[THIN] Re: MSTerminalServices.org - January 2008 Newsletter
- From: "Joe Shonk" <joe.shonk@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:42:50 -0700
Wow, Stefan really screwed the Ask a MVP question. You do NOT need
enterprise for a system that has 8 cores in it. Windows 2003 counts the
number of physical processors, not the number of cores.
Joe
-----Original Message-----
From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of MSTerminalServices.org
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:55 AM
To: THIN List
Subject: [THIN] MSTerminalServices.org - January 2008 Newsletter
MSTerminalServices.org Newsletter of January 2008
Sponsored by: Automation Control Products
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In this issue:
The empire strikes back.
KB Articles / Webcasts of the Month
Ask our MVPs!
Learning Zone
Tip of the Month
Blog Posts
Rumours on the SBC Space
Welcome to the MSTerminalServices.org newsletter! Each month we will bring
you interesting and helpful information on MS Terminal Services and server
based computing. We want to know what all *you* are interested in hearing
about. Please send your suggestions for future newsletter content to:
SVermeulen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Need Thin Client management with more functionality and greater reliability?
<A
href="http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978&SI
=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml";><IMG height=20 hspace=5
src="http://images.isoftmarketing.com/ACP_button.gif"; width=100 align=left
vspace=3 border=0></A>Many companies who demand high reliability also count
on features unique to ACP's ThinManager. Like support for Thin Clients with
up to 5 monitors, each with a different session. Detecting server problems
and instantly switching to another one - and sending out e-mail
notification. They also like load balancing without installing any software
on their Terminal Servers, and queuing clients at startup to keep from
overwhelming the server.
Take a look at ThinManager and see what you've been
missing.(http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978
&SI=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml)
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1. The empire strikes back.
Stefan Vermeulen, Terminal Server MVP and Citrix CTP
On January 15 VMware announced the acquisition of application virtualization
vendor Thinstall. Thinstall's product allows the delivery of an isolated
application, this can be compared to Microsoft SoftGrid, Citrix's
Application Streaming, or Altiris's SVS technology. The key differentiator
is that Thinstall technology is unique in its own way. Where the others
transport their application to the client the Thinstall application is an
isolated executable, ready to be started from the local drive or shared
network drive.
The downside is that is basically it. Once the exe is "compiled" it can be
started from such a
location, and that is where the care stops. No management tools or version
control or anything. Of course with VMware's money in the development budget
or maybe even another acquisition on this part would make the product
complete.
The real magic is that this is coming from VMware. With this one they are
stepping from hardware virtualization into the application delivery space.
They have VDI and with this they can also close the circle. VMware now has
the Full Monty to provide end users with a desktop that now includes
applications.
The real magic is that this is coming from VMware. With this one they are
stepping from hardware virtualization into the application delivery space.
They have VDI and with this they can also close the circle. VMware now has
the Full Monty to provide end users with a desktop that now includes
applications.
This is a killer solution for end users with thin clients; but how about
those end users with fat clients? They do not want a desktop inside a
desktop. For them you will need to deploy the thinstall apps directly to the
fat-clients. Maybe there will be room for another acquisition to fix that?
So then what happened? Microsoft bought Calista Technologies. Never heard of
Calista? Don't worry; neither did I until now. So what do they do? They
extend RDP to virtualize the GPU of the host computer. This makes it
possible to support multimedia, streaming, full 2-way audio and full colored
desktops and applications, over the good old RDP. So, how do we use this new
cool stuff? There is no actual product, as Calista was a startup, so
Microsoft has a bunch of code they need to integrate. Perfect to deliver
apps from a VDI? Yes, indeed. Make it Hyper-V compatible only? Well, that
would be a bit cold. They just renewed their vows with Citrix, so the Xen
must also be capable of handling it. Rule out Vmware VDI? Well, that would
be a nice start in the upcoming cold war.
If this RDP extension is so rich, could that affect Citrix ICA? I do not
think so. The love between these 2 is too great to jeopardize. I think
Microsoft will extend RDP and Citrix can hop on the bandwagon. In order for
the Calista news not to rock Citrix's boat, an announcement was made that
Citrix's XenDesktop will run on Microsoft Hyper-V. With the previous news
release that virtual machine format will be compatible between Citrix Xen
and Hyper-v it all starts making sense. They are teaming up against Vmware
big time.
So where does this leave Citrix with quite a number of desktops running on
VMware as VDI solutions? They cannot just cut the lines like that, so
support will stay in place. It may just not be their "preferred" solution
when the presales guy comes in. I am curious on how that story will sound.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Need Thin Client management with more functionality and greater reliability?
