Login System

Hi, i'm doing work (unpaid) for a charity, they have been given computers for the users. They would like a login software where users can have their own accounts. I'm looking for freesoftware with timers that will be easy to install. I'm found a software called NetCafe but can find any reviews.
http://netcafesystem.com/download/
Can someone guide me the right away to go about this please.

 

You can use the Parental Controls system in windows it self instead of using third party program that could contain a virus or malware.

Microsoft site

To turn on Parental Controls for a standard user account

1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/windows%20vista/main/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33_47.png, clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, clicking Set up Parental Controls.* http://res1.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/windows%20vista/main/18abb370-ac1e-4b6b-b663-e028a75bf05b_41.png If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. Click the standard user account for which you want to set Parental Controls.
3. Under Parental Controls, click On.
4. Once you've turned on Parental Controls for your child's standard user account, you can adjust the individual settings that you want to control. You can control the following areas:
   • Web restrictions. You can restrict the websites that children can visit, make sure children only visit age-appropriate websites, indicate whether you want to allow file downloads, and set up which content you want the content filters to block and allow. You can also block or allow specific websites. For more information, see Limit the content that children can view on the web.
   • Time limits. You can set time limits to control when children are allowed to log on to the computer. Time limits prevent children from logging on during the specified hours and, if they are already logged on, they will be automatically logged off. You can set different logon hours for every day of the week. For more information, see Control when children can use the computer.
   • Games. You can control access to games, choose an age rating level, choose the types of content you want to block, and decide whether you want to allow or block unrated or specific games. For more information, see Specify which games children can play.
   • Allow or block specific programs. You can prevent children from running programs that you don't want them to run. For more information, see Prevent children from using specific programs.

 

You are best to use a proxy on say a Smoothwall, m0n0wall or pfSense, with a front end (Captive Portal) that is used for what hotels, etc. use, on top of that a Linux server setup as a Domain server, so that user accounts can be watched, and timers can be set.

Also using OpenDNS for the controls, to stop them from going to certain sites that you do not want them to go to, along with the pfSense, Smoothwall or m0n0wall box with Snort running on it.

See http://addicted-to-it.blogspot.com/2008/05/pfsense-configure-captive-portal.html for a short explanation on how to do the captive portal. Some more info http://skear.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Set-Up-a-Captive-Portal-Using-pfSense pfsense docs on the Captive Portal http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Captive_Portal_Setup http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=7397.0 More info http://blog.stefcho.eu/?p=754

Suggest setting up a test lab first to test everything, before going live with the whole setup, so you are not taking the user lab down for an extended period, because the pfsense & captive portal are not working right, and it gives you time to play with the setup, before deploying.

You should also look into using a "Thin Net" setup, not stand alone workstations, which would also tighten up security, and also stop people from Fubaring individual workstations.

You can get basic refurbished desktops that would work for the pfsense box and workstations for your lab, from http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Lprice=50&Hprice=99.99&CatId=2628 for under a $100.00

I would also look at using a Managed switch not a unmanaged switch in this setup, so that you can also keep the users off the network portion for the employees, and also control the bandwidth that the users are using on their portion of the LAN through the pfSense box and the managed switch.

Keep in mind, that there is no dollar amount that can be stated in the man hours it takes to manage the network, and with the initial setup, so you have to remind the Charity, what they are taking on, it is not something to go cheap on, but with the whole use of Linux for the workstations and the router unit server, they can save a lot of money, by not having to purchase the software, but would be wise to bring on a consultant that knows Linux and Samba, to assist you with this matter.