Kurt writes: >Ok, I am thinking of setting up a terminal server environment from a 2003 >server with Linux clients. >Whos had experience in this, and what are your impressions?
I have lived on Linux with the ICA (Citrix) client. If you've seen Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, now "SLED," it comes with it. I think SuSE 9 and 10 may as well. Anyway, it was very easy, and very solid. I ran it from home for nearly a year to a full desktop on my Terminal Server. It was way easiser than running a VPN client (can you imagine managing VPN clients for all staff and students?), but not as easy as web access. http://citrixweb.slcsd.org FWIW, Citrix adds some very cool features on top of MS Server 2003 terminal services, such as load balancing, failover, and a drop-dead awesome universal print driver. (Really is universal -- very cool.) Keep in mind that there's two major features to consider, one is remote access across the firewall to file/print, and the other is ROI from within the LAN. We have been running 10 users for about two years on Citrix, and this academic year rolled out full-time access to our business PC lab for all students... and now we've trained staff--remote access to their files and printers. The word is spreading to the students, though not formally. On that server we publish MS Office 2003, JMC Office, and FileMakerPro 8 desktop. So 60 simultaneous users can get to those apps across the firewall or during the day from within. (JMCOffice on Citrix is awesome for our remote sites.) === Instead of linux desktop, consider a $149.00 terminal appliance (http://www.ntavo.com) , which can connect via RDP, ICA, or X. It has USB and sound, depending on the model. So there's no more desktop management; no hard drives, no RAM, no heat. Very slick. Add an LCD with speakers and you've got a "green friendly" machine (uses WAY less electricity) with very little need for support. But these won't burn CDs. and yes, if the LAN goes down, so do the clients. We had about 300 desktops on one cable modem once for a temporary fix when the Internet went down for that building. Even with all that traffic, the Citrix client worked flawlessly. We have saved some old PCs by doing a PXE boot to a master, (Linux Terminal Server Project). Once booted, they can login and get all the same Home folders as on a Mac or PC, and mostly the same applications. Firefox and Konqueror had to be told to masquerade as IE 6 to do JMC Attendance.) These could also hold the terminal client if you wanted access to the "real" MS Office or frankly, the entire desktop on the terminal server. And if memory serves, there's a Windows Terminal Server client for Macintosh. ==== If you really, really want to save some money, check out http://www.nomachine.com/ And the managed route, http://www.safedesk.com No machine does ONLY linux on both ends; desktop and server, whereas safedesk specializes in the service of customizing Linux desktop to work with your servers and directory. If you really want Linux RDP, see Tarantella... http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2126357/tarantella-unveils-rdp-client-linux ==== We are split here in SL on whether to expand terminal services. THERE IS NO QUESTION that it offers a slam-dunk better TCO, but some of my staff like Macintosh. A lot. Change can be hard. Test early, plan early. Steve Scarbrough Technology Coordinator Storm Lake Community School District 712.732.8100 fax:8101 --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus on the server aea8.k12.ia.us] --------------------------------------------------------- Archived messages from this list can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------
