[Advice] Windows Server 2012 Setup for Payroll App Over Server

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fxit_man

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Hey guys - Couldn't think of a better title, let me explain my scenario:

A few clients need to access a Payroll app which runs on Windows. I put this app on the NAS, mapped the network drive in Windows on each clients PC, and used it like that.

For whatever reason, this didn't work too well as errors kept popping up intermittently, most likely due to a number of factors.

- Clients laptops are connected over wireless to the NAS - could cause network timeouts, but the wireless connection is stable with pretty much full signal.
- Clients laptops are Macbooks, and they are running Windows in a VM (Paralells Desktop)

I have now bought an HP Microserver thinking that it would be better to run the apps in a Windows environment rather than just on a NAS, and then as a possible usage scenario - each user can Remote Desktop into the server machine with their own username and use the Payroll app like this. The Payroll app does support simultaneous usage.

So I installed Windows Server 2012 on the HP Microserver but I'm a bit confused as to which approach to go..

- Do I install ActiveDirectory on the HP Microserver, and then create user accounts for each client?
- Do I create a RemoteApp ?
- Do I leave the server install as is, and create local accounts on the server and have each user Remote Desktop into the server into their own local account? But then they are presented with the server environment rather than a normal desktop client environment - not ideal..

I'm not a noob by any means (imo), I just don't have much experience with Windows Server to think of what the best configuration would be.

I quite like the idea of remote desktop into the server machine directly from within Mac, instead of having to run Windows in a VM in Paralells on top of this, but I don't want users to be presented with the server environment - So do I still use ActiveDirectory to solve this? And if so, are there any easy to follow guides to setup AD?

Any thoughts/advice will be appreciated.

Thanks
 
You shouldn't need to set up AD (unless you really want to.) You can just give them user accounts on the local machine and set up remote desktop services. AD might give you more options than local policies for locking down the remote desktops so they can't shut down the server and other good stuff.

The remote apps are a nice tool but I don't know whether it works on the Mac end so you may be stuck with a full remote desktop anyway. Remember also that the remote app does start a remote session the same as a full remote desktop so you will have to spec your server accordingly.
 
Sounds like you want to do RDS
I prefer using RDS at least with a local Active Directory,even if you dont join the machines to the AD network it's nice if you have multiple services that can interact with AD and share logins
 
- Do I create a RemoteApp ?
Click to expand...

Even if you want to deploy the app as a Remote App, you will still need to configure server as a remote desktop server (terminal server) and a remote desktop licensing server. Then you add users (local or AD) to a remote desktop users group with the permissions that you want.

Once this is done you can install your applications and optionally enable and package them as remote apps.

I don't know a resource for server 2012 but I found Techotopia handy when I had to do this on 2008 for the first time.
 
Thanks for the feedback peeps, much appreciated.

Luckily the Payroll software in question doesn't need to be "installed" as such, it can be run from a simple directory. So I have set up a file share, and then mapped it to the Windows virtual machines in Paralells (Mac). Maybe this will work more solid than when I had it on the NAS. Although i don't see how it would differ really, unless SMB of the server is superior to that of my Synology NAS. Seems to be, but I have a suspicion Paralells was the one causing the foul play here as I've tweaked some network settings in Paralells and it seems to run better now, but will have to monitor.

I did want to play around with different methods though. It seems Windows Server 2012 will only let me configure WDS once the machine is on a domain? Not quite understanding that bit. If anyone knows what I'm talking about some guidance will be appreciated.

Also, it seems WDS/Remote Licensing server thing requires a seperate license?

Thanks for the link above too, will definitely check it out.
 
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Glad you foud a solution. For future reference:

I did want to play around with different methods though. It seems Windows Server 2012 will only let me configure WDS once the machine is on a domain? Not quite understanding that bit. If anyone knows what I'm talking about some guidance will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Think you're looking at Windows Deployment Services there which is something different. Remote Desktop Services was what you needed for running remote desktops/apps and I don't think that will depend on AD.

Luckily the Payroll software in question doesn't need to be "installed" as such, it can be run from a simple directory.
Click to expand...

You can still package the executable file as a Windows Remote App.

Also, it seems WDS/Remote Licensing server thing requires a seperate license?
Click to expand...

Yes you need an RDS CAL per user or device to use RDS. Can't remember for sure if you also need a Windows CAL if you are connecting only by RDS but your setup without RDS would need one per user or device anyway.

I did want to play around with different methods though.
Click to expand...

You can set up on your server but postpone the licensing for a trial period if you want to test the setup. If you don't want to buy the licenses you can just remove the RDS role on the server.

So I have set up a file share, and then mapped it to the Windows virtual machines in Paralells (Mac). Maybe this will work more solid than when I had it on the NAS. Although i don't see how it would differ really, unless SMB of the server is superior to that of my Synology NAS.
Click to expand...

Your new setup is similar to what you had with the NAS. Where the RDS would give you an advantage is when you are working over slow or unreliable network connections - it uses less bandwidth and if your connection drops, your session on the server stays open and you can reconnect and pick up where you left off. provided your server is adequately specced for the number of concurrent users, you should get a performance improvement with the type of app that you describe.
 
My pleasure. Bookmarked that link,looks like wuite a lot of useful info there.
 
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