novice terminal services questions

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Gary M

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never had dealt with terminal services before, so would appreciate any help
and hints here.

I will be setting up a server for someone who has two remote sites in
addition to his home office.
I'm kind of jumping in at the end, he has been working with the company who
sold him his accounting package, and they recomended for cost savings to do
terminal services.

each remote site will have two PCs.

he has purchased windows 2003 server with 10 licenses.

he wants each remote PC (4 of them) to be able to connect to the server at
the home office, both for his non-microsoft accounting software, and for
accessing the server as a file server.

what all is needed in this setup?
even though he purchased licenses with the server, he still has to purchase
terminal services licenses, right?

we would still need VPN boxes of some kind at the remote sites, correct?


he wants them to have Word, Excel, and Outlook, are there special licenses
to purchase since they want to connect via terminal services, or just the
basic office license for each PC?
 
Re: novice terminal services questions

Gary M wrote:
> never had dealt with terminal services before, so would appreciate any help
> and hints here.
>
> I will be setting up a server for someone who has two remote sites in
> addition to his home office.
> I'm kind of jumping in at the end, he has been working with the company who
> sold him his accounting package, and they recomended for cost savings to do
> terminal services.
>
> each remote site will have two PCs.
>
> he has purchased windows 2003 server with 10 licenses.
>
> he wants each remote PC (4 of them) to be able to connect to the server at
> the home office, both for his non-microsoft accounting software, and for
> accessing the server as a file server.
>
> what all is needed in this setup?
> even though he purchased licenses with the server, he still has to purchase
> terminal services licenses, right?
>
> we would still need VPN boxes of some kind at the remote sites, correct?
>
>
> he wants them to have Word, Excel, and Outlook, are there special licenses
> to purchase since they want to connect via terminal services, or just the
> basic office license for each PC?
>
>
>
>

My first recommendation is that you convince this guy to hire a
consultant to put together the strategy and, possibly, help implement
it. It's not clear how many computers he has in the in office. You
didn't say what kind of CALs he bought... per device or per user. If you
have more users than computers, you need per device. If you have more
computers than users, you need per user.

A lot of information is needed about the network. Is this the only
server? If yes, you are walking on thin ice. trying to do all this with
a single server (DC, TS, Application server) is playing Russian Roulette
with all the chambers filled. It is highly *NOT* recommended.

You don't give any indication of the server configuration. What OS are
the remote PC's running? What is at each site (besides the 2 PC's)?

You'll almost certainly want a VPN for security.

You will need TS licenses. 1 for each computer (or user) that will
access the applications.

You will need a license for each user who will access Office. You should
get an Open License for it with as many licenses as needed...

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
 
Re: novice terminal services questions

he has 4 PCs in the main office, all running XP Pro.

the licenses he has purchased are per device, and he does have more users
than computers.

the PCs will all be XP Pro, and the server is windows 2003.

only other thing at the two remote sites will be printers.

is the main reason not to have all of this on one server an issue with
redundancy, that is the one server crashes you lose everything,
or is it performance related?

thanks for the reply.

gary



"Hank Arnold (MVP)" <rasilon@aol.com> wrote in message
news:OODrYKkRIHA.2000@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Gary M wrote:
>> never had dealt with terminal services before, so would appreciate any
>> help and hints here.
>>
>> I will be setting up a server for someone who has two remote sites in
>> addition to his home office.
>> I'm kind of jumping in at the end, he has been working with the company
>> who sold him his accounting package, and they recomended for cost savings
>> to do terminal services.
>>
>> each remote site will have two PCs.
>>
>> he has purchased windows 2003 server with 10 licenses.
>>
>> he wants each remote PC (4 of them) to be able to connect to the server
>> at the home office, both for his non-microsoft accounting software, and
>> for accessing the server as a file server.
>>
>> what all is needed in this setup?
>> even though he purchased licenses with the server, he still has to
>> purchase terminal services licenses, right?
>>
>> we would still need VPN boxes of some kind at the remote sites, correct?
>>
>>
>> he wants them to have Word, Excel, and Outlook, are there special
>> licenses to purchase since they want to connect via terminal services, or
>> just the basic office license for each PC?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> My first recommendation is that you convince this guy to hire a consultant
> to put together the strategy and, possibly, help implement it. It's not
> clear how many computers he has in the in office. You didn't say what kind
> of CALs he bought... per device or per user. If you have more users than
> computers, you need per device. If you have more computers than users, you
> need per user.
>
> A lot of information is needed about the network. Is this the only server?
> If yes, you are walking on thin ice. trying to do all this with a single
> server (DC, TS, Application server) is playing Russian Roulette with all
> the chambers filled. It is highly *NOT* recommended.
>
> You don't give any indication of the server configuration. What OS are the
> remote PC's running? What is at each site (besides the 2 PC's)?
>
> You'll almost certainly want a VPN for security.
>
> You will need TS licenses. 1 for each computer (or user) that will access
> the applications.
>
> You will need a license for each user who will access Office. You should
> get an Open License for it with as many licenses as needed...
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Hank Arnold
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Server - Directory Services
 
