John Mackenzie wrote:
> What VPN protocol do you use ? ...
>
> Do you install cygwin (with ssh) on the Windows server,
> then ssh in from a (linux) client and run rdesktop through
> the ssh tunnel ?
>   
We are Luddites compared to Horst but like others in larger practices I
am hamstrung by my colleagues.

The workstations are all Linux thin clients connecting to a WinConnect
terminal server farm. The database is on that problematic W2k SQL
server. I have recently replaced an e-smith gateway server with a debian
firewall box. Remote users run rdesktop over ssh through that (putty /
Remote Desktop Client on Windows).

The costs involved in running MS Servers are really scandalous. It is
not just the licenses. That is only the start. Because of the license
fees people are reluctant to run up a spare duplicate machine. They
invest their resources in defending their server:- there is the hot
swappable ServerRaid, the massive ghost images, the inability to run
those ghosts on alternative hardware plus the techie time involved in
tooling around with it all.

As Horst had detailed external RAID 1 SATA on a couple of similar (but
not necessarily identical machines) is all that most practices would
need. Creating reliable Linux boxes is cheap and easy. The challenge
then becomes just managing your data, which most medical practices can
cope with these days. If they cannot, it can be automated for them and
supported remotely if necessary.

Running MS SQL server is one of the most bizarre things one could do.
The fact that many of us do is an historical accident. In years to come
people will look back at this time and marvel at the snake oil that was
purveyed.

David



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