Terminal Server or hosting?

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CYaBro

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Topic # 65290 1-Aug-2010 22:44

Hey,

I have been asked by a client to provide a solution for a charity, that will have 40-60 users around NZ, that need to log in to a system to access their database that is being created for them. I think they will also need to run Word, Excel etc on this system.
What is going to be the best way to go about doing something like this?

Someone else has told them they need something like a server, with SBS2008 or full server 2008, and a terminal server or two. They were also told that it could cost upwards of $80,000 to get it all set up!
Does that sound expensive?

My thought would be to rather look at a hosted service but I don't know a lot about hosted services so wouldn't know where to start looking.

Anyone have any thoughts?

muppet

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Reply # 361249 1-Aug-2010 23:02

Well without knowing the actual real requirements, it's a bit hard to give you a good answer. Will they really need Windows Terminal Server? It's hard to know. How many users do you expect at once? 1 a day? Or 60 working at once?

Could they maybe VPN into a server and use OpenOffice? That'd be cheaper. But it might not at all be what they need or require.

$80,000 sounds expensive, but that might be taking into account server hosts, setup, hosting fees and most of all, development time. So for a system that has to support 60 users at once it's probably not _terribly_ expensive.

There's a lot to consider and without knowing what it is, it's hard to answer properly.

Tim

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insane

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Reply # 361289 2-Aug-2010 01:31

$80,000 does sound like a lot of $$ for that kind of setup, the hosting side to it would only come to perhaps $10,000 if hosted virtually per year.

Of course as Tim has pointed out, the rest could be down to development costs so it all depends. As always, get a second opinion if you think you could be getting taken for a ride.

gjm

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Reply # 361333 2-Aug-2010 08:36

that would be about right for retail pricing based on windows/ts/office cals and licensing fees (office license is about 900 itself)....but nowhere near right for MS charity pricing.

Get on the phone to someone like IngramMicro and find out what a charity license will cost you, its probably about 1/5th or less of retail pricing. You can also look at this http://www.techsoup.net.nz for cheap licensing software. Friend of mine got some VERY cheap MS licenses for a charity he supports. Looking on their website a 2008 server std license...$59 dollars (http://www.techsoup.net.nz/microsoft-donated-software)

On top of that you would need a couple of decent servers....5 - 7k ish each. All up, reckon it would be around 35kish (of course this is a rough guess esp if there is development work as the guys above alluded to).

Stay away from SBS if you have 60 users and think they will grow as I think the license limit is 75 users.

Hope that helps somewhat.

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sampler

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Reply # 361336 2-Aug-2010 08:43

Mr Bro,

Would love to try and help out a little in this case. We should discuss NDA's etc ..

As others have said It sounds like a large "project" however assuming 60-80 licenced copied of word/excel etc TS licences and other such things, I dont think the $80K is unrealistic just on the high side.

Due to the nature of the client, Have they looked at other office products or platforms ? Open office or Google docs could half the host of the project.

Cheers

Lee

insane

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Reply # 362044 3-Aug-2010 02:02

If you go through a provider who does SPLA/Volume licensing then this will not cost that much at all per month, The licensing part will be rather insignificant compared to the hosting + physical hardware cost or cost of virtual servers.

I just setup an SBS and TS server this last week for some company (fine under 10 seats). If it was for my own use I'd stay pretty well clear from SBS, its very bloated and temperamental at the best of times.

geekiegeek

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Reply # 362053 3-Aug-2010 05:46

$80,000 is about right for a 2xTS and SBS2008 configuration. In my last job this is what In dealt with everyday.

If I were building it I would use a decent box that could handle all a SBS and a TS in VMWare. The other consideration though is ongoing support - this is going to be a large ongoing cost for this sort of config.

I would definitely look into hosted apps/hosted office for a solution so that there is just a monthly fixed cost and the client doesnt need to purchase a whole lot of equipment.

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browned

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Reply # 362091 3-Aug-2010 08:51

Obviously we don't know all the requirements, but it would be interesting to know if the database can be setup to be accessed online (website, sharepoint or similar) and people use excel/word at home (student/home edition for $135) instead of TS licenses.

Then the hosting should cost less, or can possible be done inhouse and should cost a lot less than TS.

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insane

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Reply # 363364 4-Aug-2010 23:41

browned: Obviously we don't know all the requirements, but it would be interesting to know if the database can be setup to be accessed online (website, sharepoint or similar) and people use excel/word at home (student/home edition for $135) instead of TS licenses.

Then the hosting should cost less, or can possible be done inhouse and should cost a lot less than TS.

If you use share point then you'll need to pay for the SALs for that too, so there is no easy way to avoid the licensing costs with MS.

I might have to go back on my words about this being well over priced as I've gone over the SPLA / Volume licensing costs with my calculator with rough hosting costs and I've reached $40,000 per year without any development costs at all. Then there's things like off-site backups, firewall services... it adds up fast.

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Reply # 363803 5-Aug-2010 18:20

if its a charity, then there is special - i.e. cheap - licensing options from microsoft for Office, Windows, CRM, Sharepoint, etc. Make sure that you get a quote that covers these special licensing options.

I'm not sure if the Charity/Educational licensing applies to hosted environments too - best to ask some hosting companies and see what they can provide. Appserv and onenet are two you could contact and ask.

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Zeon

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Reply # 364665 7-Aug-2010 14:48

If its just the basic stuff e.g. email, word, excel etc. why not look at Google Apps? Yes you do lose some of the flexibility but considering the cost savings, you probably could find other SaaS offerings for what is lacking?