Chapter 4: Administration and Operation

Overview

Now that we have covered the basic concepts of Terminal Services under Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and the corresponding network and client options, it is time to move on to the subjects of administration and operation. We will introduce special system tools and expansions to the standard Windows Server 2003 environment. This chapter focuses on the following:

• Terminal Services Manager as a powerful and centralized administration tool for multiple- user expansion of Windows Server 2003.

• Windows Server 2003 standard tools and their specific adaptations for optimum support of Terminal Services, including Task Manager, System Monitor, Event Viewer, and Control Panel.

• The specific terminal server properties included in user and group administration and how to set them up for standard operation. The settings for user and Terminal Services configuration and remote desktop connections will also be compared.

• Domains and Group Policies that allow comprehensive configuration and control of more than one terminal server.

• The significance of central user profiles in administering individual user settings in a terminal server environment, including other user profile information and background information on INI mapping and temp mapping.

• Various integration concepts for client and network printers in a terminal server environment.

Many of these topics are also important for operating a normal Windows Server 2003 on a network, particularly domains, Group Policies, central user profiles, print concepts, and, of course, the Control Panel tools. This book, however, examines them through the lens of the terminal server.