Terminalserver

A terminal server is a server that provides remote sessions for client devices. It centralizes the execution of applications and desktop environments, allowing multiple users to run software on the server while interacting through a network client. The term historically also referred to hardware devices that multiplex multiple terminal connections, but in modern use it most often denotes software services that host multiple user sessions on a central computer or in a data center.

How it works: Each user authenticates to the server and is assigned a separate session. The server renders the user interface and handles input, sending display updates over a network protocol such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), ICA, or similar; the applications and data run on the server rather than on the client. This enables centralized management, centralized licensing, and simpler client hardware requirements.

History and examples: The concept gained prominence with Microsoft Terminal Server Edition in the late 1990s, later renamed Remote Desktop Services. Other major implementations include Citrix Presentation Server (now Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops) and various Linux-based solutions (e.g., X2Go, FreeRDP-based servers).

Deployment considerations: Terminal servers consolidate resources, but require adequate CPU, memory, storage, and network capacity to support concurrent sessions. Performance is sensitive to latency. Security concerns include network exposure, session isolation, data protection, and licensing. Solutions often employ network-level authentication, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and robust access controls.