Re: novice terminal services questions


Both issues. You have a lot going on. The server had better be a robust
one with dual power supplies, RAID and dual NICs... Add in the security
issue (you will have users logging into a domain controller). That is
usually a *bad* thing... You're also making your server available to the
internet.

What makes it especially a concern is the fact that your server is
going to be a DC. If that goes, your entire domain goes with it. You
will need to make sure you have a bullet proof disaster recovery
process defined (and tested).

One would rather see 3 servers, a DC (with all the FSMOs, a second DC (a
GC with DNS and DHCP) and the TS server. Unfortunately, often this means
expenses that a small outfit can't afford.

You will need 8 per device TSCALs.

I reiterate... Get a good consultant to work out the setup and
configuration before you get too far down the line. It will be the best
money you could spend....

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services

Gary M wrote:
> he has 4 PCs in the main office, all running XP Pro.
>
> the licenses he has purchased are per device, and he does have more users
> than computers.
>
> the PCs will all be XP Pro, and the server is windows 2003.
>
> only other thing at the two remote sites will be printers.
>
> is the main reason not to have all of this on one server an issue with
> redundancy, that is the one server crashes you lose everything,
> or is it performance related?
>
> thanks for the reply.
>
> gary
>
>
>
> "Hank Arnold (MVP)" <rasilon@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:OODrYKkRIHA.2000@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Gary M wrote:
>>> never had dealt with terminal services before, so would appreciate any
>>> help and hints here.
>>>
>>> I will be setting up a server for someone who has two remote sites in
>>> addition to his home office.
>>> I'm kind of jumping in at the end, he has been working with the company
>>> who sold him his accounting package, and they recomended for cost savings
>>> to do terminal services.
>>>
>>> each remote site will have two PCs.
>>>
>>> he has purchased windows 2003 server with 10 licenses.
>>>
>>> he wants each remote PC (4 of them) to be able to connect to the server
>>> at the home office, both for his non-microsoft accounting software, and
>>> for accessing the server as a file server.
>>>
>>> what all is needed in this setup?
>>> even though he purchased licenses with the server, he still has to
>>> purchase terminal services licenses, right?
>>>
>>> we would still need VPN boxes of some kind at the remote sites, correct?
>>>
>>>
>>> he wants them to have Word, Excel, and Outlook, are there special
>>> licenses to purchase since they want to connect via terminal services, or
>>> just the basic office license for each PC?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> My first recommendation is that you convince this guy to hire a consultant
>> to put together the strategy and, possibly, help implement it. It's not
>> clear how many computers he has in the in office. You didn't say what kind
>> of CALs he bought... per device or per user. If you have more users than
>> computers, you need per device. If you have more computers than users, you
>> need per user.
>>
>> A lot of information is needed about the network. Is this the only server?
>> If yes, you are walking on thin ice. trying to do all this with a single
>> server (DC, TS, Application server) is playing Russian Roulette with all
>> the chambers filled. It is highly *NOT* recommended.
>>
>> You don't give any indication of the server configuration. What OS are the
>> remote PC's running? What is at each site (besides the 2 PC's)?
>>
>> You'll almost certainly want a VPN for security.
>>
>> You will need TS licenses. 1 for each computer (or user) that will access
>> the applications.
>>
>> You will need a license for each user who will access Office. You should
>> get an Open License for it with as many licenses as needed...
>>
>> --
>>
>> Regards,
>> Hank Arnold
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Server - Directory Services
>
>
 
Re: novice terminal services questions

Perhaps the intermediate goal for an entity of this size would be to get a
2nd DC in service. Then you still have the security to address, but the
redundancy of the domain isn't as much of a worry.

