0 Computer Networking of Cybercafés in Delta State, Nigeria Oghenevwogaga Benson Adogbeji Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria Esharenana E. Adomi Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria C INTRODUCTION The convergence of information and communication technology as embodied in the Internet has transformed the present day society into a knowledge society. Ear- lier, information and knowledge were passed by word of mouth or through manuscripts, and communication was a slow process, but today information is passed from one individual to an infinite number of other users through a number of media and formats which makes rapid and widespread dissemination of information possible (Preeti, 2006). This information dissemination has been so easy today due to the advent of computer network. Computer network is the interconnection of two or more computers for the purpose of sharing resources; this may involve the sharing of common database, software, printer etc. In networking, one may use peer-to-peer model or the client/server model. The peer-to-peer model is a decentralized networking model, which means all account administration is local to each machine and each machine maintains its own account database. In this model, each computer is equal or "peer" of the others. None of the members has total control over the others. This networking may involve the use of hub if the systems are more than two but none of the workstation has total control of the others. However, client/server type of network model is the type of network model, which is defined by the pres- ence of server on the network that provides security and administration of the network. The server enables centralized database security and backup (Adogbeji & Adomi, 2005). In order for the cyber cafés in Nigeria to be able to have access to the entire world and give access to users, there comes the need to network their computers. This they do using client/server model and star topology. This chapter investigates networking pat- terns in cybercafes in Delta state. It explores the types of network adopted locally, types of networking model adopted in the cafes, reasons for adopting the models, types of networking topology adopted and problems inherited in the networking pattern adopted. Recom- mendations for improvement are also set forth. BACKGROUND Cybercafes are places where Internet services are ren- dered to users for payment of little token (Adogbeji & Akporhonor, 2005; Adomi, Okiy, & Ruteyan, 2003). They enable people without home/office Internet access or those traveling to access and use the Net Networks are the means for sharing common re- sources (hardware, software, data etc.) among various computerized systems. They also constitute an efficient medium for communication. For over three decades now, their use has become widespread in organiza- tions such as universities, corporations, etc (Djamen, Ramazani & Some, 1995). Keogh (1996) recorded that communications with the rest of the world could be in form of such hardware protocols as the Token Ring or Ethernet. Be it as it may, many cyber cafés are adopting the Ethernet hardware protocol and TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) in their networking. Networking of computers has become so necessary as this enables the transfer of files and remote access to information that is available in data- bases through terrestrial and satellite connections (Rao, 1999).These are two major hardware protocols that are being used in computer networking. Ethernet has gain much stand in Nigeria as many cyber cafés adopt it as their hardware protocol. Jebaraj and Devadoss (2004) categorized networking into three: local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN) and wide area network (WAN). He further noted that the main limitations in network development is that, the network may fail in the early stages if there is no proper plan- Copyright © 2008, IGI Global, distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited.