Using FM with Terminal Server

[Gerard Louise]

I hope that someone can direct me on this topic. We currently have 8 users on FM6 sharing a database hosted on SBS2003 (Peer-to-peer). I want to migrate to terminal services and add a terminal server. I called FM and they told me that I needed the new Server (8) which is fine and licenses for 8 users but he was not sure on how this works with Terminal services. I would appreciate any suggestions or help on WHAT I reaaly need to purchase and if this feasible.

Thank

Gerard

[BrentHedden]

Here is my understanding of the situation, since I've had clients ask about this and some are actually running such.

FIrst off - Server 8 can't host FM 6 files. You would either need to somehow purchase Server 5.5 (FileMaker Inc. stopped selling this version, but you should be able to get it from other resources), or convert your solution to FM 8 to run with Server 8. Sometimes, the conversion isn't so "simple", so don't tread lightly on the thought.

Regardless of which version of FileMaker you're running -

You technically can run everything on one machine, but I highly recommend against such. You would want one machine with terminal server and FM Pro on one, and FM Server on another. You would need to purchase as many FM Pro licenses as users logging into the Terminal Server at once. It looks like you already have eight licenses.

Basically, you would only need to install FM Pro once on the Terminal Server. The server then creates an instance of the program for each user logging in. It's thinking it's got (up to) 8 installations, but in reality it only has one.

Here is a document that should give you some additional guideance -

Link

It's meant for FM 8, but the concept is the same for FM 6.

[Ted S]

Gerard,

Here is a tech article from the FMI website. In the final paragraph it notes that you must have a site license of FileMaker to operate with Terminal Services.

http://filemaker.com/downloads/documentation/fm8_terminal_services.pdf

[Ted S]

Brent,

You would want one machine with terminal server and FM Pro on one, and FM Server on another.

Are you suggesting three (3) machines are necessary for a proper Terminal Services deployment? If so I would suggest that two are sufficient unless you count the remote user as a necessary box too. One server grade box running Terminal Services obviously with a copy of FM loaded and another server grade box with the FM Server application loaded. The 3rd system in the mix would obviously be a PC grade machine with the RDC application but to clarify, FM doesn't need to be physically loaded on this box.

[BrentHedden]

I appologize for my explanation, as it has caused some confusion.

I'm not suggesting three machines. Ted has corrected my grammer error - I'm only suggesting two servers for this setup, just like Ted mentioned.

I've also read that a company must purchase a site license to run Terminal Server. But I've heard (strait from the horse's mouth) that one can purchase individual licenses as well, as long as one purchases enough for as many people will will logging into the server. Can anyone verify this claim?