Terminal Servers in SchoolsA second life for your older computers

What is Terminal Services? Terminal emulation allowing

workstations to run an OS and applications which are hosted on a server

all of the application execution takes place on the server and only the keyboard, mouse and display information are transmitted over the network

Terminal Server

Workstations running Terminal service client

What can Terminal Services Do? Provide windows OS +

Applications to client workstations not capable of running Windows Eg low spec computers, Macintosh

Reduce management of workstations

Advantages of Terminal Services Enable older lower spec

computers to run Windows XP-styled OS

Windows Applications on Mac, *nix systems

Centralised management Applications installed to server(s) Clients can be of minimal specs

as processing is carried out on server

Disadvantages of Terminal Services Can be a big load on poorly

configured/designed networks. Poor Support for Multimedia

applications Video Sound

What do you need – Server Ram:

256MB for Windows Server + 10-15MB (min) for each logged on user + RAM required by applications

Recommended 40Mb per user

To Boot from Network: DHCP service TFTP server Net Boot Image

What do you need – Client (PC) Pentium RAM: 32 Mb RAM PXE Compliant Network Card Boot Device

Netboot (PXE) Floppy disk CD-ROM USB Key/Bootflash card

Monitor

‘Ideal’ TS Lab Setup

TS server with two Gb NICs One to School LAN One to Lab LANG

20 – 30 clients

Terminal Server(s)

Terminal Clients

Fileserver

Standard Workstations

Where to Now?

Terminal Services Community Linux Terminal Server Project Thin Station

Other Possible setup Main Fileserver

Active Directory File and Print Services

2 x ‘2 Unit’ Terminal Service Servers

Gb Backbone Gb Network Connections to Servers

Clients spread around school

Possible Uses

Library workstations Typing / Word processing Internet access kiosks

Staff Computers