I have a client that is I am conversion from an ARev. Netware based system to Window 2003 UD Service.

They have 100+ users and are planning to use 2 beefy Terminal Services Servers for 40+ users through Wise thin clients with load balancing, and another 60+ straight thru work stations.

I am wondering if there are any caveats with regard to running 40+ users this way. Has anyone done this and if so do you have any recommendations for configuration, etc.?

If 3 or 4 users are running RLIST or processing on large files how will this impact the other users? How does OI 7.x and the UD or LHS handle client/server processing? I have seen many times where on a PC running OI the PC processor is pegged and the server utilization is at a minimum and other times it is the opposite. I would like to have a better understanding of what's happening internally.

The BIG issue with Terminal server machines is the available RAM on the server. You should look hard at Microsoft's recommendations on RAM requirements.

My feeling (and I've done a few TS installations) would be that 20 users per TS server is close to the top.

I presume the OI application and data will be on a third server?

Make sure all the servers are connected to each other on gigabit network.

j

Terminal Services requirements: usually OI-only sessions would require 128 Mb per user, but Micro$oft Office would need 256 Mb. 32-bit processors cannot address more than 4 Gb of RAM, so your TS server could support between 16 and 32 users -MAX- unless you migrate to something like the AMD Opteron.

At that rate, why not go to a dual- or quad-processor Opteron, but use OIL on Linux, which is inherently multiuser, and add the LTSP package. Then you can use real thin client desktops and boot 50 to 100 stations from one server?

Hopefully I will be testing just this type of configuration with OIL over the next month, and can report the results soon. (Linux multiuser with LTSP definitely works, I have just not tested multiuser with OIL.)

Thanks alot for the replys!

Would either of you be able to provide the specs of the servers from which you are basing your comments?

Thanks

Chip Fichot

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