Windows Terminal Server 2003 Requirements

[kazeakuma]

Just a quick question. I got asked about a quote the other day on a server for Terminal Services. The server will be running less than 20 users, and the application is a dos based accounting program. I think the server is way overpowered and just want to confirm it, as I haven't worked much with Terminal Services let alone 2003.

Here are the specs:

Dual Xeon 2.8ghz
E7501 Motherboard
1.5GB Ram

The storage subsystem etc. isn't really relevant here so I won't post it.

Now I think a server like that could handle 100 users or so in light terminal sessions (one dos based app) standing on it's head. Or am I being overly optimistic?

 

[spyordie007]

Since I dont know anything at all about your "little dos based app" I would tend to agree that this server should be plenty, however I dont think that it would be good for 100 users (maybe more like 60). Another thing that makes it hard to say is that it is a "dos based accounting program" which could mean that even though it is running in a dos window it is an encrypted terminal emulation program that eats considerable bandwidth, if that's the case than I wouldnt want more than 20.

-Spy

 

[kazeakuma]

I'm not too sure on the details myself, a friend asked me to look it over. I still find it hard to swallow that running 20 users (assuming this app does encrypt) requires 2 Xeon 2.8ghz processors. I mean seriously, I've seen massive databases run on far less. Is Terminal Services 2003 really that much of a hog?

 

[spyordie007]

Is Terminal Services 2003 really that much of a hog?

It's not "that much" of a hog, but of course when running a terminal server it would be far better to have a server that is too fast, than one that is too slow so I would error on the side of excess.

-Spy

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Is Terminal Services 2003 really that much of a hog?

It's not "that much" of a hog, but of course when running a terminal server it would be far better to have a server that is too fast, than one that is too slow so I would error on the side of excess.

-Spy

Fair enough then. Far cry from the old terminal services 🙂

Thanks for the help.

 

[SaigonK]

Those specs are WAY over inflated.
I run three terminal servers (windows NT TS Edition)
They are only PIII-600 servers with 1GB of ram and they each run about 60 users using peoplesoft and our export compliance software without a hitch.

Whatever it is he wants to run it should be just fine with that many people, will they be concurrent connections or just up to a 100 people total?

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
Those specs are WAY over inflated.
I run three terminal servers (windows NT TS Edition)
They are only PIII-600 servers with 1GB of ram and they each run about 60 users using peoplesoft and our export compliance software without a hitch.

Whatever it is he wants to run it should be just fine with that many people, will they be concurrent connections or just up to a 100 people total?

So I thought. There are less than 20 users total. Wouldn't see it going above 30 in 5 years. What I was actually thinking was maybe the servers could be scaled back to save costs. They were quoted same specs as above for the File/Print server! So I thought they might be getting ripped.

 

[SaigonK]

I run citrix metaframe, 60-70 users on a box concurrently on a Dell Poweredge 1650 / 2GB of ram no problems at all.
look for something in that range and you should be more than fine, you might even be able to get away with buying a Pwoeredge SC server with a P4-2.4ghz cpu in it for less than 1000.