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Myrt in MT
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 Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject: Citrix |
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Last year I received my MCSE but I have to admit I was a "book" MCSE with
limited praticial expereince.
So I started working part time for a local non profits Info Sys Dept. We
have a single Win2003 domain. After working for a few months I could not help
noticing that we use probably less than 1% of the capabilities of a Windows
domain. Essentially we use the domain to authenticate logons and that is
about it.
Recently the boss mentioned getting Citrix and talked like this was the
answer to everything. I could not help asking "Why are we getting a new
management system when we use so little of the one we have that is paid
for?"
But this begs the question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of
using Citirx within a Windows domain.
Input would be appreciated. |
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Kurt
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| Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Citrix |
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Myrt in MT wrote:
| Quote: | Last year I received my MCSE but I have to admit I was a "book" MCSE with
limited praticial expereince.
So I started working part time for a local non profits Info Sys Dept. We
have a single Win2003 domain. After working for a few months I could not help
noticing that we use probably less than 1% of the capabilities of a Windows
domain. Essentially we use the domain to authenticate logons and that is
about it.
Recently the boss mentioned getting Citrix and talked like this was the
answer to everything. I could not help asking "Why are we getting a new
management system when we use so little of the one we have that is paid
for?"
But this begs the question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of
using Citirx within a Windows domain.
Input would be appreciated.
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Citrix has some nice features as far as control, helpdesk, management,
etc. But you can do about 90% of it with the built-in Windows stuff.
Unless you're running "small business server", your Windows server has
"Terminal Services" built right in. Does pretty much the same thing as
Citrix. Even if you are running SBS, another copy of Server 2003
Standard is only about $600 street price. You really shoould use another
server anyway. The last thing you need is users logging on to your DC
and treating it like their home computer! You need to plan this
carefully, because thin-client and standard workstations can be somewhat
mutually exclusive. Windows 2003 requires a CAL (client access license)
for each connection. For that reason, it may be beneficial to remove the
workstations from the domain. Of course if you do that, local logon
credentials no longer permeate the domain. But even if yo have to
double-up on licenses, compare it to the initial cost and licenses for
Citrix and unless you have a whole lot of users, I think you'll find
you're still ahead.
Either way, having multiple users running major applications on a single
application server requires a very high-end server. Generally,
multi-processor, gigs of RAM, lots of storage and a backup solution that
can handle all that storage.
If the boss was thinking of going with Linux desktops or something, that
adds more licensing requirements. You will require an additional
terminal services license for every non-windows connection - even those
must be from a "professional" desktop: W2K Pro, XP Pro - not Home or 98.
And if the server goes down, the entire office is down.
So consider carefully.....
....kurt |
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Lee Collison
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:25 am Post subject: RE: Citrix |
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Citrix has a lot of bells and whistles that Terminal Services does not have,
Terminal Services does offer you a good solution for doing Administrative
work to servers but if you are going to have 20 + users accessing certain
applications (and not the desktop) than you will want Citrix. Citrix offers
a nice way to load balance based off of different types of loads that you can
specify as well as it allows to publish single applications and not the
desktop (which end users love to abuse).
You really have to understand how your company wants to impliment remote
access and move forward from there. Citrix is a great application that runs
on top of TS and is easier to manage than TS. Ihave worked with Citrix for
10 years and I am an CCEA as well as a MCSE for 12 years. |
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