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Terminal Services is a Microsoft ® Windows Server service that brings centralized computing (the mainframe architecture) to Windows servers. A terminal server allows many users to login and run an independent session on the server, each with its share of the server resources. Terminal Services can be activated on any Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 Server.
Each session running on the terminal server is displayed on a client, which sends its mouse and keystrokes to the session on the terminal server. The terminal server processes the commands and generates the graphic screen update, which is passed back to the client. The client then displays the graphics. This makes the terminal server session virtually indistinguishable from a PC session.
When the client is a full-blown PC it is called a “fat client”. Fat clients require an operating system, maintenance, security patches and updates.
On the other hand, thin clients are special computer devices that lack a hard drive and don’t need the maintenance, patching, and updating that fat clients require.
Terminal Services makes maintenance easier. Because the applications are running on the terminal server and not on the clients, the terminal server is maintained, not the clients. Applications that are installed once on the server are available to all the clients. Patches and upgrades are done on the terminal servers and not the clients.
Although terminal services is a mainframe architecture, it is a true Windows environment so users can call up familiar applications.
ACP is a software company that developed the ThinManager ® thin client management software to enhance Microsoft Terminal Services.
Some of the benefits of ThinManager are detailed here.
ThinManager allows ThinManager Ready thin clients to be configured in a central location instead of individually at each client.
ThinManager allows the monitoring of the thin client from a central (or remote) location. ThinManager shows what thin clients are on or off, what terminal servers they are assigned to, whether they are logged in, and even what applications they are running.
ThinManager Ready thin clients can be replaced with a single click of the mouse, with the new unit assuming the old unit's identity and displaying the old unit’s session.
ThinManager allows the thin client to be assigned to several terminal servers. If the terminal server fails, the thin client will detect it and switch to a backup terminal server, preventing downtime.
ThinManager allows the thin client to logon to two terminal servers at once. The primary session will be displayed while the session from the backup terminal server is hidden. If the primary terminal server fails, the thin client will simply switch to the backup session, providing immediate failover.
ThinManager Ready thin clients are more reliable due to the lack of a hard drive or other moving parts.
A ThinManager Ready thin client can be replaced with a single click, while a PC or fat client requires hours of installation and configuration. With failover, even it the terminal server fails, the thin client will continue to function, increasing uptime and reliability.
ThinManager allows ThinManager Ready thin clients to be “shadowed” from within ThinManager. This allows the administrator to see exactly what is being run on the thin clients.
ThinManager also allows the administrator to see what user is logged into a session and what applications and processes they are running.
ThinManager allows thin clients to connect to groups of terminal servers. ThinManager will poll the servers and determine their load based on CPU usage, memory usage and number of sessions. The thin client will then connect to the terminal server with the lightest load.
ThinManager allows ThinManager Ready thin clients to connect to multiple terminal servers and run multiple sessions. These sessions are cascaded on the thin client and can be accessed with a hot key or a selector bar.
ThinManager allows terminal servers to be configured so that only one application runs in the session. This can be used as a security tool to limit access to unwanted programs. AppLink, in combination with the MultiSession functionality, allow a ThinManager Ready thin client to connect to sessions, each with a specific application.
This simplifies the terminal server configuration. Instead of installing every application on every terminal server, terminal servers can be configured to concentrate on running fewer applications, reducing complexity and limiting conflicts between programs.
ThinManager can be configured to send e-mails or a local message to a designated operator's console when the specified event occurs.
ThinManager allows a single keyboard and mouse to be shared among as many as 5 Thin Clients. The user is then able to slide the mouse off the screen of one client and have it move onto the screen of another, saving desk space.
ThinManager Ready thin clients can use the native Microsoft protocol, RDP, or the ICA protocol with Citrix MetaFrame to communicate with the Terminal Servers.
ThinManager Ready thin clients are available from a number of manufacturers. Each unit, whether an office unit or an industrial unit, is able to connect to ThinManager, right out of the box.
ThinManager software is required to use ThinManager Ready thin clients.
ACP's Windows client for installation on PCs allows the PC to become a fat client. This Windows client can be configured to make the PC look just like dedicated ThinManager Ready hardware, and supports ThinManager features such as failover, SmartSession, and AppLink.
ThinManager has two licensing modes.
The Standard mode is a per connection license and is available in 5, 10, and 25-packs.
The Enterprise mode is an unlimited connection license and is available in Server, Site, and Global licenses. The cost per connection using Enterprise licenses becomes lower as more units are installed.
The Enterprise Server License allows unlimited connections to two ThinManager Servers, a primary and a backup.
The Enterprise Site License allows any number of ThinManager Servers to be installed on one customer site. This is used where different departments each want control over their own ThinManager servers.
The Enterprise Global License allows a company to install ThinManager multiple times on multiple sites.
For more information on ACP Industrial Thin Client computers, please visit our web site at http://www.thinmanager.com
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