Terminal server recommendations

A common MES application deployment method when those applications are based on AVEVA OMI and AVEVA InTouch HMI is to use Terminal Servers.

The usage of Terminal Server and a thin client architect over a client server architecture with so-called fat clients is a user decision. AVEVA OMI and InTouch HMI applications support both deployment methods.

Note: Terminal Servers are used only with OMI and InTouch HMI applications. They are not required or recommended for use with Work Tasks and MES model-driven application content.

Terminal Server has the following advantages:

• It provides ease of setup and maintenance of applications. Instead of installing the MES client on many systems, you install it once on the Terminal Server.

• The clients operate in a controlled Windows environment. All the clients run under the same version of Windows and same patch level.

• It can reduce hardware costs.

• It should reduce maintenance costs.

• It provides the ability for redundancy.

• Resources are shared, so if your clients need a significant number of resources, they are available. This typically applies to the CPU for which full capacity is not needed all the time.

• It is very scalable. Although there is a limit to the number of clients per server based on the application, you can add additional memory or CPUs to the server until you reach your limit. Then additional Terminal Servers can be added to meet your needs.

Key parameters

The following table describes the recommended key parameters to use for the Terminal Server in a medium-size system.