Data Sheet for Product

Technical Specification Sheet
Document No. 149-450
December 30, 2016
Siemens Industry, Inc. Page 1 of 2
Terminal Services Option for Insight
Description
The Terminal Services Option for Insight

provides remote access to an Insight workstation
through Microsoft

Windows

Terminal Services.
Terminal Services provides mobility; facility operators
can monitor their building automation system without
being restricted to dedicated Insight workstations.
Features of the Terminal Services Option are:
 Remote client access to Insight applications.
 Remote access using Intranet, Internet, LAN,
WAN, low-bandwidth or dial-up connections.
 Use of the Terminal Services component of
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 or 2008 R2.
 Centralized execution and independent sessions
of Insight on a Windows-based server from a
wide range of client devices over virtually any
type of network connection.
 Minimal client requirements. Clients are only
required to support the Terminal Services Client
software.
 Central location for upgrades and maintenance.
Insight software only needs to be installed on the
Terminal Services server machine, not on the
clients.
 Reduced network traffic since all work is
conducted on the server.
Requirements
 Insight 3.6 or later.
 Windows Server 2012 R2 (Insight 3.14 or later)
or Windows Server 2008 R2 (Insight 3.9.1 or
later).
 A Windows Server Client Access License (CAL)
and, for each client, a Microsoft Terminal
Services CAL (a CAL may be device- or user-
based). Both can be obtained from Microsoft.
 An adequate number of Insight user licenses
must be available from the server. Each client
session using Terminal Services will consume a
standard Insight user license.
Terminal Services Architecture
When using the Terminal Services Option, Insight
client execution, data processing, and data storage
occur on the server. The Insight interface and user
desktop are transmitted remotely and displayed using
either Terminal Services Client software or a Web
browser. Similarly, printing, keyboard input, and mouse
clicks are also transmitted remotely between the
server and the terminal emulation or browser software.
Users log on and see only their individual Insight
session, which is managed transparently by the server
operating system and is independent of any other
client session.
NOTE: On systems with a Life Safety Option enabled,
only non-Fire workstations can be configured
as a Terminal Services server due to UL
requirements.
Centralized Insight Installation and Execution
In a Terminal Services configuration, Insight software
is installed and runs centrally on Windows Server 2012
R2 or 2008 R2. The Terminal Services client software
can be used to access only the applications that have
been enabled for Terminal Services sessions, rather
than the entire desktop. While the server must be rich
in processing power, RAM and hard drive space, a
client machine requires relatively small amounts of
processing power, RAM and local disk storage
capacity. Terminal Services ensures that all clients can
access the same, current revision of Insight software
because the Insight software is installed once on a
server, rather than every desktop throughout the
APOGEE Automation System. This reduces the cost
and challenge of deploying and updating software on
desktop machines, especially for remotely-located
desktops or consoles.
Reduced Client Hardware Requirements
Since using Terminal Services reduces the client
machine requirements, customers can continue to use
older computers as Insight Terminal Services clients,
and gradually replace them over time.