More and more often I get asked how to set up GameClass. Gameclass is one of the most powerful computer room management software. Despite the abundance of documentation on the official website, the installation and configuration process is quite complicated. Therefore, I decided to tell in detail about this process.

The GameClass program is distributed on the site http://www.gameclass.ru/. You can also download the demo version for free and try out its functionality. For the minimum set, we need the MSDE2000 database installation (MSDE2000 ReleaseA Database) and the installation of the GameClass 3.84 Release 9 program itself. To date, this is the last stable version. I am afraid that in the future the program will not develop further until an investor is found to purchase the project. The remaining modules and programs are needed to fine-tune your club.

Before installing GameClass, you must install the Microsoft database server SQL Server Desktop Engine, which is responsible for processing program data. You need to install exactly the MSDE2000 version downloaded from the GameClass website. With several other versions of MSDE2000, the Internet cafe control program refused to work for me. MSDE is unpacked to the specified directory, launched from there and installed without questions or messages to the C:\Program files\Microsoft SQL Server directory

After installing MSDE2000, you need to find and run the ResetPass.bat file, which is located in the directory where MSDE2000 was unpacked. Before running this BAT file, you must restart the computer so that all paths to the SQL server are registered in the system settings. ResetPass resets the database administrator password and during installation, the GameClass program will automatically configure all passwords automatically.

After restarting the computer, you will find the SQL Service Manager program in the tray near the watch, which allows you to stop and restart MSSQL server. Stopping the server is necessary in order to make a backup of the database. The data itself will be located in the C:\Program files\Microsoft SQL Server\8.0\Data directory. I recommend regularly making a copy of this directory in order to be able to restore your statistics, account information, program settings, and in general everything related to GameClass data.

After making sure that SQL Service Manager is running and the MSSQL database is running, you can proceed to install GameClass. When you start the installer, the program will ask you how to configure it to be used. When installing on client computers in the hall, which will be blocked, select "Client computer". On the operator's computer, select "Main control computer". Usually the MSDE2000 database is running on the same computer, but this is not required. GameClass allows you to connect to a remote database on another server by entering the address of the SQL server.

After installation, we use an empty manager password to log in to the system. There are not so many mandatory settings for hall control:

  • Define passwords for the manager and operator in the "Users" section
  • Determine IP addresses client computers in the section "Computers"
  • Determine rates

After the settings, we connect as an operator and start working with the hall. When you run the program under the operator, the program shows green computers that are visible on the network and red ones that are turned off. When the client sees the server, it displays a login and password entry window. If the "Computer is free" block is lit, then there is some problem in the settings.

The function of connecting to a remote database is useful on the manager's computer, who, having installed the program, can monitor the state of the hall remotely. To do this, install GameClass by selecting "Computer manager". To connect, check the box "Connect to another server" and write the address of the database server. Make sure that firewalls and antiviruses do not block MSSQL service ports. Using the manager's password, you can remotely see not only the state of the hall, but also reports, statistics, as well as make changes in accounts and carry out any work with the settings. After changing the settings, it is mandatory for the operator to disconnect from the base and re-login to apply.

In the near future I'm going to tell you how to manage clients under the operating system using GameClass Linux system Gentoo.

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 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.

A new version of the 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.

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 administrators' work.

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 a comprehensive computer room automation system. 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 is 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 focused on 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.

Business component of the project: powerful computers 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, replenish 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. At the same time, a restricted user is created in Windows 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 MySQL database 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 technical specifications, designing an architectural solution, prototyping a future system, directly developing 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.