Processor load for terminal service on W2K adv. server

[tiash]

I ned to have 100 users on a terminal server running office 2000 I need to know how to scale proceesor for this load. Does anyone know a safe base for each user.

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

Yep, allow at least 256Mb of RAM for the server plus 32-64Mb of RAM per user (recommend 1Gb RAm total).

Use separate disks for Win2k, swap, apps and data on a fast SCSI array (or arrays). Do not use IDE...too slow...allocate 2 x RAM for a swap file on its own partition.

Go for a FAST processor (recommend 2 x 866Mhz minimum) and make sure that you have access to a switched Ethernet at 100Mbit/s using a "quality" (name brand) network card.

Do not make the machine a DC and you should be flying.

This same configuration supports 100 users at one of my sites and users are blown away by the performance improvement...for the first day and then they forgot how slow their old system was!

 

[tiash]

If you suggest 34-64MB per user shouldn't I have 3-6 GB of minimum memory.

 

[tiash]

I'm using a RAID 5 on a 9.1 Ultra 2 SCSI This will only be a app server. I will have a SAN set up for my data. There is a separate server for authentication.

This will be in a quad PIII 700 server.

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

Dimishing returns says that because each instance of the application is cached in RAM then it is not linear scale when calculating RAM per user. However, each user runs their instance in their own memory space so any RAM added to the server provides more "headroom" for the users to play in.

Certainly it will run with a lot less RAM but the penalty in swap time will be enormous. I have suggested a proven setting (1Gb) as a realistic compromise.

CPUs sound OK though and app server plus SAN equals happy adminsitrator, good luck!

 

[tiash]

do you know any good articles of memory and cpu usage in virtual space. This is a scaling I would like to get a better grasp of.


Thanks,

 

[TheOtherKiwi]

No, sorry just personal experience. Try posting in the Citrix forum.

 

[CitrixEngineer]

My suggestion would be to use at least 2 Terminal Servers for 100 users, and get dual proc boxes instead of a single quad box.

RAM = 128Mb (at least) for the O/S, and at least 32Mb per user. Use Perfmon to find out actual user loads, since applications consume differing amounts of resources.

RAID 5 is not necessary on a T/S - I'd use RAID 1.

HTH