Windows Server 2003 Basics

I have some extreme noob questions about the Windows Server 2003 OS:

Situation: I have some background in programming and web development, but none with server applications. My company is getting ready to switch to a multi-user accounting application, which must be hosted using Windows Terminal Services. Currently, we have two normal desktop PCs accounting works on. We need to host the accounting application on one of these PCs and have it able to be accessed through our LAN by any number of users.

Questions:

(1) If we decide to upgrade to a 5 CAL version of Windows Server 2003 for hosting the application: Will the machine running that OS be able to function as a workstation with all the normal Office applications? I am completely unfamiliar with this OS, so I don't even know if, for instance, it has a similar interface to other Windows OSs.

(2) My understanding is that XP Pro comes with a 1 CAL version of Terminal Services--meaning that a maximum of one external user could access an application running therein. Does this mean one external user at a time, or one external user period?

Thanks very much for any help,

Aaron Heinrich

 

I believe in Server 2003 MS broke the CAL's out by function. In other words if you purchase 2003 server with 5 CAL's, those CAL's are not Terminal Server CAL's but user file access CAL's. If XP comes with a terminal server CAL then each XP workstation could access the terminal services on the server at the same time.

Do not use a server as a workstation. One reason, like has already been pointed out, you don't want a user doing something that will bring down the server and thereby Terminal services for all the users. Another reason is that on servers the console interface is slower that on a workstation.

 

WOW! When did that happen??????

 

So let me see if I'm understanding you right: the 5 "file access" CALs for the 2003 Server OS allow 5 users to access the server, generally, at the same time; but if a workstation is going to access Terminal Services specifically, then that workstation itself has to have a Terminal Services license. Since XP Pro comes with a terminal services license, it can function as a workstation out of the box. Correct?

Got it. That makes sense. Any suggestions for good, inexpensive servers? Again, our needs are pretty minimal. The server will be used basically to run this one accounting application.

 

Correct.

Any of the lower end Dell or HP servers should be fine. I believe they call them workgroup class or small business class.