"Hank Arnold (MVP)" wrote:

>
> Both issues. You have a lot going on. The server had better be a robust
> one with dual power supplies, RAID and dual NICs... Add in the security
> issue (you will have users logging into a domain controller). That is
> usually a *bad* thing... You're also making your server available to the
> internet.
>
> What makes it especially a concern is the fact that your server is
> going to be a DC. If that goes, your entire domain goes with it. You
> will need to make sure you have a bullet proof disaster recovery
> process defined (and tested).
>
> One would rather see 3 servers, a DC (with all the FSMOs, a second DC (a
> GC with DNS and DHCP) and the TS server. Unfortunately, often this means
> expenses that a small outfit can't afford.
>
> You will need 8 per device TSCALs.
>
> I reiterate... Get a good consultant to work out the setup and
> configuration before you get too far down the line. It will be the best
> money you could spend....
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Hank Arnold
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Server - Directory Services
>
> Gary M wrote:
> > he has 4 PCs in the main office, all running XP Pro.
> >
> > the licenses he has purchased are per device, and he does have more users
> > than computers.
> >
> > the PCs will all be XP Pro, and the server is windows 2003.
> >
> > only other thing at the two remote sites will be printers.
> >
> > is the main reason not to have all of this on one server an issue with
> > redundancy, that is the one server crashes you lose everything,
> > or is it performance related?
> >
> > thanks for the reply.
> >
> > gary
> >
> >
> >
> > "Hank Arnold (MVP)" <rasilon@aol.com> wrote in message
> > news:OODrYKkRIHA.2000@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >> Gary M wrote:
> >>> never had dealt with terminal services before, so would appreciate any
> >>> help and hints here.
> >>>
> >>> I will be setting up a server for someone who has two remote sites in
> >>> addition to his home office.
> >>> I'm kind of jumping in at the end, he has been working with the company
> >>> who sold him his accounting package, and they recomended for cost savings
> >>> to do terminal services.
> >>>
> >>> each remote site will have two PCs.
> >>>
> >>> he has purchased windows 2003 server with 10 licenses.
> >>>
> >>> he wants each remote PC (4 of them) to be able to connect to the server
> >>> at the home office, both for his non-microsoft accounting software, and
> >>> for accessing the server as a file server.
> >>>
> >>> what all is needed in this setup?
> >>> even though he purchased licenses with the server, he still has to
> >>> purchase terminal services licenses, right?
> >>>
> >>> we would still need VPN boxes of some kind at the remote sites, correct?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> he wants them to have Word, Excel, and Outlook, are there special
> >>> licenses to purchase since they want to connect via terminal services, or
> >>> just the basic office license for each PC?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> My first recommendation is that you convince this guy to hire a consultant
> >> to put together the strategy and, possibly, help implement it. It's not
> >> clear how many computers he has in the in office. You didn't say what kind
> >> of CALs he bought... per device or per user. If you have more users than
> >> computers, you need per device. If you have more computers than users, you
> >> need per user.
> >>
> >> A lot of information is needed about the network. Is this the only server?
> >> If yes, you are walking on thin ice. trying to do all this with a single
> >> server (DC, TS, Application server) is playing Russian Roulette with all
> >> the chambers filled. It is highly *NOT* recommended.
> >>
> >> You don't give any indication of the server configuration. What OS are the
> >> remote PC's running? What is at each site (besides the 2 PC's)?
> >>
> >> You'll almost certainly want a VPN for security.
> >>
> >> You will need TS licenses. 1 for each computer (or user) that will access
> >> the applications.
> >>
> >> You will need a license for each user who will access Office. You should
> >> get an Open License for it with as many licenses as needed...
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Hank Arnold
> >> Microsoft MVP
> >> Windows Server - Directory Services
> >
> >
>
 
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