Understanding the Differences Between Terminal Servers and Remote Desktops

LINUX is a powerful and flexible operating system, often used by developers and system administrators for a variety of tasks. While I bring my perspective from the LINUX world, I believe this explanation will provide a clear understanding of the differences between terminal servers and remote desktops. This article will explore the origins, functionalities, and use cases of these technologies according to their current definitions.

The Concept of Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop refers to a software application that allows a user to access and control a computer system from a different location. Traditionally, this would involve connecting to a Windows system, allowing you to view and interact with a desktop environment as if you were sitting in front of it. Modern remote desktop applications can use protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and VNC (Virtual Network Computing).

Historical Background of Terminal Servers

Terminal Servers have their roots deep in the early days of computing. A terminal server was a dedicated device that provided multiple terminal connections, often via serial ports, to connect users to a mainframe or mini-computer. In these older systems, terminals were simple devices that could only display text and process basic characters, often with speeds as low as 300 baud.

Limited Text Terminals

Before the advent of microcomputers, the terminal was the primary way users interacted with mainframe computers. These terminals could only display and input text, with limited or no graphical capabilities. This made them highly cost-effective for basic text processing needs but inefficient for more complex graphical tasks.

Modern Terminal Servers

In modern contexts, a terminal server can be thought of as a highly capable server running a Windows operating system, with support for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It allows multiple users to connect to the server, each running their own remote desktop sessions. This setup offers robustness and performance, supporting up to 25 or more user sessions before performance issues arise.

Functionality Differences

While both terminal servers and remote desktops facilitate networked access to computing resources, there are significant functional differences:

Limited Functionality of Terminals

Terminals are much more basic compared to remote desktops. They are primarily limited to text-based interactions, exchanging characters at speeds as slow as 300 baud. These terminals were adequate for basic text processing but were not designed to handle graphics or complex data exchanges.

Graphical Capabilities of Remote Desktops

Remote desktops, on the other hand, offer graphical capability. They can handle a wide range of tasks, including gaming and multimedia, provided that the user has a suitable network connection. Remote desktop apps can display full graphical interfaces, making them suitable for a multitude of modern computing tasks. Modern remote desktop technologies also include features like clipboard sharing, file transfers, and even mouse gestures, which enhance usability.

Use Cases and Applications

The use cases for terminal servers and remote desktops vary significantly: