220-1101 Question 89
Single answerServer rolesA small medical office is replacing several aging PCs with thin clients to simplify desktop management. The office manager wants all users to run their applications from a central server while saving patient documents to a shared location that is backed up nightly. Which server role would BEST meet the requirement to host users' remote desktop sessions centrally?
- A
Print server
- B
Terminal server
- C
File server
- D
Proxy server
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best answer is terminal server because the primary requirement is to let thin clients run user desktops and applications from a central server. In A+ Core 1, candidates should recognize common server roles and match them to business needs. A file server would likely also exist in this environment for shared patient documents, but it is a separate role from hosting user sessions. In Microsoft environments, this function is commonly associated with Remote Desktop Services, while in general CompTIA terminology it is referred to as a terminal server. Best practice is to identify the role that directly addresses the stated operational need rather than related secondary needs.
- A. Incorrect.
A print server manages printers, print queues, and print jobs for network users. It does not host centralized user desktop sessions or applications for thin clients. A candidate might choose this if they associate shared office resources with server roles, but printing is unrelated to remote application hosting.
- B. Correct.
A terminal server is the correct choice because it provides centralized remote desktop or application sessions for multiple users, which is exactly how thin clients are commonly deployed. In a thin-client environment, users connect to a server that runs the operating system session and applications, while the thin client primarily handles input, output, and network connectivity.
- C. Incorrect.
A file server provides centralized storage and shared access to files and folders. In this scenario, the requirement to save patient documents to a shared location backed up nightly does align with a file server role, but it does not satisfy the key requirement to host users' desktop sessions and applications centrally. This is a common distractor because file storage is part of the scenario, but it is not the best answer to the main question being asked.
- D. Incorrect.
A proxy server acts as an intermediary for client requests to other network services, often for content filtering, caching, or access control. It does not provide remote desktop sessions for thin clients. Someone might select this option if they confuse centralized access management with centralized desktop hosting.