Good day,

 

I would like some input on the idea of vistualized Windows XP/Vista clients for Small Business Server. Example setup:

 

1x Server hardware with SBS2003 installed (later SBS2008)

1x Server hardware with VMWare Server installed

5x Thin clients onsite (HP Neoware c50 for example)

4x Standard desktop machines (XP/Vista) at remote location

1x Notebook for mobile user with XP/Vista

 

Now the VMWare server will run 5x virtual Windows XP Pro/Vista Business machines connected to the SBS2003 domain. The onsite thin clients, remote desktop machines and notebook will connect through a web browser to the SBS2003 remote web workspace via RDP through "Connect to my computer at work" to a virtual XP/Vista.

 

Some questions:

a) Are there any huge issues with this idea?

b) Are there any downsides in implementing thin clients in a small business environment?

c) How would the licensing work on the VMWare server? I do not want any Microsoft volume/open licensing or Software Assurance. Can I buy 10x Windows XP/Vista OEM and put all 10 stickers to the side of the case? Can I buy 10x Office 2007 Small Business for one physical machine?

d) What would be the advantages/disadvantages of this kind of setup compared to a Microsoft terminal server in the place of VMWare server? Through my research the VMWare server software would be less expensive and Windows XP/Vista OEM is less expensive than TS CAL + Server 2003 CAL. Also I like the idea of seperate Windows clients virtualized more than one server with all the software installed, but it would probably need much more RAM, HDD space etc (I havent worked with Microsoft TS yet).

 

The whole virtualizatoin idea started because I wanted the PCs at the remote location to be able to access large files from the server shares & Sharepoint over the Internet and it would be too slow to first copy a 20MB Word doc before starting to edit it (and I couldnt find any good and cheap way to replicate sharepoint/file shares to remote location). This way the files would stay on the SBS2003 network and the remote users only stream the computer interaction (monitor, keyboard, mouse)over the internet. There would also not be a need to do backups at the remote location because theres no server.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.