<A
href="http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978&SI
=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml";><IMG height=20 hspace=5
src="http://images.isoftmarketing.com/ACP_button.gif"; width=100 align=left
vspace=3 border=0></A>Many companies who demand high reliability also count
on features unique to ACP's ThinManager. Like support for Thin Clients with
up to 5 monitors, each with a different session. Detecting server problems
and instantly switching to another one - and sending out e-mail
notification. They also like load balancing without installing any software
on their Terminal Servers, and queuing clients at startup to keep from
overwhelming the server.
Take a look at ThinManager and see what you've been
missing.(http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978
&SI=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml)
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2. KB Articles / Webcasts of the Month
A Windows Server 2003-based computer responds slowly to RDP connections or
to SMB connections that are made from a Windows Vista-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946056/en-us
Support guidelines for migrating roaming user profiles data to Windows Vista
or to Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947025/en-us
Stop error message on a Windows Server 2003-based computer that has Symantec
AntiVirus software installed: "Stop 0x0000007f"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947471/en-us
Unable to uninstall Internet Explorer 7 if Service Pack 2 is installed later
on Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948093/en-us
You cannot create a terminal server session to a Windows Server 2008-based
computer by using an .rdp file that runs an initial program
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946410/en-us
The Terminal Services service may be unable to start on a server that is
running Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946399/en-us
Stop error message on a terminal server that is running Windows Server 2003
Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2: "Stop 0x000000AB
(SESSION_HAS_VALID_POOL_ON_EXIT)"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946068/en-us
Print Driver Upgrade Hangs During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946940/en-us
Incorrect client names may be displayed for redirected drives in Windows
Server 2003 terminal server sessions if both Windows-based and
Macintosh-based terminal server clients are used
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944341/en-us
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3. Ask our MVPs a question
This is simple and straight forward: shoot us your TS/Citrix question and we
will get some of the top Terminal Services MVPs together and get you an
answer, from everyone?s point of view! The best question of the month will
be published here with all the answers from these guys. Just email us at
SVermeulen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
QUESTION: Stefan; I need to order some new Terminal Servers, and the vendor
now offers them with quad core processors instead of dual cores for just a
bit more than dual cores.
Do you think those will boost my Terminal Server performance?
Regards,
Power Pete,
ANSWER: Dear Pete,
Hardware is getting more powerful, better and cheaper by the month. Just do
not forget the OS that needs to run on it. Most TS operating systems out
there are Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. Standard Edition only
supports up to 4 processors. So unfortunately you would not benefit from the
quad cores, unless you install Windows Server 2003 Enterprise edition which
can go to 8 processors. With the price difference of $1,200 versus $4,000,
your extra power will be very expensive. One interesting loophole is the
Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 standard edition. It costs the same as Windows
Server 2003 standard edition but supports up to 32 GB memory. The downside
of that is that you need to test all your applications to run in the
emulation mode, and you need to have a good look at your printing engine. If
you install Citrix 4.0 or higher x64 edition, you should be fine on printing
using the UPDIII solution.
4. Learning Zone
Writing Terminal Service Based Scripts. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
http://www.msterminalservices.org/articles/Writing-Terminal-Service-Based-Sc
ripts-Part1.html
Date - Jan 16 2008; Author - Brien M.Posey; Section - Articles : Scripting
In these 3 articles Brien explains the basics of Terminal Server scripting
and goes into detail on how the commands work and what you can do with them.
The series is not finished yet, but these first 3 are a must read if you are
planning to do anything with scripting.
Changes to Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server Licensing? Part 1 and Part 2
http://www.msterminalservices.org/articles/Changes-Windows-Server-2008-Termi
nal-Server-Licensing-Part1.html
Date - Jan 02, 2008; Author - Michael Burke; Section - Articles : Licensing
Michael shows us in these articles what is new in Windows Server 2008 when
it comes to licensing. With the rich history of problems when it comes to TS
licensing I would suggest that you read these articles with utmost care.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Need Thin Client management with more functionality and greater reliability?
<A
href="http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978&SI
=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml";><IMG height=20 hspace=5
src="http://images.isoftmarketing.com/ACP_button.gif"; width=100 align=left
vspace=3 border=0></A>Many companies who demand high reliability also count
on features unique to ACP's ThinManager. Like support for Thin Clients with
up to 5 monitors, each with a different session. Detecting server problems
and instantly switching to another one - and sending out e-mail
notification. They also like load balancing without installing any software
on their Terminal Servers, and queuing clients at startup to keep from
overwhelming the server.
