TS 2003 hosting 2 applications for 2 different user groups

[Guest]

I have a Windows Server 2003 as my terminal server; there are 2 applications
on the server. My objective is to configure the server so that one group of
users can access only 1 application while the others can access both
applications. My domain is an NT 4.0 domain.
When I set the server to start an application, I can only specify one
application which means the second application wont be available to the group
that needs both apps.
How do I configure the server to achieve my objective?

Best regards,

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

Yes, that's a limitation of the "Starting application" feature: it
allows for a single aplication only. You are also limited by the
fact that your TS is a member of an NT4 domain, without AD.

I would suggest the following:
* create 2 user groups: SingleAppUsers and BothAppUsers
* use NTFS permissions on the file system to give these user groups
access to one or both applications
* since SingleAppUsers don't need to see the Terminal Server
desktop at all, you can configure their rdp client with a Starting
Application
* for BothAppUsers: if they need to run both applications
simultaneously within the same session, they need to get access to
the desktop. You could experiment with the local security policy on
the server and define a custom redirected Desktop folder, which
only contains a shortcut to both applications. If they don't need
access to both applications in the same session, you could even
give them 2 preconfigured rdp connections, which each of them
define a different Starting Application.

But the real restriction comes from NTFS permissions.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Vera.
What I did was exactly what you suggested: using NTFS permissions, but I
came up with a small batch file; made the batch file the starting app in TS;
batch file looks for the file (which requires permissions); when it can not
access the app1 files, it opens the 2nd app (less restricted app). If it
finds the app1 files, then it open both applications.

 

[ThomasTran]

Hi,
Did you take a look at http://www21.brinkster.com/RAC20/
I think it will fit your need .

Regards

Thomas T

 

[ThomasTran]

Sorry, the right URL is: http://www21.brinkster.com/mctran2000/RAC20/

 

[Guest]

Thank you very much, Thomas.
I downloaded the program and will give it a shot. The program seems to be
perfect for what I need to accomplish.

Regards,

Nahghed