P
Patrick
Theis decision depends on a lot of things, but mostly on
what capabilities your kiosk machines need. If you want
secure machines that people can't mess with I'd install a
Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server and a bunch of Windows
CE.Net Terminals. With this setup you install Office XP
on the terminal server and kiosk users connect to the TS
to run all of their applications. If you need to add
applications or do updates you do it to only the TS, as
the thin clients don't run any software. You can easily
lock down a Terminal Server so users have access to only
what they need and some kid doesn't mess-up your business.
A lot of big hotels use this setup.
If you want to deploy 7 identical machines with MsOffice
you can either use a program like Sysprep in combination
with a disk imaging program like Symantec Ghost to clone
machines or use a server distribution method like Windows
Remote Installation Services.
Another way to just deploy Office is via Administrative
Installation Point, where you put a share on your server
that holds the installation media (by running setup.exe /a)
and you do the install on the client machines by running
the setup from the netowrk. You can use Custom Install
Wizard from the Office Resource Kit (free download) to
fill in the serial number, registration number, file
locations...
If using Active Directory you can install office with
Group Policy.
For 7 clients you may consider Small Business Server 2003.
Of all of these I'd choose Terminal Server to save you
from having to maintain 8 computers. You can get thin
clients with or without integrated LCD Monitor or you can
turn old PC's into thin clients.
If you have Q's about TS, you can visit us on the
windows.terminal_services group.
what capabilities your kiosk machines need. If you want
secure machines that people can't mess with I'd install a
Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server and a bunch of Windows
CE.Net Terminals. With this setup you install Office XP
on the terminal server and kiosk users connect to the TS
to run all of their applications. If you need to add
applications or do updates you do it to only the TS, as
the thin clients don't run any software. You can easily
lock down a Terminal Server so users have access to only
what they need and some kid doesn't mess-up your business.
A lot of big hotels use this setup.
If you want to deploy 7 identical machines with MsOffice
you can either use a program like Sysprep in combination
with a disk imaging program like Symantec Ghost to clone
machines or use a server distribution method like Windows
Remote Installation Services.
Another way to just deploy Office is via Administrative
Installation Point, where you put a share on your server
that holds the installation media (by running setup.exe /a)
and you do the install on the client machines by running
the setup from the netowrk. You can use Custom Install
Wizard from the Office Resource Kit (free download) to
fill in the serial number, registration number, file
locations...
If using Active Directory you can install office with
Group Policy.
For 7 clients you may consider Small Business Server 2003.
Of all of these I'd choose Terminal Server to save you
from having to maintain 8 computers. You can get thin
clients with or without integrated LCD Monitor or you can
turn old PC's into thin clients.
If you have Q's about TS, you can visit us on the
windows.terminal_services group.