Termianl Services In MS Server 2008

Dennis Chung, a Singapore based Microsoft MVP posted a success story about an early adapter of Terminal Services using MS Server 2008. With permission from Dennis, have reposted his commentary. Click here to visit Dennis Chung's Live Site.

ITC Solutions, uses and recommends Terminal Services

Hey, Lunar New Year holidays has just passed, and I took a much deserved break. Well, at least that’s what I think. Alright, back to work. There are so many things I am working with right now. Windows 2008, SQL 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 are products that Microsoft is launching real soon. Saw an email internally mentioning T-16. In another 16 days, Microsoft, we will launch the 3 products... Wow… time flies. In Singapore, we are launching on the 26th Mar 2008.

Anyway, I am not blogging about this launch. Let me put some attention to an IT Pro. He is William Lam, Technical Manager of ITC Solutions. He provides infrastructure advice and consultancy services to many SMBs in Singapore. A huge majority of his customers uses the Windows platform. In a bid to expand their businesses, including his own, he provides remote connectivity infrastructures. He provides the services to source and implement the solutions for his customers.

Using the RC versions of Windows Server 2008, he implemented Terminal Server. He was able to implement Terminal Services Remote. Using a HP Proliant DL380G5 Server (Intel Xeon Dual-Core CPU, 4GB of ram), he provided a remote application infrastructure providing MS Office 2003, Adobe Reader Version 8 and several custom applications. To make the solution more secure, he placed the server behind an ISA2006 firewall and loaded up Terminal Services Gateway. In combination, he offered his customers and users Terminal Services Web Access.

He used Vista with SP1 and Windows XP with SP3, to remotely connect in from anywhere on the Internet through HTTPS. Through a browser, he accesses the TS Web Access page and launched the offered applications. Not only was the access smooth, it was hassle free. No longer do users have to figure out which is the real desktop and which is a terminal services desktop. ;-) No data handled by the Remote applications launched, ever leaves the corporate network, which improves security.

William, his users and customers are so impressed with the functionality and performance of Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008, they plan to extend their tests and roll out TS RemoteApp with their other custom applications such as Supply chain management software and ERP software. So impressed are they that they unanimously believe that it is the perfect solution to their remote access requirements. Through the Terminal Services deployed in his office, he is also using the same to do Proof of Concepts. In the past, William mentioned he could only recommend Citrix solutions, which is costly, and SSL VPN solutions. But now, he said he will drop all those and strongly recommend Terminal Services in Windows 2008.

If you would like to contact William for a discussion, you may email him at itcss@singnet.com.sg.

BTW, WS2008 bits has RTMed (Released to Manufacturing)

/Dennis

Untill the next post,

Steve