Parallels Remote Application Server 17 adds simplicity and scalability
Parallels released version 17 of Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) in June, simplifying end-user computing for service providers (SPs) and enterprises. The all-in-one solution empowers end users to consume business applications faster, reliably, and with the ability to scale within a single cloud or multiple clouds.
Parallels RAS 17 enables faster launch of applications by using artificial intelligence (AI), provides additional security features such as integration with Google Authenticator, and debuts a web-based helpdesk console to more easily manage Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS), virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) infrastructure.
“We packed intelligent and automated capabilities into Parallels RAS 17 that increase users’ productivity, quality experiences and satisfaction, while further improving management,” said Nick Dobrovolskiy, Parallels Senior VP of Engineering and Support.
“Parallels RAS 17 provides increased security, performance and simplicity to businesses so they can seamlessly and cost-effectively manage and deliver virtual desktops and applications to any user or device across the globe. Employees with iPhone, iPad and Android devices can even use familiar native touch gestures to easily work with virtual files and be truly productive from anywhere.”
Key features for Parallels RAS 17 include:
Session prelaunch
Parallels RAS 17 uses machine learning (ML) to map users’ computing habits, applications used and login time, enabling it to prelaunch everything so users can be immediately productive when they begin their workday. Another benefit is automatic host pool workload management, preventing login storms during peak hours.
Watch the demo video
Google Authenticator
Parallels RAS integrates with Google MFA Authenticator to provide an additional layer of security using a time-based one-time password. This enables organisations of any size to easily secure their access at no additional cost.
Watch the demo video
Granular permissions
IT administrators can configure specific permissions for different administrators and delegate control of Parallels RAS objects, including RAS infrastructure components, remote desktop session host (RDSH), session management and much more. This provides management flexibility while keeping security high.
Watch the demo video
Windows Server 2019
Parallels RAS 17 supports Windows Server 2019, allowing Parallels RAS to leverage the features of the latest version of Microsoft RDS and Hyper-V.
Web-based Helpdesk Console
The Parallels RAS Helpdesk Web Console gives administrators and delegated admins access to manage RDSH sessions, VDI and applications.
Watch the demo video
REST API
Parallels RAS 17 introduces a new API for easier integration with scheduling and workflow applications, alongside the existing PowerShell API. This new approach enables larger enterprises, independent software vendors (ISVs) and SPs to quickly integrate Parallels RAS into their ecosystem.
Improved VDI security
Parallels RAS now prevents unwanted access to VDI by dynamically managing users' remote access rights as required, by enabling remote access permissions during login and revoking permissions during logoff.
Simplified VDI and RDSH deployment
IT admins can easily manage, rapidly deploy and quickly scale out their end-user computing (EUC) environment thanks to the improved management capabilities of Parallels RAS for larger deployments (such as a dedicated VDI management control pane and group wide settings).
Additionally, Parallels RAS now supports Scale Computing's KVM-based hypervisor, HC3. Parallels RAS can leverage HC3's rapid thin cloning to make VDI solutions faster, more affordable and easier to use.
Watch the demo video
Extended HTML5 white-labelling
Expanded white-labelling options for the Parallels RAS HTML5 Client enable SPs and enterprises to easily implement specific branding requirements for customers, such as colour, logo, language and more.
Watch the demo video
Reporting and monitoring
New reports related to application usage and gateway sessions can be made available for managers, business owners and tenants to consume. In addition, administrators can now create and view their own custom reports, improving day-to-day administration and management efficiencies.
Companies which benefited from Parallels RAS include travel agencies and schools.
APT Travel Group has more than 600 staff located in over 15 offices around the world, including the US, the UK, Cyprus and New Zealand. The company needed to deliver applications to staff in these locations. Due to network latency issues at some of its locations, certain applications had to be run locally.
APT conducted a successful proof of concept using Parallels RAS, and is in the process of migrating over, and retiring its Citrix system. Parallels RAS provided both VDI and application delivery in a single product, where Citrix separates these functions into XenDesktop and XenApp.
Parallels RAS also includes load balancing, whereas Citrix Netscaler delivers load balancing, but with a separate product.
The faculty was impressed by the mobile experience provided for phones and tablets. "Parallels RAS achieves what we needed. Our staff can now access our apps and storage remotely using any mobile device, at any time of the day,” said Andrew Dodd ICT Manager, Henley High School.
Other benefits for Henley High School included:
Details:
Parallels RAS offers a concurrent user license at US$99 per year. It is available online and from approved resellers.
Parallels offers a free 30-day, full-featured trial of Parallels RAS 17, including 50 concurrent user licenses, at parallels.com/ras.
Parallels RAS 17 enables faster launch of applications by using artificial intelligence (AI), provides additional security features such as integration with Google Authenticator, and debuts a web-based helpdesk console to more easily manage Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS), virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) infrastructure.
Parallels RAS provides new methods to control DaaS, VDI and Microsoft RDS, such as a new REST API and VDI/DaaS control panel.
“We packed intelligent and automated capabilities into Parallels RAS 17 that increase users’ productivity, quality experiences and satisfaction, while further improving management,” said Nick Dobrovolskiy, Parallels Senior VP of Engineering and Support.
“Parallels RAS 17 provides increased security, performance and simplicity to businesses so they can seamlessly and cost-effectively manage and deliver virtual desktops and applications to any user or device across the globe. Employees with iPhone, iPad and Android devices can even use familiar native touch gestures to easily work with virtual files and be truly productive from anywhere.”
