Terminal Servers in Schools A 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 MB (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

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