What routers to use for public places ?

I would say just about any wireless router would work.  I like Linksys the best, and they make a great signal boosting product to make the network extend further than your average wireless network.

http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=33&scid=35

Any one of these wireless routers/firewalls will work for what you want to do and are pretty secure.

Dont those routers have a limit with regards to the amount of computers you can attach to them ie 4 or 5 , I mean what happens if I want 20 computers within my network that is behind a server and a firewall ?

how would I go abouts setting that up and how would it be connected ?

Internet Connection --> Firewall --> Router --> Server --> Then the other 20 computers ???


I mean if you could help me with regards to that and also what are good firewalls ?

Hardware firewalls that is , sorry I forgot to stick that in there :P My bad !

I highly recommend this product from Adtran.  http://tinyurl.com/7ar7t
T1 or DSL router, 24-port 10/100 switch (can get Gig ports if you want), firewall all in one..

If you want to add wireless, just pop in an access point or three...
You can get the Adtran in a Power over Etherent model to provide power to the wireless access points as well...

It all boils down to budget. Do you want a Volkswagen solution, or a Marbach solution, or something in between?
Do you want wireless? Check out the wirless "intant hotspot" solutions like Boingo/Linksys..
What are your security requirements?

what hardware would I need to allow me to have those wireless hotspots ? and how would I attach this to the current network assuming that I had a switch, router, hard ware firewall, a server and 20 or more other computers ?

With regards to security, I just need to enforce that only people who have paid to use the wireless hotspots can use them and no one else unless they pay for them, so from the other question I have asked I am assuming that would have to be done by the switch with regards to determing what mac address's can use my network , right ? correct me if I am wrong ?

Also I was thinking If I use deep freeze or policys to restrict the installation of software as I do not want other people installing illegal copys of software on the machines !

If there is anything else you can think of with regards to enforcing security on a network that is in a public place such as a net cafe and I am missing anything, if you could please let me know !

Just out of curiousty how would all this hardware connect to each other ?? I mean is it the net connection --> Hardware Firewall --> Router --> Server --> Other computers ? or how does that work ?

Thanks and I hope this is not too much within one question !

what are VLANS ?? And also with regards to setting up the switch's , routers and all that, that would be fully documented in the products manuals , right ?

VLAN = Virtual LAN. It basically creates what appears to be a physically separate switch within a switch. The two vlan's can't talk to each other unless you want them to, and not without some layer3 (routing) device to accomdate that.
This way you can use one switch to work as 2 or 3 independent switches. Wireless users connect to one virtual switch (VLAN) and can only get out to the Internet. This way, if some drive-by wireless hack gets on your wireless lan, the PC's and servers are not accessible or compromised.

Yes, most products come with at least a good "getting started" quick setup guide, but if you don't understand all the principle functions, it can get overwhelming quickly. Setting up each individual component is not difficult. Turning them all into a secure, effecient pathway to your business success is something of an art in itself.

There is not a 4 or 5 machine limit to linksys wireless routers.  I have one now with 18 clients.

Thanks for all the help Irmoore ! I dont suppose you could email me or something like that so If I have any further questions with regards to networking or doing this that I could send you the new URL to my other questions , if that is ok with you ?

Just you have given me very useful answers not to mention fast replys and I really appreicate it !

If you post in the networking area anywhere, I'll see it, not to worry.
Glad to help!

ok thats fine !

I have another question open with regards to this and maybe you could help the other EE user try and explain to me what it is that he is explaining with regards to cisco switches and restricting things like telnet, ssh, ftp, etc as that at the minute is seeming to go over my head, I think with regards to hardware I will most likely go with the suggestions you have made as they seem easier to follow and understand :)

I also want to thank you very much for explaining this in lamens terms as I am new to this and also for taking the time :)

Here is the other open question I have :

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21412377/Require-More-Info.html#13928413

Hopefully you can pop over to this question and put in ur $20 worth of opinions :D