Key features for Parallels RAS 17 include:
Session prelaunch
Parallels RAS 17 uses machine learning (ML) to map users’ computing habits, applications used and login time, enabling it to prelaunch everything so users can be immediately productive when they begin their workday. Another benefit is automatic host pool workload management, preventing login storms during peak hours.
Watch the demo video
Google Authenticator
Parallels RAS integrates with Google MFA Authenticator to provide an additional layer of security using a time-based one-time password. This enables organisations of any size to easily secure their access at no additional cost.
Watch the demo video
Granular permissions
IT administrators can configure specific permissions for different administrators and delegate control of Parallels RAS objects, including RAS infrastructure components, remote desktop session host (RDSH), session management and much more. This provides management flexibility while keeping security high.
Watch the demo video
Windows Server 2019
Parallels RAS 17 supports Windows Server 2019, allowing Parallels RAS to leverage the features of the latest version of Microsoft RDS and Hyper-V.
Web-based Helpdesk Console
The Parallels RAS Helpdesk Web Console gives administrators and delegated admins access to manage RDSH sessions, VDI and applications.
Watch the demo video
REST API
Parallels RAS 17 introduces a new API for easier integration with scheduling and workflow applications, alongside the existing PowerShell API. This new approach enables larger enterprises, independent software vendors (ISVs) and SPs to quickly integrate Parallels RAS into their ecosystem.
Improved VDI security
Parallels RAS now prevents unwanted access to VDI by dynamically managing users' remote access rights as required, by enabling remote access permissions during login and revoking permissions during logoff.
Simplified VDI and RDSH deployment
IT admins can easily manage, rapidly deploy and quickly scale out their end-user computing (EUC) environment thanks to the improved management capabilities of Parallels RAS for larger deployments (such as a dedicated VDI management control pane and group wide settings).
Additionally, Parallels RAS now supports Scale Computing's KVM-based hypervisor, HC3. Parallels RAS can leverage HC3's rapid thin cloning to make VDI solutions faster, more affordable and easier to use.
Watch the demo video
Extended HTML5 white-labelling
Expanded white-labelling options for the Parallels RAS HTML5 Client enable SPs and enterprises to easily implement specific branding requirements for customers, such as colour, logo, language and more.
Watch the demo video
Reporting and monitoring
New reports related to application usage and gateway sessions can be made available for managers, business owners and tenants to consume. In addition, administrators can now create and view their own custom reports, improving day-to-day administration and management efficiencies.
Companies which benefited from Parallels RAS include travel agencies and schools.
APT Travel Group has more than 600 staff located in over 15 offices around the world, including the US, the UK, Cyprus and New Zealand. The company needed to deliver applications to staff in these locations. Due to network latency issues at some of its locations, certain applications had to be run locally.
APT conducted a successful proof of concept using Parallels RAS, and is in the process of migrating over, and retiring its Citrix system. Parallels RAS provided both VDI and application delivery in a single product, where Citrix separates these functions into XenDesktop and XenApp.
Parallels RAS also includes load balancing, whereas Citrix Netscaler delivers load balancing, but with a separate product.
APT's trial showed that:
- The company didn't need the Citrix products, as Parallels RAS is an all-in-one product for VDI and published applications.
- Parallels RAS was easy to set up, administer and maintain. Conversely, the level of specialist knowledge required to run the Citrix products has meant APT has been reluctant to upgrade the software, worrying "will we break it?"
- The company has been able halve its Citrix licences, and expects to retire Citrix completely when the current licences expire
- Parallels' simple licensing model is an additional bonus, as Parallels charges by concurrent users, so two people working different shifts or in opposite time zones can share a seat.
Henley High School is a co-educational public secondary school, located near the beach town suburb of Henley Beach in Southern Australia. It has more than 1,400 students and hundreds of staff.
The school wanted to provide staff with remote access to onsite servers and applications. The IT department needed a virtualisation solution to create flexible, mobile-ready virtual learning workspaces and consolidate the IT infrastructure, making it easier to secure, scale, and maintain. However, they did not have the budget or staff time to install or run an expensive or confusing solution.
The school wanted to provide staff with remote access to onsite servers and applications. The IT department needed a virtualisation solution to create flexible, mobile-ready virtual learning workspaces and consolidate the IT infrastructure, making it easier to secure, scale, and maintain. However, they did not have the budget or staff time to install or run an expensive or confusing solution.
The school found that Parallels RAS simplifies access to applications while increasing security, enabling it to provide secure, easy-to-use application publishing to any of their staff devices. Staff can now access work documents and save back to the network from remote locations. Moreover, IT staff did not need to spend a lot of time helping staff configure
certain programs on their devices, so the transition was simple and
seamless.
The faculty was impressed by the mobile experience provided for phones and tablets. "Parallels RAS achieves what we needed. Our staff can now access our apps and storage remotely using any mobile device, at any time of the day,” said Andrew Dodd ICT Manager, Henley High School.
Other benefits for Henley High School included:
- Parallels RAS provides bring-your-own-device (BYOD) support, allowing integration of personal devices without the IT department needing to provide and maintain them.
- By using Parallels RAS, Henley High School minimised the hours required by IT staff to set up and support teachers who needed to access teaching material on their devices. The remote capabilities made it easier for teachers to prepare coursework and the school to focus on its goals meeting the learning needs of the diverse range of students from their local community.
Parallels RAS offers a concurrent user license at US$99 per year. It is available online and from approved resellers.
Parallels offers a free 30-day, full-featured trial of Parallels RAS 17, including 50 concurrent user licenses, at parallels.com/ras.
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