TS - 30 Remote Users & Connectivity

[Guest Dan]

I'm nuttting out a configuration involving a Terminal Server for remote usage.

There will be 30 users using Outlook, Office, a 3rd party SQL database

frontend, acrobat.

Machine

2008 TS - Dell 2900

1 x Xeon Quad 3ghz

8GB Ram

4 x 73GB SAS 15k in Raid10

 

While I think the machine is fine and will handle more users if required,

the connectivity limitations I have (mainly due to lack ongoing funding) are

my worry.

 

I was plannnig a 2mbps/2mbps SHDSL dedicated connection for TS remote use, a

seperate ADSL2+ at the main office for other net traffic.

However due to available infrastructure SHDSL is not avaialble and only high

$ wide band services can be added.

 

I was thinking as an alternative.

1 x ADSL2+ connection with the carrier used for all the sites (given the

exchange distance/SNR etc estimate 10,000mbps/800mbps)

1 x ADSL2+ connection on a seperate carrier (reundancy) but with Annex M

availabel giving 1600 - 2700mbps up speed.

 

Total combined minimum upload should be 2400mbps. (down would be over

20,000mbps)

 

The above would serve local office internet/mail needs (for 20 users) and

the TS.

 

I would use a Dual WAN router with load balancing and fall over.

 

Any thoughts on this configuration and is suitablity?

 

Regards

Dan

[Guest moncho]

Re: TS - 30 Remote Users & Connectivity

 

Dan wrote:

> I'm nuttting out a configuration involving a Terminal Server for remote usage.

> There will be 30 users using Outlook, Office, a 3rd party SQL database

> frontend, acrobat.

 

Here is my $.02 based on information that you have given.

FYI, I am assuming that the 30 Users are remote users and not

in-house users.

 

1. Is it possible to use Foxit Reader instead of Acrobat. I have

noticed savings in memory and CPU time using Foxit Reader when

more than 3-4 Reader sessions are running.

> Machine

> 2008 TS - Dell 2900

> 1 x Xeon Quad 3ghz

> 8GB Ram

> 4 x 73GB SAS 15k in Raid10

 

Machine seems fine. It depends upon where the users are going to

store their Office and Outlook files. Will they store their

files on a file server or this TS server?

>

> While I think the machine is fine and will handle more users if required,

> the connectivity limitations I have (mainly due to lack ongoing funding) are

> my worry.

>

> I was plannnig a 2mbps/2mbps SHDSL dedicated connection for TS remote use, a

> seperate ADSL2+ at the main office for other net traffic.

> However due to available infrastructure SHDSL is not avaialble and only high

> $ wide band services can be added.

>

> I was thinking as an alternative.

> 1 x ADSL2+ connection with the carrier used for all the sites (given the

> exchange distance/SNR etc estimate 10,000mbps/800mbps)

> 1 x ADSL2+ connection on a seperate carrier (reundancy) but with Annex M

> availabel giving 1600 - 2700mbps up speed.

 

When it comes to TS server, you are more worried about UP than

down and the speed of you Internet connection depends on what

your in-house users will be doing. In addition, will your TS

users be allowed to access the Internet on the TS machine (many

do not recommend this)?

 

Are you going to allow streaming video/music and downloading

enormous files for all users in-house and remote?

 

If so, you will need those two connections.

 

If not and Internet access will be regulated, you most likely will

not need both of those Internet connections.

 

RDP packets are rather small, printing LARGE files, such as, 20

slide (many graphics) PowerPoint presentations, may temporarily

slow your connection while sending a remote print job.

 

>

> Total combined minimum upload should be 2400mbps. (down would be over

> 20,000mbps)

>

> The above would serve local office internet/mail needs (for 20 users) and

> the TS.

>

> I would use a Dual WAN router with load balancing and fall over.

>

> Any thoughts on this configuration and is suitablity?

 

Configuration is fine but may be a little overkill with the Internet

connection. It all depends on your Internet use policies and what

your users will be doing. If money is tight, using just the

1600 - 2700mbps up speed connection seems fine. Save the money

on the other connection and use it elsewhere.

 

Granted, I have a single T1 with a Dell 2850, but I am running

25 in-house users (regulated Internet access), 35 remote users, no

MS Office, no Internet access on the TS server (running a Visual

FoxPro application) and all is running along smoothly. I also

have enough room on my TS server for about another 15-20 users.

 

My situation works because printing is mostly text and the largest

print files I have to transfer are about 200-300k.

 

moncho

[Guest Dan]

Re: TS - 30 Remote Users & Connectivity

 

Thanks for the reply, very helpful. See inline for some answers.

 

"moncho" wrote:

> Dan wrote:

> > I'm nuttting out a configuration involving a Terminal Server for remote usage.