Take a look at ThinManager and see what you've been
missing.(http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978
&SI=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml)
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5. Tip of the Month
BGinfo is one of the most popular background information creation tools out
there. I have seen it on so many workstations and servers that I have lost
the count. From the website of ctrl-alt-del:
<em>TSBackdrop is a command-line tool to automatically display relevant
information about a Terminal Server or Citrix Session on the user's desktop
background. Items such as the Client Computer Name,Client IP address,
Username and the Server which the Client is logged on to, are all displayed
in a neat little bitmap that is positioned in the middle of the user's
desktop. This is particularly useful for helpdesk calls where the user can
quickly provide the details of their session to the helpdesk operator.</em>
Get this awesome tool
here(http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au/files/TSBackdrop.zip).
6. Blog Posts
The Microsoft Terminal Server team has blogged about the Changes to Remote
Administration in Windows Server 2008.
http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/12/17/changes-to-remote-administration
-in-windows-server-2008.aspx
They also made their first post about the previously mentioned Calista
acquisition.
http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2008/01/22/microsoft-acquires-calista-techn
ologies.aspx
Another nice blog post is about Remotely managing your Server Core using RDP
by Sander Berkouwer.
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2008/01/24/remotely-m
anaging-your-server-core-using-rdp.aspx
Citrix is riding the save the planet bandwagon with their Citrix PowerSmart
utility. From the website "This free Citrix PowerSmart Utility attempts to
help customers reduce power consumption by powering off idle Presentation
Servers during off business hours." (Beta Version)
http://community.citrix.com/display/cdn/Citrix+PowerSmart+Utility+for+Presen
tation+Server+%28Beta%29
Ever tried to get a smart card running on Terminal Server or Citrix?
Overwhelmed with the complexity? Worry no more. Alex has written a detailed
guide on how to get this stuff up and running.
http://www.frameworkx.com/blogpost.aspx?id=9&c=1034
Using Citrix PN and need to run some changes? Use this script to make
changes to your user's APPSRV.INI file via login script. The script adds or
modifies .INI file key/value pairs and sections.
http://www.jasonconger.com/Script-to-Manipulate-APPSRV-INI.aspx
Monitor your Citrix farm better then before. Have a look at project S-BEND
which provides you with the ability to receive alerts whenever a change has
been made to the Citrix farm.
http://www.jasonconger.com/Get-email-alerts-for-your-Citrix-PS-4-5-Farm-with
-Project-S-Bend.aspx
7. Events / Links of the Month
Welcome to the first month of a fresh new year of Server Based computing
news.
And what a month it has been. VMware goes into application delivery.
Microsoft goes into richer desktop/application delivery and Citrix goes out
of its way to hop on all the bandwagons that came along this month. This
year we can expect the release of Server 2008 with all of its new Terminal
Server tools, and we can start exploring the potential of Hyper-v.
Want to start training early? Have a look at the online course "Course 6048:
Implementing Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008". Ok, it is not
freeware but $40 is not a showstopper either. Enroll for it
here(https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/courseDetail.aspx?courseId
=77793).
With so much consolidation in the Terminal Server/VDI/Application delivery
space, what can we expect this year? Will this be it or will we hear more
this year? To be honest I think so. It is not just in our space that all
these takeovers are taking place. It seems to be a general consensus. Eat or
be eaten is the motto.
Until then take care and see you next month!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Need Thin Client management with more functionality and greater reliability?
<A
href="http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978&SI
=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml";><IMG height=20 hspace=5
src="http://images.isoftmarketing.com/ACP_button.gif"; width=100 align=left
vspace=3 border=0></A>Many companies who demand high reliability also count
on features unique to ACP's ThinManager. Like support for Thin Clients with
up to 5 monitors, each with a different session. Detecting server problems
and instantly switching to another one - and sending out e-mail
notification. They also like load balancing without installing any software
on their Terminal Servers, and queuing clients at startup to keep from
overwhelming the server.
Take a look at ThinManager and see what you've been
missing.(http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978
&SI=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml)
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Need Thin Client management with more functionality and greater reliability?
<A
href="http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978&SI
=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml";><IMG height=20 hspace=5
src="http://images.isoftmarketing.com/ACP_button.gif"; width=100 align=left
vspace=3 border=0></A>Many companies who demand high reliability also count
on features unique to ACP's ThinManager. Like support for Thin Clients with
up to 5 monitors, each with a different session. Detecting server problems
and instantly switching to another one - and sending out e-mail
notification. They also like load balancing without installing any software
on their Terminal Servers, and queuing clients at startup to keep from
overwhelming the server.
Take a look at ThinManager and see what you've been
missing.(http://www.techgenix.com/newsletter/t.aspx?S=1&ID=3354&NL=31&N=3978
&SI=93176&URL=http://www.thinmanager.com/index.shtml)
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