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Terminal ServerTable of Contents
What is it and why should I care?Terminal Server is built in to all Windows 2000 servers and Windows NT Server Terminal Server Edition. It allows users to log in remotely from various types of workstations and "thin" clients. By logging in users create their own client sessions on the server. The concept of remote logins may be foreign to PC users. As a PC user you can run all of your applications on your desktop machine, so why would you need to log in to a server? The answers mostly revolve around the theme that not all you need is on your desktop, e.g.:
Improved performance can also be possible when using Terminal Server. Your desktop PC may be able to perform certain tasks, but it may also be old or slow. Or you may be working at home and accessing your files---which reside on one of the departmental file servers---over a slow (by local net standards) link. You will find it faster in such cases to log into the Terminal Server to edit your large databases rather than to edit it on your home PC, since the latter would entail downloading the file from your file server directory to your home system, then uploading the results back to the file server.
How does it work?Terminal Server works by knowing how to respond to a client process that you run on your local Windows host. This "terminal client" presents you with a window that simulates a local monitor. The Terminal Server manages all computing resources for you and provides you with your own environment. The server receives and processes all key strokes and mouse clicks sent by each client and directs display output to each client's window as appropriate. You have access to all of your authorized network resources and can run any applications made available to you on the server. All the applications supported by Windows 2000 Server can be run via the Terminal Server. Terminal Server ClientsThe Microsoft RDP Client for WindowsThe following discussion assumes you have an account in the
Remote Desktop Connection ToolMicrosoft provides a "Remote Desktop Connection" tool that allows you to connect to a terminal server. It uses Microsoft's RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to communicate with a Terminal Server. If this is not already installed on your Windows workstation, you can install it by running You can download a copy of msrdbcli.exe from: Once this is installed, a program called "Remote Desktop Connection" Client" will appear on your Start menu, under Programs -> Accessories -> Communications.
CTRL-ALT keysWhen in the Terminal Server client window, the equivalent of CTRL-ALT-DEL for the MS client is CTRL-ALT-END. The MS client also allows CTRL-ALT-BREAK to switch between viewing the session in a window and on the full screen.
Running the Client Manager
Features of Terminal Server ClientsOnce you have a Windows session set up, all the clients work similarly and present almost the same interface.
Log off vs. Disconnect (very important)If you click the Shutdown selection on the Start menu you will see two selections: log off and disconnect. When you log off all your applications are terminated; when you disconnect, your applications continue to run and will be redisplayed when you log in again even from a different workstation. (Terminal Server may not connect to the old session and may open a new session and leave the old one running, please notify Compulink Administrators by email) EXIT COMPULINK ADVANTAGE SOFTWARE AND ANY OTHER ACTIVE PROGRAM PRIOR TO LOG OFF. Always log off rather than disconnect so that you don't hang on to resources that others could be using on the server.
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