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Terminal Server Edition System Requirements

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The requirements below are meant to serve as guidelines. Actual system requirements may vary significantly based upon the type of application run, type of hardware used, and user activity level. For more detailed guidelines, please see the capacity planning document.

BASE REQUIREMENTS

Category	Requirement
Hardware	32-bit x86 microprocessor (such as Intel Pentium or higher) or Alpha. VGA or higher-resolution monitor. One or more hard disks, with 128 MB minimum of free hard disk space on the partition that will contain the Terminal Server system files. For x86-based computers, a high-density 3.5-inch disk drive plus a CD-ROM drive.

Memory	32 MB of RAM, plus 4-8 MB for each typical user who is connecting.

Network Protocol	Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

PROCESSOR, MEMORY, AND BUS ARCHITECTURE REQUIREMENTS

For adequate performance, Terminal Server requires a Pentium or higher processor. Terminal Server requires 32 MB of RAM, plus additional RAM (per user) to support users running their applications on the server.

Processor and memory requirements scale linearly (up to four processors). For example, you can support double the number of users on a multiprocessor-capable Pentium system by doubling the number of processors and doubling the amount of memory. For this reason, purchasing a multiprocessor system, even if you initially purchase only one processor, allows you to add capacity more easily as your requirements grow.

The bus architecture in single and multiprocessor systems also affects system performance. The ISA (AT bus) architecture becomes the bottleneck to good system performance and is not recommended for Terminal Server. Use a higher-performance bus, such as EISA, MCA, or PCI, for best performance. All of these support the highly sustained data-transfer rates typically desired when running Terminal Server.

OTHER PERIPHERALS

Hard disk throughput also affects performance. SCSI disk drives and adapters, especially devices compatible with Fast SCSI and SCSI-2, have significantly better throughput than ST-506, IDE, or ESDI disk drives and adapters.

For highest disk performance, consider using a SCSI RAID controller. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controllers automatically place data on multiple disk drives and can increase disk performance and improve data reliability.

Although the Remote Desktop Protocol used with Terminal Server causes negligible network load, a high-performance network interface card (NIC) is recommended. This is particularly important if many users require access to data stored on network servers or run client/server applications.

If a multiport asynchronous communications adapter is installed for supporting dial-in users, be sure to use an intelligent (microprocessor-based) adapter to reduce interrupt overhead and increase throughput.

CLIENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

There are two versions of the Terminal Server Client software that are available on the CD:

16-bit (Windows for Workgroups)
32-bit (Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT)

Note: Terminal Server Clients for Windows-based terminal devices are available. Contact a terminal manufacturer (Wyse, Boundless, NCD, Textronix, Neoware, etc.) to see when these devices will be available.

The minimum requirements for the 16-bit Terminal Server Client are:

Personal computer with an 80386 or higher microprocessor
Windows for Workgroups
8 MB of RAM
4 MB of available hard disk space
VGA or higher-resolution video adapter
High-density 3.5-inch disk drive
Network interface card (NIC) using the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol
Microsoft serial mouse or 100 percent compatible

The minimum requirements for the 32-bit Terminal Server Client are:

Personal computer with an 80386 or higher microprocessor (80486 or higher for Windows NT)
Windows 95 or Windows NT
8 MB of RAM for Windows 95, 16 MB for Windows NT
4 MB of available hard disk space
VGA or higher resolution video adapter
High-density 3.5-inch disk drive
Network interface card (NIC) using the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol
Microsoft serial mouse or 100 percent compatible

Note: A Terminal Server Client can be used on a client PC to access a Terminal Server using the TCP/IP protocol from a network or by connecting via a Remote Access Service (RAS) connection.