Terminal Server Requirements

[Guest]

I am the network manager at a school, We are expanding our wireless provision
within the school, and I wish to expand this using a Windows 2003 Terminal
Server, and all the wireless clients using Embedded XP, my main worries are
Bandwidth and Processing power of the server, can anyone advise me?

There will be 180 laptops (30 assigned to each access point)

The most intensive application will be Microsoft Publisher

I am led to believe that the bandwidth used on each TS Session through the
network is about 20kbps, is this correct?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks in advance
Simon

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

Hardware and bandwidth requirements depend on many factors: which
OS is running on your Terminal Server, which applications your
users are running on the TS (16-bit applications are CPU killers,
graphics intensive applications like CAD programs are bandwidth
killers), how much printing is done, etc.

Minimum bandwidth for a useable RDP Session = 26.4Kbps
800x600 @16 bit color - 26.4Kbps per session
1024x768 @256 colors - 24.6Kbps per session

each increase in screen resolution or color depth requires about 3-
4 Kbps more bandwidth.

RAM for each RDP Session = 10-15 MB per user + what their
applications need (can easily get as high as 40-50 MB per user)
This is on top of the RAM that you need for the base OS.
Dual CPUs, the faster the better.

Have a look at Patrick Rousse's hardware recommendations:
http://www.workthin.com/tshw.htm

 

[Mike Monaghan]

Hello SVSnyper,

A few comments are in-line...

I am the network manager at a school, We are expanding our wireless
provision within the school, and I wish to expand this using a Windows
2003 Terminal Server, and all the wireless clients using Embedded XP,
my main worries are Bandwidth and Processing power of the server, can
anyone advise me?

Are all of these laptops going to be on a servers at the same location and
what applications are they going to be running? We have terminal servers
that support upwards of 80 users, but they are the RARE exception while 20
to 30 users per service is pretty normal with an average mix of applications.
Of course a lot can change with expectations.

There will be 180 laptops (30 assigned to each access point)

Are these fixed associations to the access points? Are you permitting roaming?
Some access points have very restrictive limits. It sounds like this is
already working based on your post. How many laptops will be active during
peak hours?

The most intensive application will be Microsoft Publisher

Indeed MS Pub and IE are very intense on a Terminal server. If these applications
are already in use you might want to collect a baseline.

I am led to believe that the bandwidth used on each TS Session through
the network is about 20kbps, is this correct?

We use 128K for the first connection and 18K for each additional connection.
That would work out to 3350Kb/s total or 650Kb/s on each access point.
Even considering a 1Mb/s WLAN connection you should be okay. Note that you'll
need to change the keep alive settings for RDP or your users will likely
suffer frequent disconnects on the WLAN. Info on the modifications can be
found at http://www.prcontrol.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=52&c=4.
Remember to take into account all the time to re-establish the connection
(Wireless, VPN, Encryption, Roaming, etc).

Any help would be appreciated

You might want to look at Claudio's web site at www.terminal-services.net.
I've found him to be a wealth of knowledge and he's well worth the consultation
fee. For an installation like yours, you'd do well to spend a little up
front for a good implementation plan. Terminal Services is wrought with
pitfalls and a good plan and proper testing will improve your chances of
avoiding a lynch mob.

Mike
mike(a)chipworks(d)net
866-244-7967 x 201

Note the E-Mail on this message is real but it's a honey pot. Mail to it
at your own peril.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply, very interesting indeed

 

[Guest]

Thankyou for the information Mike

Hello SVSnyper,

A few comments are in-line...


Are all of these laptops going to be on a servers at the same location and
what applications are they going to be running? We have terminal servers
that support upwards of 80 users, but they are the RARE exception while 20
to 30 users per service is pretty normal with an average mix of applications.
Of course a lot can change with expectations.


Are these fixed associations to the access points? Are you permitting roaming?
Some access points have very restrictive limits. It sounds like this is
already working based on your post. How many laptops will be active during
peak hours?


Indeed MS Pub and IE are very intense on a Terminal server. If these applications
are already in use you might want to collect a baseline.


We use 128K for the first connection and 18K for each additional connection.
That would work out to 3350Kb/s total or 650Kb/s on each access point.
Even considering a 1Mb/s WLAN connection you should be okay. Note that you'll
need to change the keep alive settings for RDP or your users will likely
suffer frequent disconnects on the WLAN. Info on the modifications can be
found at http://www.prcontrol.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=52&c=4.
Remember to take into account all the time to re-establish the connection
(Wireless, VPN, Encryption, Roaming, etc).


You might want to look at Claudio's web site at www.terminal-services.net.
I've found him to be a wealth of knowledge and he's well worth the consultation
fee. For an installation like yours, you'd do well to spend a little up
front for a good implementation plan. Terminal Services is wrought with
pitfalls and a good plan and proper testing will improve your chances of
avoiding a lynch mob.

Mike
mike(a)chipworks(d)net
866-244-7967 x 201

Note the E-Mail on this message is real but it's a honey pot. Mail to it
at your own peril.