You administer a Windows 2000 Terminal Services environment and want to end an application that is currently running in a user's Terminal Services session by using a command line tool on the server. Which command can you use at the command prompt to terminate the application process in the Terminal Services client session?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Tskill

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
In a Windows 2000 Terminal Services environment, administrators often need to manage user sessions and processes remotely. Sometimes an application running in a client session becomes unresponsive or consumes excessive resources, and the administrator must terminate it from the server. Windows 2000 provides command line utilities to manage Terminal Services sessions and processes, and knowing which command terminates a process is important for quick troubleshooting.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The server is running Windows 2000 Server with Terminal Services.
  • A user session has an application that needs to be terminated.
  • You are working from the command line on the server.
  • You must choose among commands such as Tscon, Tsprof, Tsend and Tskill.


Concept / Approach:
Each Terminal Services command has a specific purpose. Tscon is used to connect to or disconnect from Terminal Services sessions. Tsprof manages user profile settings related to Terminal Services. Tsend is not a standard Windows 2000 command line tool. Tskill is designed to end processes, similar to using Task Manager but from the command line. Therefore, the correct command to terminate an application is Tskill.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Clarify the requirement: you need to end an application process running in a user session.Step 2: Recall that Tskill is the command line tool that terminates processes by name or process identifier.Step 3: Recognize that Tscon is used to connect or disconnect sessions and does not kill processes.Step 4: Understand that Tsprof deals with profiles and not with process termination.Step 5: Note that Tsend is not a valid process management command in Windows 2000.Step 6: Conclude that Tskill is the only option that matches the requirement to end the application.


Verification / Alternative check:
On a Windows 2000 Server, running "tskill /?" at the command prompt displays syntax for ending processes, confirming its purpose. Administrators can use "tskill processname" or "tskill pid" to kill a specific process within a terminal session. By contrast, "tscon /?" shows options related to session connection, and "tsprof /?" shows options for profile management, reinforcing that they do not terminate applications.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tscon attaches the console or another session to an existing session and is used for session management, not process termination. Tsprof configures Terminal Services user profiles, controlling how profiles are stored and loaded but not how processes are managed. Tsend is not a standard command and therefore cannot be the answer in this exam context. Only Tskill is designed to stop an application process.


Common Pitfalls:
Administrators sometimes default to using Task Manager for all process control tasks, forgetting that command line tools are very useful when working over remote connections or scripting administrative actions. Another pitfall is misusing Tscon when the goal is to close an application, which can leave problematic processes running in the background. Knowing the correct tool for each task leads to more effective Terminal Services management.


Final Answer:
The command line tool you can use to end an application in a Terminal Services session is Tskill.

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