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Desktop/Windows application access trough Ms-Terminal server
Thin Clients?
Are you running
Citrix MetaFrame or
Microsoft Terminal Server?
Do you have "old" windows clients?
Are your pc's outdated and must be replaced or updated?
Are your pc's "to small" to run a system like WindowsXP?
Do you want to: Cut license cost?
Have more stable systems?
Have easier (cheaper) system maintenance!
Still run Ms-windows based programs?
Keep your old hardware and turn them into thin clients?
A thin client solution might be the best solution for you.
This is Microsofts Description of why you may want to use this type of configuration:
"Terminal Server Terminal Server lets you deliver Windows-based applications or the Windows desktop itself, to virtually any computing deviceincluding those that cannot run Windows. For example, a user can access a virtual Windows XP Professional desktop and x86-based Windows applications from hardware that cannot run the software locally. Terminal Server provides this capability for both Windows and non-Windows- based client devices. When a user runs an application on Terminal Server, all of the application execution takes place on the server and only keyboard, mouse and display information traverses the network."
The licenses are tricky though. You need the server license o the "Windows Terminal Server" and CAL licenses for your clients.
If you run Windows XP Microsoft has added some new restrictions in the License agreement:
"Except as otherwise permitted by the NetMeeting, Remote Assistance, and Remote Desktop features described below, you may not use the Product to permit any Device to use, access, display, or run other executable software residing on the Workstation Computer, nor may you permit any Device to use, access, display, or run the Product or Product's user interface, unless the Device has a separate license for the Product."
I think you have to sort out what that means with Microsoft.
Replace your desktop(s) with a mini-Linux distribution like the
PXES Linux thin client This lets you: Save your license costs! Run a Windows-client in a Linux X11 environment, save $$$, use existing hardware. Prepare your system and environment to move to and use cheaper OpenSource based software. |
The Questions:
- Who should do this ?
- How do you get this ?
- What do You need ?
- How long time does it take ?
- How much do you save ? and
- What do you get ?
The Answers:
- This is probably a nice configuration for smaller installations where you have a stable set of tools and software that are used on the workstations. Development workstations is probably not the best target.
- You have to have or buy a Windows server license and software, and you should get a Linux distribution as Pxes for your clients.
- You need a powerful and well equipped Server running Windows 2000 or later with a working
Citrix or Ms Terminal configuration. You need the desktop pc's, it should be Pentium based with at least 16Mb Ram Memory, with network card and a network connection and the software.
- Server installation and configuration may take a day per server and then additional time for each client account.
- you will save the cost of the software licenses on each client.
- You get cheap and stable clients that needs no administration (done on the server). You can run your Ms-Windows application on the server machine.
PXES Linux thin client is not the only software that lets you do this, you can use almost any of the Linux distributions that includes a X11-distribution and add and use the
rdesktop software. And a more complete distribution with more software applications lets you run standard applications like web-browsers, mail-clients etc. on the desktop system if has enough resources for this.
If you have more capable clients, with a CPU running at least 300Mhz and with memory above 128Mb then you could go for a more complete Linux desktop installation with
KDE or
Gnome
Use one of the major distributions like
Red Hat
Mandrake
S.U.S.E
Debian or
Rock Linux
This could be installed with a selection of locally installed programs, an Office package like
OpenOffice Mail and groupware package like
Ximian Evolution Web-browser like
Mozilla or Phoenix/Firebird
Your favorite windows programs can still be run though the Terminal Server software. |
