Terminal Servers

Terminal Services is a powerful central computer that presents the full Microsoft Windows operating environment for dozens or hundreds of users.  Nothing happens on users local workstations other than drawing the graphical screen that's sent over the network by the server.  The users' key-presses and mouse clicks are transferred to and interpreted on the central server.

Nearly all modern software functions on terminal services; programs such as Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Acrobat Reader, and hundreds of thousands of other software titles.  With some work, even very old applications can work within the context of terminal services.

Terminal Services has been around for a long time, but has only recently begun to gain widespread acceptance.  Over the years, the initial-cost-per-user (ICU) initial investment as well as the long term total cost of ownership (TCO) has seen massive reductions due to advances in server hardware and network bandwidth.  Ten years ago, a single powerful server could handle a half dozen users via Terminal Services, and may have cost upwards of $20,000 in specialized hardware.  Today, a server costing just $3000 is capable of supporting hundreds of simultaneous users, making it economically feasible for both very small and very large organizations to convert entirely to Terminal Services.

Terminal Services means you no longer have to maintain expensive computer workstations which are prone to breakage (you can use thin clients instead to draw the graphical display).  The potential savings in software installation and update fees, on site visits by IT professionals, repair expenses for broken down workstations, centralized printer administration, and more are truly incredible.  If a user's workstation breaks down they can move over to any other workstation in the organization, log in, and find themselves precisely where they left off at (even if they were in the middle of typing an e-mail or hadn't saved their work in an hour or two!).

Whether you have a mixed network with different operating systems, a crop of aging workstations, or simply want to avoid continuing to pay for expensive-to-own PC workstations, a server running Terminal Services is right for you.  Any software package only has to be installed one time, at one place, for everyone you choose to access it.  Furthermore, updates only have to be installed once.

For companies with dozens or hundreds of computer workstations which may be scattered about multiple physical locations, this investment is one which you will be proud of.  For smaller companies, terminal servers can secure your information, make you more efficient, and provide you with the same tools "the big guys" have so that you can compete in the global marketplace.

Liberation Software's custom applications are fully compatible with Terminal Services, and we have many specialized pieces of software available which enhance the overall terminal services user experience or facilitate ease of management.  We know how to build them, maintain them, and most importantly, secure them so that users can access exactly what they need to.

We can even equip supervisors and management staff with special tools to actually see - at any time - precisely what any user on the network is doing.  Whether done for security, or help-desk type of support, this is a vital tool for managing an efficient enterprise.  We routinely do software training via this technology to users who are physically thousands of miles away from our office.

Liberation Software is a consumer of our own terminal server technology, as we ourselves utilize terminal services to manage and simplify our organization's development and technical support assets.