News

Microsoft Releases W2K Terminal Services Advanced Client

• By Scott Bekker
• 06/28/2000

Web-based access will make it easier for ASPs and ISVs to deploy and use applications hosted on a terminal server.

The TSAC, developed for Windows 2000, is a 32-bit Windows-based ActiveX control that lets users run Terminal Services sessions from within Internet Explorer 4 and above. The new ActiveX control provides almost the same functionality as the full Terminal Services Client, but is designed to deliver this functionality over the Internet.

The Web-based TSAC broadens the number of options available for deploying terminal server-hosted applications by making it possible to download a Terminal Services client as an ActiveX control from a Web site. Until now, the Terminal Services client had to be installed and set up manually on each desktop before users could access Terminal Services applications.

Users and administrators can also gain the flexibility to roam to a different desktop and quickly access an application simply by visiting a URL. Administrators need only distribute that URL to users, rather than an entire application. Administrators can update both the Terminal Services applications and the TSAC itself without affecting users.

In addition to the TSAC package, Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) is also providing two free packages based on the flexibility of the TSAC: a TSAC-based Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, which enables administrators to manage multiple terminal servers, and a Full Terminal Services Client using Windows Installer (MSI) technology.