Citrix

What is Citrix ?


A server solution that uses Microsoft Terminal Services software to deliverWindows applications to PCs, Apple Macintosh computers, X terminals and UNIX workstations. This enables users of those systems to access and use those programs which are available to those using the Windows operating system. Citrix servers use two technologies; WinFrame and Independent Computing Architecture (ICA).


What is Microsoft Terminal Services ?


Terminal Services provides the ability to host multiple, simultaneous client sessions on Windows Server 2003. Terminal Services is capable of directly hosting compatible multi-user client desktops running on a variety of Windows-based and non Windows-based computers. Standard Windows-based applications do not need modification to run on the terminal server, and all standard Windows Server 2003-?based management infrastructure and technologies can be used to manage the client desktops. In this way, corporations can take advantage of the rich choice of applications and tools offered by today’s Windows operating system environment.

Terminal Services depends on, or interacts with, the following technologies:

• RDP Protocol - On the server, RDP uses its own video driver to render display output by constructing the rendering information into network packets using RDP protocol and sending them over the network to the client. On the client, RDP receives rendering data and interprets the packets into corresponding Microsoft Win32 graphics device interface API calls. For the input path, client mouse and keyboard events are redirected from the client to the server. On the server, RDP uses its own virtual keyboard and mouse driver to receive these keyboard and mouse events.
• Terminal Server Interactions with RDP
  
  

Terminal Services Architecture

Terminal Services consists of four components: the Windows Server 2003 multi-user kernel, the Remote Desktop client, the Terminal Services Licensing service, and Session Directory Services. Specifically:

Multi-user kernel. The multi-user kernel extensions, originally developed for Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition, have been enhanced and fully integrated as a standard part of the Windows Server 2003 family kernel. These are resident on the server at all times, regardless of whether Terminal Services is enabled or not.

Remote Desktop client: The client software is an application that establishes and maintains the connection between a client and a server computer running Terminal Services.

Terminal Services Licensing service: This system allows terminal servers to obtain and manage terminal server client access license (TS CAL) tokens for devices and users connecting to a terminal server.

Session Directory Services: The session directory (SD) keeps a list of sessions indexed by user name, and allows a user to reconnect to the terminal server where the user’s disconnected session resides and resume that session.

Terminal Services Architecture

Installtion of Citrix Presentation 4.5 

Citrix Presentation Server 4.5  Installation