Terminal server or Citrix

[cal060307]

Hi all

I am seeking for a solution for user accessing to our resource remtotely.
Here is what we have
1 X 2003 DC + File server + DHCP server
1 X SQL server (member 2003 server)

All we want is to allow remote user access and run the applications that run on SQL server.

Which one is the best for our need? Citrix or Terminal service in terms of pricing and easy implementation. Both of them I have never come across before.

Any help/reply would be much appreciated.

 

[Kuskaya]

Hi,
first thing it is not a good idea to use a dc as a file server or print server.

If you do this you can run into different type of problems.You will spend your whole live with troubleshooting problems.

Citrix and Terminal server is not the same.Citrix is mostly used if the users need more speed in printing and citrix is using a different remote desktop protocol.

The question is what you are trying to do ?

Regards,
Cengiz Kuskaya

 

[cal060307]

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

Yes you are quite right about file server on DC, I am correcting this issue by getting second DC. Does it help? or I have to get the first DC to a member server only?

What we want to is that allow users from another states to be able to access to our database on SQL server and run some applications from it remotely.

I heard that Citrix is quite good for it but very expensive.
On the other hand, Terminal service is limited on users and a bit slow. Please correct me since I've never used them before.
Thanks

 

[Kuskaya]

I would suggest the following scenario.If you only have 2 physical machines you can use in example the first machine as the DC the second machine as file server and you can also run sql on it also Terminal Sevice.

DO not use the second physical machine as the second DC.If you need a second DC you can setup a virtual machine on it.

MS Has two freeware virtualization softwares.Virtual PC 2007 and Virtual Server 2005.

Brian Madden is the TS and Citrix Guru.He has many documents and all free.

You can find the docus detailed information regarding TS and Citrix.

http://www.brianmadden.com/default.aspx

Regards,
Cengiz Kuskaya

 

[cal060307]

Hi Cengiz

Thanks for your info and help.
Actually I am going to have extra 2 servers, so it will be like that, if my plan is approved.
1x 2003 First DC + file server (existing one)
1x 2003 member server + SQL server (existing one)
1x 2003 Second DC + backup server + printer server.
1x 2003 member server + Exchange 2007.

The purpse of second DC is backing up for the first DC, just in case it goes down.
Would you think that is a good structure for small business around 50-100 users.

Once again much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[pgaliardo]

What server is going to serve as the Terminal Server? General rule of thumb is that you don't want one of your domain controllers to act as a terminal server. It seems that if you could somehow get 1 more server into your plan and just make it the Terminal Server, you should have a decent setup.