> > There will be 30 users using Outlook, Office, a 3rd party SQL database

> > frontend, acrobat.

>

> Here is my $.02 based on information that you have given.

> FYI, I am assuming that the 30 Users are remote users and not

> in-house users.

>

Yep 30 users are remote, from 22 remote sites

> 1. Is it possible to use Foxit Reader instead of Acrobat. I have

> noticed savings in memory and CPU time using Foxit Reader when

> more than 3-4 Reader sessions are running.

>

Will look into this. My main concern with PDF's etc is usually they are

'image' based, rather than in word etc so each page is more like a full pic

which then gets downloaded over TS session which could be slow?

> > Machine

> > 2008 TS - Dell 2900

> > 1 x Xeon Quad 3ghz

> > 8GB Ram

> > 4 x 73GB SAS 15k in Raid10

>

> Machine seems fine. It depends upon where the users are going to

> store their Office and Outlook files. Will they store their

> files on a file server or this TS server?

>

The TS server will be connected to a SBS2003 box where the outlook clients

will be connected to exchange and the SQL DB. All documents etc also on this

box.

> >

> > While I think the machine is fine and will handle more users if required,

> > the connectivity limitations I have (mainly due to lack ongoing funding) are

> > my worry.

> >

> > I was plannnig a 2mbps/2mbps SHDSL dedicated connection for TS remote use, a

> > seperate ADSL2+ at the main office for other net traffic.

> > However due to available infrastructure SHDSL is not avaialble and only high

> > $ wide band services can be added.

> >

> > I was thinking as an alternative.

> > 1 x ADSL2+ connection with the carrier used for all the sites (given the

> > exchange distance/SNR etc estimate 10,000mbps/800mbps)

> > 1 x ADSL2+ connection on a seperate carrier (reundancy) but with Annex M

> > availabel giving 1600 - 2700mbps up speed.

>

> When it comes to TS server, you are more worried about UP than

> down and the speed of you Internet connection depends on what

> your in-house users will be doing. In addition, will your TS

> users be allowed to access the Internet on the TS machine (many

> do not recommend this)?

>

I can restrict use of internet if required. Get them to use the net on

their local PC's.

So basicly SQL front end ap, Outlook & Office & PDF viewing would be needed.

I agree with the browsing on a TS box, adds another security risk also.

> Are you going to allow streaming video/music and downloading

> enormous files for all users in-house and remote?

>

Souldn't be necessary, file transfers also shouldn't be necessary.

> If so, you will need those two connections.

>

> If not and Internet access will be regulated, you most likely will

> not need both of those Internet connections.

>

> RDP packets are rather small, printing LARGE files, such as, 20

> slide (many graphics) PowerPoint presentations, may temporarily

> slow your connection while sending a remote print job.

>

There will be some print jobs but large/bulk print jobs get printed to a

hi-volume machine at headoffice (they do this currently using the machines

built in www interface) but would be direct and internal to the TS box's

location so no bandwidth issues there.

>

> >

> > Total combined minimum upload should be 2400mbps. (down would be over

> > 20,000mbps)

> >

> > The above would serve local office internet/mail needs (for 20 users) and

> > the TS.

> >

> > I would use a Dual WAN router with load balancing and fall over.

> >

> > Any thoughts on this configuration and is suitablity?

>

> Configuration is fine but may be a little overkill with the Internet

> connection. It all depends on your Internet use policies and what

> your users will be doing. If money is tight, using just the

> 1600 - 2700mbps up speed connection seems fine. Save the money

> on the other connection and use it elsewhere.

 

I think still using two connections is probably good. Gives fall over also

using 2 ISP's

>

> Granted, I have a single T1 with a Dell 2850, but I am running

> 25 in-house users (regulated Internet access), 35 remote users, no

> MS Office, no Internet access on the TS server (running a Visual

> FoxPro application) and all is running along smoothly. I also

> have enough room on my TS server for about another 15-20 users.

>

T1 @ 1500 up I'm assuming? & with 35 concurrent users it works well?

Thats good to know. Though I don't doubt the 'consistency' in bandwidth is

better on the T1 than a 'normal' type DSL connection.

> My situation works because printing is mostly text and the largest

> print files I have to transfer are about 200-300k.

>

> moncho

>

[Guest moncho]

Re: TS - 30 Remote Users & Connectivity

 

Dan wrote:

> Thanks for the reply, very helpful. See inline for some answers.

>

> "moncho" wrote:

>

>> Dan wrote:

>>> I'm nuttting out a configuration involving a Terminal Server for remote usage.

>>> There will be 30 users using Outlook, Office, a 3rd party SQL database

>>> frontend, acrobat.

>> Here is my $.02 based on information that you have given.

>> FYI, I am assuming that the 30 Users are remote users and not

>> in-house users.

