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Hosting in Germany · Terminal server

Remote Desktop from a German data center – as a session host, as VDI, or as a cloud PC.

A terminal server moves the workplace to where the data is: the application runs in the data center, the employee's device only shows the screen. Three forms are available – the classic session host on Windows Server, a Windows 11 workplace per user in our partner's VDI package, or Microsoft's cloud PC. Which one fits depends on applications, users and licenses, not on the name.

Three forms, one goal

Session host (Remote Desktop Services)

One Windows Server, many concurrent user sessions. The most economical form for ERP, Office and line-of-business software that supports multi-user operation. License: Windows Server under SPLA plus one RDS access license per user and month.

VDI workplace per user

Every user gets their own virtual machine with Windows 11. For applications that do not allow multi-user operation, for developers and engineers, for separated tenants. Per the operator's catalogue: 2 to 8 vCores, 4 to 32 GB RAM, Hyper-V cluster, 99.95 % availability.

Cloud PC at Microsoft (Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop)

The workplace runs in Microsoft's data center – Windows 365 as a fixed cloud PC per user, Azure Virtual Desktop as a pooled multi-session environment billed on Azure consumption. Both require Microsoft 365 licenses and an Intune/Entra environment. We set it up when it fits – and say when it does not.

Comparison

Session host, VDI, Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop

TERRA CLOUD figures from the 2026/2027 catalogue (operator's statements); Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop from Microsoft Learn, verified 2 October 2026. The table deliberately names no prices.

Session host (RDS)VDI packageWindows 365Azure Virtual Desktop
Operating systemWindows Server, many users per serverWindows 11, one VM per userWindows 11 cloud PC, fixed per userWindows 11 Enterprise multi-session or Windows Server, pooled
Where the data runsPartner data center, Hüllhorst, GermanyPartner data center, Hüllhorst, GermanyMicrosoft region, e.g. Germany West CentralAzure region of your choice
LicenseWindows Server per core (SPLA) + RDS SAL per userIncluded in the package (operator's statement)Windows 365 license per user; Enterprise additionally Windows E3, Intune, Entra ID P1Microsoft 365 / Windows license per user + Azure consumption; RDS CAL for Windows Server session hosts
BillingPer VM and per user, monthlyPer package, monthlyFixed per user per monthAzure consumption (compute, storage)
Fits whenMany users, multi-user-capable applications, cost per user mattersApplication needs its own machine; separated tenants; engineeringMicrosoft 365 with Intune in place; simple workplace per userMicrosoft 365 in place; strongly varying user count; Azure skills in house
Operations and backupBy us: updates, monitoring, cloud backupBy usMicrosoft (platform), you or we (configuration, data)Microsoft (platform), you or we (host pool, images, data)

From the server in the basement to the data center

  1. 1. Check the applications. Which programs run multi-user, which demand their own machine, which need graphics performance? That decides between session host and VDI – and it is in the vendor's system requirements, not in our experience.
  2. 2. Count users and profiles. Concurrent users, not headcount. Plus printers, scanners, card readers, second screens – everything that has to pass through the session.
  3. 3. Size it. Database and session host are always two machines. We size from your applications and confirm before the quote.
  4. 4. Determine licenses. The licensing calculator gives RDS access licenses, Windows Server cores and SQL – for purchase and for SPLA. We check existing licenses for portability.
  5. 5. Pilot with five users. Two weeks of real work – printing, scanning, home office lines. Only then the move of all users, on a weekend, with a way back.

We reply within two hours during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CET), in English or German. Phone +49 621 877 55 990.

Request a quote

Terminal server hosting in Germany

Tell us the applications, the number of concurrent users and your locations. You get the proposal – session host, VDI or cloud PC – with the license summary and a monthly figure.

Your data is used only to answer this request and is deleted after twelve months at the latest if no contract follows. Details in our privacy notice (summary in English) and the binding German privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

How many users fit on one terminal server?

It depends on the applications, not on a table: an ERP system with Office needs far less per user than CAD software. Per the operator's catalogue a single VM in the standard cluster goes up to 16 vCores and 256 GB – beyond that we run several session hosts with load balancing. We size it from your applications and confirm it in a two-week pilot with real users.

Which licenses do I need for a hosted terminal server?

Under SPLA rental: Windows Server per core (included in the virtual server) and one RDS Subscriber Access License per user per month – no Windows Server CALs. Depending on the applications, SQL Server and Office licenses with their own rules for session hosts. The licensing calculator gives the quantities; the quote gives the figure.

Can users print and scan through the session?

Printing yes, through printer redirection or a print server in the network. Scanning is the classic stumbling block because scanners hang off local devices – there are solutions (scan to folder, scan to mail, client redirection), and that is exactly why the pilot runs with real devices before everyone moves.

What happens if our office loses its internet connection?

The terminal server keeps running; the office cannot reach it. Staff with laptops carry on from anywhere with internet – home, mobile. For sites that must not stop, a second line belongs on the firewall, which fails over automatically.

Where exactly is the data?

In the data center of our partner TERRA CLOUD in Hüllhorst, Germany – ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified per the operator; backups on a geo-redundant second site in Germany. No operations outside Germany and Switzerland per the catalogue. The data processing agreement under Article 28 GDPR names the chain customer – DAVINCI – TERRA.

Sources

  1. TERRA CLOUD 2026/2027 catalogue (VDI package, IaaS, service levels) · WORTMANN AG / TERRA CLOUD GmbH
  2. License Remote Desktop Services with Client Access Licenses (CALs) · Microsoft Learn
  3. What is Azure Virtual Desktop? · Microsoft Learn
  4. Windows 365 requirements · Microsoft Learn
  5. Services Provider Use Rights (SPUR) – Windows Server under SPLA · Microsoft

Colocation in Germany · Server hosting overview · Deutsche Fassung