Windows Server 2008 Application access

Terminal Services (TS) in Windows Server 2008 implements Microsoft’s most powerful centralized application access platform and offers an array of new capabilities that reshape administrator and user experiences alike.

TS provide centralized access to individual applications without requiring a full-fledged remote desktop session (although that’s still an option). Applications operating remotely are integrated on local user desktops, where they look and feel like local applications. An organization can employ HTTPS over VPN to secure remote access to centralized applications and desktops.

Using TS in a Windows Server 2008 environment enables you to:

• Deploy applications that integrate with the local user desktop.
• Provide central access to managed Windows desktops.
• Enable remote access for existing WAN applications.
• Secure applications and data within the data center.

Windows Server 2008 TS includes the following features:

• TS RemoteApp: Programs accessed through TS behave as if they run locally on a remote user’s computer. Users may run TS RemoteApp programs alongside local applications.

• TS Gateway: Authorized remote users may connect to TS servers and desktops on the intranet from any Internet-accessible device running Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 6.0. TS Gateway uses Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) via HTTPS to form a secure, encrypted channel between remote users.

• TS Web Access: TS RemoteApp is made available to remote end users through TS Web Access, which can be a simple default Web page used to deploy RemoteApp via the Web. Resources are accessible via both intranet and Internet computers.

• TS Session Broker: A simpler alternative to load-balancing TS is provided through TS Broker, a new feature that distributes session data to the least active server in a small (two to five) farm of servers. IT administrators can even map several TS IP addresses to a single human-addressable DNS name, so end users needn’t be aware of any specific settings to connect and reconnect TS broker sessions.

• TS Easy Print: Another new feature in Windows Server 2008 enables users to reliably print from a TS RemoteApp program or desktop session to either a local or network printer installed on the client computer. Printers are supported without any installation of print drivers on the TS endpoint, which greatly simplifies the network sharing process.

In addition, the Application Server role in Windows Server 2008 provides an integrated environment for customizing, deploying, and running server-based business applications. This supports applications that use ASP.NET, COM+, Message Queuing, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0/3.0, Web Services, and distributed transactions that respond to network-driven requests from other applications and client computers.

The Application Server role is a requirement for Windows Server 2008 environments running applications dependent upon role services or features selected during the installation process. Typically, this role is required when deploying internally-developed business applications, which might be database-stored customer records, interfaced through Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Web Services.

Source of Information : For Dummies Windows Server 2008 For Dummies