>>

> Yep 30 users are remote, from 22 remote sites

>

>> 1. Is it possible to use Foxit Reader instead of Acrobat. I have

>> noticed savings in memory and CPU time using Foxit Reader when

>> more than 3-4 Reader sessions are running.

>>

> Will look into this. My main concern with PDF's etc is usually they are

> 'image' based, rather than in word etc so each page is more like a full pic

> which then gets downloaded over TS session which could be slow?

If the file is opened on the server, it will just send the screen shot,

so the size of the packet will not be that large. Though this

will depend on the color depth you allow them to connect with. I

keep my users at 15K (High Color) or less.

>

>>> Machine

>>> 2008 TS - Dell 2900

>>> 1 x Xeon Quad 3ghz

>>> 8GB Ram

>>> 4 x 73GB SAS 15k in Raid10

>> Machine seems fine. It depends upon where the users are going to

>> store their Office and Outlook files. Will they store their

>> files on a file server or this TS server?

>>

> The TS server will be connected to a SBS2003 box where the outlook clients

> will be connected to exchange and the SQL DB. All documents etc also on this

> box.

 

Excellent. Server should definitely be fine.

>

>>> While I think the machine is fine and will handle more users if required,

>>> the connectivity limitations I have (mainly due to lack ongoing funding) are

>>> my worry.

>>>

>>> I was plannnig a 2mbps/2mbps SHDSL dedicated connection for TS remote use, a

>>> seperate ADSL2+ at the main office for other net traffic.

>>> However due to available infrastructure SHDSL is not avaialble and only high

>>> $ wide band services can be added.

>>>

>>> I was thinking as an alternative.

>>> 1 x ADSL2+ connection with the carrier used for all the sites (given the

>>> exchange distance/SNR etc estimate 10,000mbps/800mbps)

>>> 1 x ADSL2+ connection on a seperate carrier (reundancy) but with Annex M

>>> availabel giving 1600 - 2700mbps up speed.

>> When it comes to TS server, you are more worried about UP than

>> down and the speed of you Internet connection depends on what

>> your in-house users will be doing. In addition, will your TS

>> users be allowed to access the Internet on the TS machine (many

>> do not recommend this)?

>>

> I can restrict use of internet if required. Get them to use the net on

> their local PC's.

> So basicly SQL front end ap, Outlook & Office & PDF viewing would be needed.

> I agree with the browsing on a TS box, adds another security risk also.

>

>> Are you going to allow streaming video/music and downloading

>> enormous files for all users in-house and remote?

>>

> Souldn't be necessary, file transfers also shouldn't be necessary.

>> If so, you will need those two connections.

>>

>> If not and Internet access will be regulated, you most likely will

>> not need both of those Internet connections.

>>

>> RDP packets are rather small, printing LARGE files, such as, 20

>> slide (many graphics) PowerPoint presentations, may temporarily

>> slow your connection while sending a remote print job.

>>

> There will be some print jobs but large/bulk print jobs get printed to a

> hi-volume machine at headoffice (they do this currently using the machines

> built in www interface) but would be direct and internal to the TS box's

> location so no bandwidth issues there.

>

>>> Total combined minimum upload should be 2400mbps. (down would be over

>>> 20,000mbps)

>>>

>>> The above would serve local office internet/mail needs (for 20 users) and

>>> the TS.

>>>

>>> I would use a Dual WAN router with load balancing and fall over.

>>>

>>> Any thoughts on this configuration and is suitablity?

>> Configuration is fine but may be a little overkill with the Internet

>> connection. It all depends on your Internet use policies and what

>> your users will be doing. If money is tight, using just the

>> 1600 - 2700mbps up speed connection seems fine. Save the money

>> on the other connection and use it elsewhere.

>

> I think still using two connections is probably good. Gives fall over also

> using 2 ISP's

>> Granted, I have a single T1 with a Dell 2850, but I am running

>> 25 in-house users (regulated Internet access), 35 remote users, no

>> MS Office, no Internet access on the TS server (running a Visual

>> FoxPro application) and all is running along smoothly. I also

>> have enough room on my TS server for about another 15-20 users.

>>

> T1 @ 1500 up I'm assuming? & with 35 concurrent users it works well?

> Thats good to know. Though I don't doubt the 'consistency' in bandwidth is

> better on the T1 than a 'normal' type DSL connection.

 

Depending upon the location of your office from the CO, T1's can be

had for roughly $500 a month and that includes the local loop. The

price also depends on the length of contract, but you could also get a

free router, configuration, and installation.

 

Yes, the consistency has been excellent and has only been down for

12 minutes in the last 8 years. I am a firm believer that

T1's are worth the money.

>

>> My situation works because printing is mostly text and the largest

>> print files I have to transfer are about 200-300k.

>> moncho

>>