Deploying TS Application server - Issues

[Bjarni]

I have SQL Server loaded on Windows 2000 Advanced server.
I am just completing a major software rollout, and now my
application provider tells me that I need to deploy the
app via TS !

When I go into Add or remove Programs - > Windows
Components - > Terminal Services Licenses - > I select to
change to Application Server Mode - > I then get the
warning message that says; Enabling Application Server
Mode may cause the following programs to function
improperly or to be removed...

It lists the SQL server and the application that I am
rolling out. It also lists just about every other
application on the server, Backup Exec Open file/Remote
agent, my RAID management software & etc etc.

I would like to know what the likelihood is that this
upgrade will affect the installed applications.

Thanks in advance for anyone's input


bjarni

 

[Matthew Harris [MVP]]

Every application is different, so it is hard to say. The
point here is that terminal services uses a special
portion of the registry to keep track of application
registry changes during installs (for instance). Now that
you want to turn on TS in app mode, that special portion
of the registry is going to be turned on, but the
application data for previously installed applications
isn't going to be there. The terminal server is warning
you that the software you already have installed may or
may not work, since this special portion of the registry
isn't populated correctly with previously installed apps.
For the most part, if you are only going to use previously
installed apps with the admin account, then you could
probably ignore this message. However, if you are rolling
out previously installed programs to your users, then you
might want to heed this message and at least consider a
reinstall of some of your applications. Sorry to be so
vague, but there are so many applications out there that
it is hard to tell.

-M

 

[Bjarni]

Thanks for your reply Matthew. I have contacted my
application provider and I am waiting on word from them. I
would be interested in hearing from this group if this in
anyway affects SQL server setup & db's.

TIA

Bjarni

 

[Matthew Harris [MVP]]

I tried this a while ago. I had MS Sql Server installed
and I moved from remote admin mode to application mode. I
didn't notice anything different, so I was safe in this
instance. However, your situation may be drastically
different.

-M

 

[Guest]

No, however when you say "my application provider tells me that that I need to deploy the app via TS !" I have a few concerns

1. I've never heard of an application that MUST be deployed via Terminal Services. Running an Application Server (Terminal Services) is an option that allows you to deploy your application to users w/o needing to install it locally on users workstations, i.e. they connect with Remote Desktop Client

2. It's rare that someone would deploy an application with Terminal Services where the application and database are on the same machine, i.e. there's usually a machine that runs SQL Server and an Application Server (Terminal Services), which is basically a multi-user workstation. You don't want a bunch of users logging onto a SQL Server interactively if the SQL Server requires a lot of resources, i.e. RAM & CPU cycles. Example have you ever used a SQL Server or Exchange Server as your workstation

Please do some research to see how the application is supposed to be deployed before messing with a production server, Setup a test machine (even on workstation hardware) to play with until you're comfortable with the ins & outs of Terminal Services

My website has a lot of resources on Terminal Services, and is a good place to start reading

P.S. What is the application

Patrick Rous
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Serve
http://www.workthin.co

----- Bjarni wrote: ----

Thanks for your reply Matthew. I have contacted my
application provider and I am waiting on word from them. I
would be interested in hearing from this group if this in
anyway affects SQL server setup & db's

TI

Bjarn