miketayeb2
asked on
Applications in different servers, but accessed through a single terminal server login?
Hello folks! I have a question regarding accessing applications on multiple servers via a single login point. Here is the scenario:
We have two servers, one Windows Server 2003 and one Windows Server 2000. The 2003 server contains a variety of different applications (e.g. MS office and several industry specific applications) and is administered in-house by yours truly. The 2000 server is serves up only a single application (industry-specific and mission critical), and is managed by the software vendor. Currently, users access either of the servers by logging in using MS Terminal Server Client from various thin or fat clients, but of course, they have to log into the servers serparately to use the applications contained on each.
What I am wondering is, is there a way to configure our setup such that they can log into the Windows 2003 server and be able to access the applications on both servers via a single login/single terminal server desktop? I've been told that this is not possible with the operating systems themselves, but that other software (Citrix maybe?) would allow this. We have users that need to be able to access these application servers from within the office using various thin and fat clients, from a remote office via VPN and over the internet from home or wherever else.
Does anyone know of a way for me to accomplish this? And software and/or configuration suggestions? And before anyone suggests moving all the applications to one server or mirroring the servers and load-balancing, I should mention that the application on the 2000 server (and the server itself) is managed by the software vendor and the service contract requires that serving that particular application be the only use of that server.
Thanks for any help/suggestions you can provide!
Mike
We have two servers, one Windows Server 2003 and one Windows Server 2000. The 2003 server contains a variety of different applications (e.g. MS office and several industry specific applications) and is administered in-house by yours truly. The 2000 server is serves up only a single application (industry-specific and mission critical), and is managed by the software vendor. Currently, users access either of the servers by logging in using MS Terminal Server Client from various thin or fat clients, but of course, they have to log into the servers serparately to use the applications contained on each.
What I am wondering is, is there a way to configure our setup such that they can log into the Windows 2003 server and be able to access the applications on both servers via a single login/single terminal server desktop? I've been told that this is not possible with the operating systems themselves, but that other software (Citrix maybe?) would allow this. We have users that need to be able to access these application servers from within the office using various thin and fat clients, from a remote office via VPN and over the internet from home or wherever else.
Does anyone know of a way for me to accomplish this? And software and/or configuration suggestions? And before anyone suggests moving all the applications to one server or mirroring the servers and load-balancing, I should mention that the application on the 2000 server (and the server itself) is managed by the software vendor and the service contract requires that serving that particular application be the only use of that server.
Thanks for any help/suggestions you can provide!
Mike
ASKER
Netman:
Are you talking about simply sharing the application folder on the 2000 server and giving all the users execute permission on the exe file(s) necessary to run the application, and just creating desktop shortcuts that point to those exe files on the other server? If so, it would be the 2003 server that is actually running the application, and this is not what I want. I would prefer the processing for the app on the 2000 server to be handled by the 2000 server.
I realize that they could log into the 2003 TS and then launch a TS session on the 2000 server from theere but that, of course, does not eliminate the double login.
Are you talking about simply sharing the application folder on the 2000 server and giving all the users execute permission on the exe file(s) necessary to run the application, and just creating desktop shortcuts that point to those exe files on the other server? If so, it would be the 2003 server that is actually running the application, and this is not what I want. I would prefer the processing for the app on the 2000 server to be handled by the 2000 server.
I realize that they could log into the 2003 TS and then launch a TS session on the 2000 server from theere but that, of course, does not eliminate the double login.
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If there is, you can TS into 2003 then run the app inside that session from the other server.