Terminal Services
TAKE COVER... SHE'S GONNA' BLOW !
Meet Jenny, she has spent the last 3 hours compiling a very complicated macrotastic Excel spreadsheet while listening to online radio.. but unfortunately for Jenny not only did she not save her spreadsheet, but her laptop has just frozen...
Best to avoid Jenny for the rest of the day....!
Well let's face it, we've all been there.
You're working on the most important document since the Magna Carta and all of a sudden everything comes to a crashing STOP!
Time to have a re-think Jen'...!
VDI VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE
Windows Server 2012 R2 allows the deployment of a full virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution. This means that the terminal server can be configured to host virtual desktop operating systems. When users log off, any changes they made are rolled back, and the virtual hard drive is left in a pristine condition, ready for the next user.
DEDICATED VIRTUAL DESKTOPS
Normally, a virtual desktop pool is designed so that every virtual desktop within it is identical. Because users are not allowed to make changes to the virtual desktop, each VDI session begins with a pristine virtual machine. Although this technique works well, the business needs of some organizations require users to be able to make certain changes to their desktops. In these types of situations, Windows Server 2010 R2 allows you to dedicate a specific virtual desktop to an individual user. That way, the user has his or her own virtual desktop to configure as needed.
INDIVIDUAL APPS Vs PUBLISHED DESKTOP
One of the many features of Windows Server 2012 R2 is RemoteApp. RemoteApp allows you to virtualize individual applications, as opposed to virtualizing an entire desktop. Not only is this approach less resource intensive for the server, it allows for centralised application management without having to commit to a full-blown thin client environment.
DESKTOP HARDWARE HAS LONGER LIFE
Let's be honest, the economy has seen better days, and everyone is looking to make the most of their I.T budget. By using Terminal Services, businesses can squeeze more life out of their desktop computers. This is because all the processing occurs at the server end, the desktops are essentially acting as dumb terminals. This means that using existing desktop hardware remains a viable option for much longer than it would if applications were run locally. Likewise, running applications on a terminal server may allow businesses to purchase lower-end desktop hardware than they otherwise would, resulting in huge cost savings.
ACCESS YOUR DESKTOP FROM ANYWHERE
Supporting users who need to work from outside the office is nothing new. However, supporting remote users and keeping mobile computers up to date can be challenging. If users have one computer at work and a different computer away from the office, they may be less productive when working remotely unless the two computers are synchronised and configured identically. Implementing a Terminal Services environment allows remote users to have a consistent experience regardless of whether they are working in the office, at home or on the road.
