Re: Citrix
- From: Kurt <kurtl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2006 11:49:05 -0800
Myrt in MT wrote:
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.
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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