Ver.2
The software package ". : . astalaViSta SuperViSor" is a backbone software (software) for automating the activities of computer centers (CC), computer clubs (CC), Internet centers, Internet cafes, home networks, computer classes in educational institutions, collective access points, Internet access points, etc. Our development is based on experience in the field of automation of computer clubs over the past five years (since February 1999).

Network Administrator
Network Administrator - a system for managing computers and keeping records in an Internet cafe or computer club. The system allows you to fully automate the work of the administrator, and also has the following features: Simple and clear interface, a shell for clients, automatic raising of clients after the paid time. Automatic calculation of the cost of services. Unlimited number of services and tariffs, discount for users. The mode "night" with an advance payment. Control capability client computers(viewing active tasks, shutting down, rebooting, issuing a message, starting programs). Reporting system for the manager, the ability to convert reports to HTML format and send them to e-mail. Built-in NAT, proxy, accounting and Internet access restriction. Possibility of prepayment and postpayment. Warning the client about the end of work in 1 and 5 minutes. Creation of tariffs depending on the time of the day, on the day of the week, on the number of hours purchased.

Locker
This is a complex automation system for computer clubs and Internet cafes. The main tasks of the system are registration of sessions of the hall computers and blocking the work of computers whose session time has expired. In addition, Locker keeps a record of the Internet traffic of each computer, records of any additional services, payment for users, the balance of each user, accounting for booking computers, collects statistics and generates various reports on work, and much more ... The program has a developed system for dividing employee access to various functions and reports. With the help of additional modules, it is possible to display the state of the computers in the hall on a separate screen for users at the entrance to the computer room, display the current state of computers on the club's page on the Internet, send messages about the current state to the head of the club, and automatically print checks on the cash register.

Computer Room The "Computer Room" program is designed to automate the work of computer clubs, Internet cafes. The main tasks of the program: control of paid time, control of traffic, control of printers, control of the work of administrators, maintaining ratings of the popularity of programs used by clients.

ESMART® Cafe
Billing system for Internet cafes and computer clubs. Support for fiscal registrars SHTRIKH-FRK and the ability to use smart cards as a means of payment for the client.

KravNetAdmin™
Professional software package to account for finances and manage the activities of the computer center. Behind this phrase lies more than five years of difficult but interesting work for us; and a serious result - for you. The presented complex absorbed all the best ideas, both ours, and club administrators, and managers, and directors. We have tried to build an ideal and complete set of programs that suits everyone.

Taskmaster
System of management, automation and control of computer clubs and Internet cafes Taskmaster Center Enterprise.

Club Control
Powerful and reliable system for managing computer clubs and Internet cafes.

ZShell
The ZShell system is designed to facilitate the work of the administrator and the user, limit the user's access to system resources, as well as to account for and control the cash register and incoming money, maintain complete statistics of the administrator's actions and the operation of computers.

IPGuard
Completely free full-featured program for managing computer and internet clubs. It can also be used in other cases where controlled access restriction and accounting for PC usage over the network is required.

Non-Russian-language internet club management programs

Cafe Suite
CafeSuite is a powerful cyber cafe management software package that can help you with controlling your computers, managing customers, accounting and billing.

EasyCafe
EasyCafe is a complete solution for your management needs in your Internet Cafe. It is capable of handling the customers, the accounting and the cafeteria with the minimum human assistance. EasyCafe has many unic features for adding diversity for the clients. EasyCafe using cybercafes increase the quality of their services by providing wider options to their customers.

Locker is a complex automation system for computer clubs and Internet cafes. The main tasks of the system are registration of sessions of the hall computers and blocking the work of computers whose session time has expired. In addition, the Locker program keeps records of any additional services, user payments, the balance of each user, records of computer reservations, collects statistics and generates various reports on work, and much more...

The Locker program has an advanced system for separating employees' access to various functions and reports. With the help of additional modules, it is possible to display the state of the computers in the hall on a separate screen for users at the entrance to the computer room, display the current state of computers on the club's page on the Internet, send messages about the current state to the head of the club, and automatically print checks on the cash register.

New option client program for club computers Club Client program. This program also works with Locker!

Bonus work system: "bonus time" accumulates on the user's account. For example, for every five hours of work, the user receives one hour of free bonus time. The use of this system is a good incentive for regular users.

Description of Locker

The program is distributed as shareware and is delivered on an "as is" basis, that is, the developer is not responsible for the possible consequences of its misuse. It is only guaranteed that the functions of the program correspond to its documentation and that we pay attention to the wishes of the users of the program.

The program runs on Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2003 / 2000 / NT / 98 / ME. Minimum Requirements: a computer capable of running some kind of Windows, 15 MB hard disk space + data size. The display screen resolution must be at least 1024x768.

Business component of the project: powerful computer technology and fast internet- these are not all the components of a successful computer club. It is very important to properly organize the management system without restricting users' access to the necessary resources, and at the same time secure information and installed software. Our company was faced with the task of creating complete solution, which will take into account all the features of such a system.

This solution is scalable and is able to support the maintenance of both a single club and a network of computer clubs.

Brief description of the project:

The computer gaming club management system developed by our company includes the following components:

  • the server part, which stores user data, tariffs, session history, is responsible for authorization;
  • cashier application, which is presented as a web application and allows the club administrator to manage the credentials of visitors, top up the balance, remotely manage the blocking of workstations;
  • a shell for client machines, which is responsible for managing the paid session of the club's client and blocking the station after the paid time has elapsed;
  • A Windows service written in Java that catches and stops attempts by unscrupulous users to terminate the shell process without authorization;
  • installer: the shell and Windows service are passed as an executable file that installs the necessary software and additional setting systems. The installer is implemented using the Inno Setup tool.

