What is a Terminal Server?
A. Terminal Server lets you deliver Windows-based applications or the Windows desktop itself to virtually any computing device — including those that cannot run Windows. For example, a user can access a virtual Windows XP Professional desktop along with x86-based Windows applications from hardware that cannot run the software locally. When a user runs an application on a Windows 2000-based terminal server, all of the application execution takes place on the server and only the keyboard, mouse and display information are transmitted over the network. Each user sees only their individual session, which is managed transparently by the server operating system and is independent of any other client session. A terminal services session allows you to run the IE browser & MS Project Professional on a server located on the EPM Solutions hosting network. This provides the user higher security and better response time.
A terminal server is something that serves to connect a bunch of terminals to a host computer(s) via a network. Today this server is often located nearby or inside the host computer. If you directly connect some terminals to a PC or connect them via dial-up modems thru serial ports at each end, you don’t need a terminal server. But if the terminals are connected to the host over a network, then you may need a terminal server to make the serial-to-network conversions. This is useful for devices such as printers and terminals that have no built-in network support. However the definition of “terminal server” has broadened to the case where all data flows entirely over a network (except of course within the computer itself) and where no serial ports are involved. The term “terminal” may include a thin client type terminal with a GUI. The network usually uses tcp/ip and/or ppp but other protocols (including protocol conversion) are sometimes supported. One way to connect a “terminal” (your
