Network
The Network page provides a real-time overview of network activity across all devices managed by HandyCafe Server in your internet cafe or gaming center. It is accessible from the main sidebar and requires network monitoring permissions.
Summary Cards
At the top of the page, summary cards display aggregate network metrics that update in real time:
- Total Speed -- Combined throughput across all connected clients, displayed in Mbps or KB/s depending on magnitude.
- Download Speed -- Aggregate downstream bandwidth consumption across all active clients.
- Upload Speed -- Aggregate upstream bandwidth consumption across all active clients.
- Bandwidth -- Total received (RX) and transmitted (TX) bytes since the server started or counters were last reset.
- Online Client Count -- Number of clients currently in an active session.
- Idle Client Count -- Number of clients connected to the network but not in an active session.
- Total Device Count -- Total number of recognized devices, including offline clients.
Client Network Table
Below the summary cards, a detailed table lists each client device with the following columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Hostname | The client PC's network name |
| IP Address | The client's local network IP |
| Status | Current state: online, idle, or offline |
| Download Speed | Current downstream throughput for the client |
| Upload Speed | Current upstream throughput for the client |
| RX Bytes | Total bytes received by the client since connection |
The table supports:
- Sorting -- Click any column header to sort ascending or descending.
- Filtering by status -- Filter the list to show only online, idle, offline, or all clients.
- Search -- Search by hostname or IP address to locate a specific device quickly.
- Real-time updates -- All values refresh automatically as new data arrives from client agents.
Protocol Overview
HandyCafe uses a layered network protocol designed for reliability and performance in LAN environments.
TCP -- Command and Response
All management commands between the server and client travel over TCP connections. Messages are encoded using a compact binary protocol for fast, efficient communication. Every TCP message is cryptographically authenticated to ensure integrity and prevent tampering.
Typical TCP operations include session start/stop commands, configuration pushes, file sync manifests, and status queries.
UDP -- Screen Streaming
Remote desktop and screen recording use UDP for frame transmission. The streaming pipeline encodes frames as H.264 video, providing efficient real-time display of client screens on the server. UDP is chosen for its low latency characteristics, which are critical for interactive remote control.
mDNS -- Automatic Client Discovery
HandyCafe uses multicast DNS (mDNS) to discover client PCs on the local network automatically. When a client starts, it announces its presence via mDNS and the server detects it without manual IP configuration. This simplifies deployment in environments where DHCP assigns dynamic addresses.
Connection Key
Authentication between server and client relies on a shared secret (connection key). This key is configured during initial setup and must match on both server and client. It is used to generate cryptographic authentication tokens for TCP communication, ensuring that only authorized clients can connect.