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Any Thin Client system using the ICA protocol to display applications running on a Microsoft Windows server requires two common components to operate properly. One of these components (the Server Operating System and its connection licenses) is licensed directly from Microsoft. The second component (the ICA protocol itself) must be obtained either through Citrix, or from a company (such as ACP) that includes it as part of its product.
The best operating system to host a Thin Client system is Microsoft's Windows 2000 Server. To then attach Thin Clients, a standard Microsoft Client Access License (CAL) for each connection to the server (each Thin Client) is required. These are based on concurrent use; a 5-pack would allow, say, ten users to access server resources, but only five users could be active at any one time. Additionally, each client must have a Microsoft Terminal Server Client Access License (TS CAL) to connect to the server. This licensing is per seat; ten terminals would require ten TS CALs, even if only two were connected at a time. Both of these licenses are required whether the client is connecting using the ICA (Citrix) or RDP (Microsoft) protocol.
Windows 2000 has a new method of license management. All TS CALs are installed on a Terminal Services Licensing server. This is one machine on the network selected to act as a repository for all TS CALs. The terminal servers request TS CAL authentication from the Terminal Services Licensing server as terminals attach to servers. All of the licenses on the Terminal Services Licensing server can be activated through the Internet by connecting to the Microsoft Certificate Authority and License Clearinghouse.
A user who enables Terminal Services on a Windows 2000 Server is issued a 90-day temporary license while the Terminal Services Licensing server is being setup and activated. If this period has elapsed, the terminal will not connect to the terminal server and will display an "Error Number 50" message box. An important note: Windows 2000 Server is not normally sold with TS CALs. These need to be purchased separately and installed on the Terminal Services License server.
There is, of course, an alternate Operating System that can be used. ACP Enabled Thin Clients can attach to a Linux computer, displaying Linux applications on the Thin Client screen. Linux may limit the choices for the application, but it does avoid having to acquire all of the Microsoft licenses outlined in this section.
There are two protocols available for connecting a Thin Client to a Windows Server - ICA and RDP. ICA (Independent Computer Architecture) is the communication protocol from Citrix, and provides for the most efficient communication between the server and the Thin Clients. The server side of this software can be purchased on a per seat basis directly from Citrix in the form of a product called MetaFrame, or it can be obtained when included as part of ACP's ThinManager software. Licenses for Citrix software are fairly expensive, but you get all the benefits of ICA by using ThinManager - there is a licensed copy of Citrix Device Services on every ACP ThinManager CD to provide the ICA protocol. This copy of Device Services needs to be installed on each terminal server.
The Citrix Device Services software (whether purchased separately from Citrix or included as a part of standard ThinManager) needs a license added immediately to allow terminal/server communication. For ACP products, the license number is located on a label on the ThinManager CD, and activation instructions are provided with ThinManager. The License will need to be activated within a 35-day grace period to continue functionality, and is done within the Citrix web site. If you are using ACP's ThinManager software, there is no requirement to purchase any software or licenses from Citrix.
All ACP Enabled Industrial Thin Clients run under ACP's management and enabling software, ThinManager. This product is sold based on the number of licenses needed, and allows for concurrent licensing. ThinManager is used to configure, manage, and control the Thin Clients. It will allow a single client to connect without a license, but will require a ThinManager license for more terminals. This license is sold with the ThinManager software. Activation is done within the ACP web site, and details of licensing are provided with ThinManager.
ACP's ThinManager greatly enhances the standard Thin Client environment by adding such things as:
Additionally, application software on the terminal server may need licensing based on the number of users. Each software company determines the details of licensing their product, and every user should check to make sure that the applications are licensed correctly.
For more information on ACP Industrial Thin Client computers, please visit our web site at http://www.thinmanager.com
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