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Terminal Server Information

Advisors Assistant v2 was developed with Microsoft's Visual FoxPro, and you can use worldwide remote access options like GoToMyPC.com, Windows Remote Desktop, PC Anywhere, or set up your office network to provide access through the use of Windows 2000 Terminal Services.

Features such as the Outlook Integration and printing reports locally may not be available via Remote Access using Advisors Assistant v2.

Access security can be dependent on how your Terminal Server is set up and your internal procedures for passwords and ports open to the Internet. You should discuss security issues in detail with your IT advisor.

What is terminal server?

Terminal Server is part of Windows 2000 Server which allows you to set up remote access to virtually any program available to your regular network users. It provides secure access from outside your office.

Terminal Server can run on an additional server as shown on the drawing, or you can run it on the same server running your Windows 2000 Server software.

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What are some of the advantages of Terminal Server?

The primary advantage is remote access via the Internet from home, remote offices, or while traveling. However there are other advantages:

• Ease of administration. You only have to update your programs in one location. Your remote producers can run your proposal software from one location, insuring that they are using the most recent version.
• Save money. Since Terminal Server runs on a "thin client", it can be used on older work stations which otherwise may be too old and slow to run modern software. Instead of replacing all of your workstations, just add Terminal Server and then set up your local area network's workstations to run via Terminal Server. This can save lots of capital.
• Save network administration fees. Your network administrator can log into your Terminal Server and administer your entire network from their location instead of traveling to your office.

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What kind of Internet connection do I need at the office?

You should have a cable modem or a DSL connection so that you have 24/7 Internet access at the office with a static IP address..

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What kind of performance can I expect with Terminal Server?

If you have DSL or Cable from your remote access site, you'll get the same performance as if you were sitting at a workstation in your office. If you have a 56K dialup connection, you'll barely be able to see the screens load (they will still be very fast), and since all of the processing is done on the terminal server computer, the actual searches and other processing will be quite fast.

 

Can I print reports at my remote site?

Yes, you just have to install the printer driver for your remote printer on the Terminal Server Machine.

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Can I use the email capability of Advisors Assistant?

Yes, just as if you were using Advisors Assistant on your local computer.

Can I still use MS Word for letters and Excel for reports?

Yes, as long as they are installed on the Terminal Server computer and you are licensed properly. There is a special Office installation utility for Terminal Server which can be downloaded free from Microsoft.

Can more than one person access Advisors Assistant via Terminal Server at the same time?

Yes, as long as you have more than one Terminal Server Client License and you are running a network version of Advisors Assistant. (Stations running Windows 2000 or Windows XP Pro do not need separate Terminal Server licenses.)

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Can a remote producer access my Advisors Assistant database from another office and only see their data (not all of the data).

Yes, using our MultiProducer version of Advisors Assistant, you can control access based on the client's primary agent or rep.

Can I use Advisors Assistant on Terminal Server to dial the phone at my remote site?

No, the phone dialing function is the one feature in Advisors Assistant we've identified as unavailable when using Terminal Server. (Actually, you could dial the phone, but it would be a phone located at and hooked up to the computer running Terminal Server :-)

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Where is my Advisors Assistant database located when I use Terminal Server?

Usually, Advisors Assistant will be located on your regular network server. Terminal Server will look like a station to Advisors Assistant just like any other station on your network. Advisors Assistant can also be located on the Terminal Server.

What about Citrix's Metaframe? Isn't that better than Terminal Server?

Metaframe is designed for larger installations. If you plan to connect more than 30 stations through Terminal Server, you may want to think about Metaframe.

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Can I limit access to users who come into my network on Terminal Server?

Yes, all of the security of Windows 2000 is available. You can even set it up so that users automatically start Advisors Assistant when they connect, and log off your network when they exit from Advisors Assistant. However, you can also give full network access, and even provide for remote administration of your entire network, so that your network administrator does not have to be on site and bill for travel.

How is Terminal Server different from PCAnywhere?

PCAnywhere is usually used through a slower dialup connection directly into a station on your network. Only one user can connect at the same time to the PCAnywhere machine. Terminal Server is designed for the Internet and multi-user access on one computer.

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Can I install Terminal Server myself?

Probably not. We recommend using a consultant with Terminal Server and/or Metaframe experience.

Can I run other programs on my remote computer while I'm connected to the office through Terminal Server?

Yes, Terminal Server runs just like any other program and will appear with other programs on your task bar. You can run such programs as accounting, proposals, planning, and Microsoft Office.

What kind of costs are involved?

If you already have a fairly powerful server (1 GHz+ processor(s) with 1 GB+ RAM), and are already running Windows 2000 Server, you may have all the hardware and software you need and may only require some consultant time.

Otherwise, for a modest setup for remote access of 5 or fewer simultaneous users, you should budget about $2,500+ for hardware and software and about $700+ for installation services. This assumes you already have a network in your office running Windows NT or Windows 2000 Server and that you're connected to the Internet. This assumes about $1,000 for the Terminal Server computer and about $800 for Windows 2000 server and 5 Terminal Client Licenses. For more users, you'd want to acquire a more powerful Terminal Server computer.

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What about licenses for Terminal Server?

Terminal Server comes with Windows 2000 Server. You will need client licenses unless the client computer (station) is running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Pro. If the station runs Windows 98 or 95, you will need a Terminal Server Client license for each computer that logs into Terminal Server. Any software you run on the Terminal Server also has to be licensed. This can vary, so you should read each individual license. Terminal Server client licenses return to the pool if the computer does not log on for 90 days (provided you have the TS patch released in May/June 2001).

What kind of workstation do I need to run Terminal Server?

The Terminal Server client will run on the slowest station in your office at the same speed as the fastest. The client is a "thin client" and does not use much memory or processor. The work is all done on the Terminal Server computer, not the station.

This means that you can save a bundle by buying one fast terminal server computer instead of updating lots of computers around the office. Then just hook the old slow stations up to the Terminal Server and run the newest software on it at new computer speeds.

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Where can I learn more?

Just click on http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/technologies/terminal/default.asp for more information directly from Microsoft.