How to manage internet cafe using linux?
 

I am planning to start a cyber cafe. but windows
software will cost very high. I do not have any experience with
Linux systems. Please share your knowledge and experience.

A good router that supports dd-wrt is all you probably need which can be administered from any operating system through your web browser.

dd-wrt comes with some hotpot features as well.

Go to their site and you can find a capable router and read up on it.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

Is there any special hardware configuration require?

For simple wifi access, a wireless router is all you need. Which you can configure from any web browser. Usually by typing 192.168.0.1 or something close. That information would be provided in your router documentation.

If you're wanting to do more advanced things like having a captive portal, (A login screen once the user connects), then you want a more advanced wireless router. DD-Wrt is good for that kind of thing if your router supports it. DD-Wrt has support for three:

• NoCatSplash: A simple captive portal with a custom landing page.
  
• ChilliSpot: An open source captive portal client/server, which can support guest usage policies and billing.
  
• Sputnik: A commercial captive portal client/server similar to ChilliSpot, but backed by subscription fees and a slick, full-featured management interface.

Hi,

In Windows I remember the "windows steady state" (which is part of M$, as I saw it on a Win XP machines in one cafe)
and you can have (buy) a computer with Windows 7 license then configure with "steady state" or "guest mode"
which isn't an exact steady state solution for Win 7 (just XP) and gives some options to make it go:
- ss alternatives
- Microsoft modifies 'Steady State' Mode to Guest Mode in Windows 7
or maybe an alternative Free Internet cafe software
- handycafe
- cybercafe
(I didn't go reading if it's really free - I just saw they advertise FREE)

good luck