Running mde from Terminal Server

[kimstrom]

I have a client that wants to place the front-end mde file on Terminal Server as well as place the back-end database file on the server in a different file. My question is if this is legal from a licensing standpoint since multiple users will be accessing this front-end simultaneously? Also, if this is legal, what are the possible consequences of doing this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rabbie]

It is not a good idea to have the a shared FE. Each user should have their own copy of the FE on their own PC linked to a common BE on the server. It would not be a licencing issue since each user would have their own copy of msaccess.exe on their own PC regardless of where the FE was.

A .MDE file is not a standalone runtime file.

 

[kimstrom]

Thanks for your response. The reason they are wanting to place the fe on Terminal Server is because several of their employees do not have a licensed copy of Access 2003. I should have said that initially. Is it a licensing problem now that you know that?

 

[gemma-the-husky]

i have a client who does what you want

each user does a remote desktop to the TS. The TS is set to autorun a particular access file, so they don't even see the desktop.

each users login takes them to their own folder, where they have their own copy of the database. [originally we had a programme that locked the programme folder, to ensure that only one user COULD use the dbs file at one time, but there were some issues with that, so we deactivated it]

i think TS concurrent Operating System licensing takes care of the legal requirements (there is only 1 access programme on the server), but I dont deal with that.

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A few issues about shared folders, setting up default printers etc, but works OK, but using the TS avoids performance issues working over a WAN

 

[Rabbie]

Gemma, thanks for that info - very useful

 

[RuralGuy]

I looked into this once and the conclusion was even running TS, each user *needs* an Access license per the EULA. Hope that helps.

 

[Kiwiman]

Howzit

Would it matter if you are accessing the database on the TS, and using the install of access on the TS?.

We have some databases on a Citrix server, that users (home based and office based) have to access. To do this they all log onto Citrix and open their copy, on their desktop of the Citrix box.

So in effect they are opening a database sitting on a Citrix box, but all using the same install of Access on the Citrix box.

 

[kimstrom]

I'm still confused on the license issue...gemma-the-husky things TS takes care of it, RuralGuy says they need to purchase it for each user. They are testing the feasibility of it now. I guess time will tell. They only have about 20 users, only a few in concurrently. I've read some posts that Access will corrupt faster running it in this manner and that is a concern.

Thank you for your input.

 

[kimstrom]

Kiwiman,

In your situation, do each of the users have a license even though they use the same copy?

 

[Kiwiman]

Howzit

Some have and some haven't - a little bit concerned re the licencing aspect of it now, after Rurals post - especially after reading this after googling eula + terminal services

http://www.sessioncomputing.com/pdf/LicenseOfficeTS.pdf

I will now have to chase up our IT department to see if there is an issue.

Basically it says if you have 100 "devices" accessing the TS to run office applications, you have to have 100 licences - 1 for each device.

You do not however, have to have a licence for access that is installed on the TS, as it is necessary to distribute the software to the properly licenced devices.

 

[neileg]

Under TS you only need one installation of Access. However for each user that has the ability to run Access from their login, you need a license. Of course it's the profile of the user that determines what software they can run on their login. It doesn't matter how many physical devices you have, it's how many users can use Access. ( Well I suppose if you have 20 Access users, but only 15 terminals, you might be able to justify having 15 licences).

 

[kimstrom]

Thanks to all those who posted. This has been very helpful.