What’s the best way to have remote users access applications on Windows 2003 Small Business Server?

Windows 2003

What’s the best way to have remote users access applications on Windows 2003 Small Business Server?

Windows 2003 SBS doesn’t allow Terminal Server? What’s another good way for, oh, 5 users to get into programs remotely?

windows 2003 best answer:

Answer by Larry A
I know SBS2003 allows remote desktop for management but I recall having problems installing applications such as office and Outlook on it.

If all the user needs is Email and Sharepoint, then enable the web features on it. (Either OWA or RPC over HTTP)

If you have some other apps that need to run then I would recommend setting up a second server (Windows Server 2003) and setting users and their applications there. If you don’t have the hardware then you can install vmware server (free nowadays) on your SBS server then install Windows Server on it. I would recommend a VPN solution (openvpn) when accessing these machines. I would not recommend PPTP (MS older built in VPN solution).

If you do not want to use a VPN and simply want people to access your Windows 2003 server as a terminal server, I would enable SSL Terminal Services as it will provide more secure access then the default remote access the is offered by remote desktop.

The link below is for vista but I think it applies to 2003 server but not XP.