Technical description of the project:

The shell is a desktop application and is implemented using the Electron framework. The client shell and the Windows service work closely together and form a "client application" as a pair. The service monitors the shell process and restarts it every time it crashes or is closed unauthorized through the task manager. The service also implements session duration tracking. When the user's paid time ends, the service tells the shell to block the user's access to Windows.

The service is installed automatically during shell installation. Simultaneously in Windows system a limited user is created and set as the “default user”. as a shell for the new account shell is written.

To preserve the ability to perform maintenance or other administrative work, the created Windows service will only attempt to restore the shell process in the account created during installation.
Communication between the cashier, client and server components is implemented in the REST architecture.

Club operator from his workplace can block any user machine. To do this, the cashier application will send a blocking request to the server, and the server will send a message to the client application via webSocket.

Computers in the cashier application are identified by ip-address and identification number, which is formed by hashing the mac address of the computer.

Data about all user sessions is stored in the database MySQL data and displayed in the cashier application.

Technology:

stack: Apache Maven, Apache Tomcat, Tyrus, ReactJS, Redux, JNA
programming languages: Java 11, JavaScript, Node.js
frameworks: Electron, Spring Boot, Spring Data, Spring Security
Infrastructure: Gerrit, IntelliJ IDEA, Jira, Inno Setup, VM VirtualBox, JetBrains WebStorm
DB: MySQL
test libraries: Junit, DBunit.
Other libraries: Lombok, JsonWebToken, Log4j2.
protocols: web socket, REST.

Screenshots:


Project Features:

  • system development from scratch: from business analysis to solution testing;
  • a clear division of work into stages, starting with the study of the customer's existing solution to the development of a prototype and its testing;
  • system programming: development of a Windows service in java;
  • tracking and process control operating system windows;
  • development of a desktop application in “kiosk mode”. That is, the application should occupy the entire screen area, closing the taskbar, including having the highest priority over other applications. The application cannot be closed, minimized, moved;
  • minimal need for club staff to install and configure the application for user machines;
  • weekly deliveries to the customer of intermediate versions of the prototype throughout the entire development period for testing,
    every week the product was demonstrated to the customer, which allowed him to keep abreast of the progress of work and see how the system was being created before his eyes.

Project result:

In three months, a large amount of work was completed and the solution was handed over to the customer:

  • the terms of reference for the computer club management system were created;
  • the architecture was designed and a description of the entire future solution was prepared;
  • a description of the prototype was prepared - a minimum set of working components demonstrating the possibility of a solution;
  • prototypes of all system components and a desktop application installer for client machines were developed;
  • written and implemented a test plan with more than 100 test cases;
    A prototype has been developed and fully tested.

Achievements of the company on the project:

  • a number of non-trivial tasks related to the Windows service were successfully solved;
  • the project was supported at all stages of work: researching the customer’s existing solution, identifying needs, conducting business analysis, writing terms of reference, design of an architectural solution, prototyping of a future system, direct development of a prototype, testing;
  • customer requirements and comments that come to us, arising in the process of getting acquainted with the intermediate version of the prototype or demonstration, were quickly processed, discussed and, if necessary, implemented.

What we did on the project, our responsibilities:

While working on the application, the team performed the following work:

  • study of the customer's existing solution, identification of his needs, their processing, analysis and fixation;
  • preparation of terms of reference for processed requirements;
  • study of existing solutions;
  • elaboration of the architecture and description of the solution;
  • development of all components;
  • development of a system installer on machines in clubs;
  • component integration;
  • writing a detailed test plan, more than 100 cases processed and included in the plan, for their run on an ongoing basis;
  • continuous testing process, including on the customer's equipment,
  • weekly demonstration of work to customers;
  • weekly deliveries of the solution to the customer.

Programs are designed to administer clubs, Internet cafes and other similar establishments.

↓ New in the category "Clubs, Internet cafes":

Computer Room 3.85v free
Computer Room 3.85v is a program for administering an Internet cafe or managing a computer club. The "Computer Room" program can control network traffic and paid time, as well as control printing and the work of administrators.

Smart Club Keeper 2.50 free
Smart Club Keeper 2.50 is an application to automate the work of administrators in computer clubs or Internet cafes. Smart program Club Keeper keeps track of the use of paid time or Internet traffic.

Network Administrator 6.6.3 free
Network Administrator 6.6.3 is a computer management system for working in clubs, game and internet halls or saloons. The Network Administrator program allows you to make the work of the administrator fully automated.

Locker 5.84 free
Locker 5.84 is integrated system computer room automation. The Locker program is designed to register the sessions of the computers in the hall, as well as to block the work of computers on which the session time has expired.

IPGuard 3.0.11 free
IPGuard 3.0.11 is free program for managing multiple computers in internet clubs. The IPGuard program is equipped with a module for the warehouse and sale of related products.

GameAdmin 1.0.0.9 free
GameAdmin 1.0.0.9 is a program for managing an Internet cafe or computer club. The GameAdmin program has two modules for managing controlled computers.

ClubTimer 2.82 free
ClubTimer 2.82 is a program for managing a computer club or Internet cafe. The ClubTimer program will help to control the time of work of clients or visitors, with the calculation of the cost of sessions and the possibility of booking time.

APTimer 1.2 free
APTimer 1.2 is a program that is aimed at various salons or clubs, in which the cost of services depends entirely on the visitor's working hours (bowling, billiards, Internet cafes and the like). The APTimer program allows each visitor to set the time of the service, end the countdown, extend the time.