For no more users than you are talking about, I'd set up a server with ESXi 4.1 (free) and simply create a number of virtual XP or Win7 workstations. Users would RDP to them. Set up group policy so that they have roaming profiles.
The dual monitor requirement might be a bit tough in any environment. I guess they could create two RDP sessions to two different XP VMs. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Humphries [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 5:05 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: terminal services/citrix/xen desktop etc for bean counters. Anyone here had any success with using these technologies in an accounting/CPA environment? I have a 25 person CPA client that is interested in doing something to support working remotely for a few employees and also opening a 3 or 4 person branch office in the near future. Lacerte and Quickbooks over a VPN just don't cut it. Some items that make the project difficult... 1) They went paperless a couple of years ago and dual monitors for everyone is important for workflow. So, we need good support of dual monitors. 2) User rights. Everyone right now is local admin on machines. You can thank intuit for making it near impossible to avoid. 3) Quickbooks (see intuit issue above) claims terminal services is not supported in anything but their enterprise version. They are a CPA firm and install multiple versions of quickbooks on workstations. Not sure if using a VM, rather than TS gets around this. 4) Software/Printer installs. Almost every intuit and CCH product they use comes with it's own PDF printer that must be installed. This already causes the occasional printer driver problem on physical machines. Anyone have any advice for what solutions would be right out or deserve consideration? I just found out about Xen Desktop Express for 10 or fewer users. That has piqued my interest. The competitor to that is VMware's View, right? Thanks for any help/knowledge you can share. Bill ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- You are currently subscribed to ntsysadmin as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/u?id=8059012.67666fbb400b98901288c4ba64435a95&n=T&l=ntsysadmin&o=9079786 or send a blank email to leave-9079786-8059012.67666fbb400b98901288c4ba64435...@lyris.sunbelt-software.com ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
