What’s New in Parallels RAS 16.5.1
Version 16.5.1 streamlines the deployment and management of your farm with auto-provisioned RDS hosts, Microsoft APP-V integration, and Parallels RAS PowerShell SDK.
Delegated Control of Session Management
Version 16.5.1 of Parallels (RAS) introduced a new level of admin account called “custom administrator.”
This new level is in addition to the root administrator and site administrator.
Implementing a custom administrator account allows IT to restrict the session management for specific user groups, providing a simplified session management while increasing security.
Parallels RAS implemented this feature to provide Citrix users the best alternative solution at a fraction of the cost, keeping the infrastructure intact without extra resource requirements and complex configurations.
Increased Security
This new admin level provides increased security and control while simplifying the management of your Parallels RAS Farm. At the same time, it makes handling the infrastructure easier by providing granular control and supervision of user sessions, whereas before it was all administrator accounts for all users.
Enhanced VDI
Straightforward VDI Deployment
In version 16.5.1, the Parallels RAS VDI Agent is included with the installation of the Publishing Agent (PA), and it can also be installed as a separate component. The new architecture simplifies the deployment and the management of the VDI hosts, allowing you to administer multiple VDI hosts through a single VDI agent. (Before, the ratio was one-to-one.)
Parallels RDSH Template Cloning
The Parallels RAS Template is re-designed to allow for RDSH template cloning. IT administrators are now able to deploy RDSH servers automatically using the RDSH Template function. Moreover, organizations are able to regulate the load on the Parallels RAS Farm dynamically by creating, removing, or employing RDSH servers on demand, automatically.
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Parallels RAS Console Improvements
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Site View
The Site Info tab has been modified to offer an interactive dashboard that provides an overview of the site components' status, quickly recognizable by colored boxes. A traffic-light color code (green, orange, and red) is configurable based on parameters such as CPU usage, users, and Publishing Agent (PA) status. Visible at an individual or group level, the colored boxes provide an immediate understanding of the health of the site component. For example, if an Agent component value is not in the green range, the whole group will become red. Additionally, the Designer tab has been moved from the menu (located on the left side) to the Site tab.
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Centralized Management
The Parallels RAS Agents on multiple servers can now be updated through the Parallels RAS Console by either group, separately or all together in a single window.
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Revert Changes
Version 16.5.1 introduces the ability to revert changes made in the farm. IT admins can now scroll through the event log and are able to view any change made in the farm and revert it to a previous state. Filters can be applied on the list to make it easier to find.
Creating Automatic Parallels RAS Console Backup
Have you ever wondered about backing up your Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) Console settings? Moreover, have you ever wanted to set this up automatically? In this guide, we will explore how to create automatic backups for your RAS Console.
Follow 10steps to automatically schedule Parallels RAS Console backups.
Enhanced System Notifications with Ability to Deploy Scripts
More performance counters—such as the grace period, CPU usage, and more—have been added to trigger notification messages. In addition, you can now execute a custom script when a configured value is outside the predefined range.
Microsoft PowerShell API Additions
In version 16.5.1, we have implemented new commands to enable IT administrators to perform a complete installation and/or configuration of a Parallels RAS Farm from the PowerShell API.
PowerShell Addition
Parallels RAS deployments and updates can be automated using PowerShell scripts, including installation, settings, and updates. Most of the essential functions can be performed via the PowerShell API by using PowerShell cmdlets with the corresponding parameters.
Improved UX on Mobile Client
The new design of Parallels Client for iOS and Android provides users with a modern and productive UX while delivering intuitive and quick access to remote applications and desktops.
Quick Local Screen Zoom (iOS and Android)
By double tapping in the lower part of the Dumbo mouse located on the client screen, users can zoom in or out. Users can now quickly zoom in and out by just tapping on the screen of their device.
Keyboard Handling Improvements (iOS and Android)
While the user is working in a file or document with text input, we added the ability to pin and unpin the keyboard on the screen. This is useful when the user wants the keyboard to stay pinned on the device screen even without active input. In addition, a new button is implemented on the Parallels Client for a mobile device's keyboard. When clicked, it opens a text box to allow the user to enter text and then send the whole string to the application running on the remote server. This is handy on a slow connection or on a small phone screen, since it is more convenient to edit a sentence locally on the device.
Automatic Session Logoff and Time-out (iOS and Android)
The session time-out configured on the Parallels RAS Console will now also apply to mobile client. Organizations can now avoid having forgotten or inactive logins on the farm, which reserve resources for no reason.
Parallels HTML5 Client Optimization
The Parallels HTML5 Client has been re-designed and optimized to offer a dynamic, modern, and web-based workspace. Version 16.5.1 improves the web-based UX by allowing employees to run simultaneously applications and desktops in tabs or in windows mode for a desktop-like experience. Applications running in windows mode can be minimized, and the active ones will be marked in the task bar. Client Policy is now applicable to Parallels HTML5 Client, reducing the risk of data leakage and malicious attacks.
Session Persistency
The Parallels HTML5 Client sessions can now be persistent to a specific user by the usage of an HTTP cookie. Session persistence refers to directing a client's requests to the publishing server for the duration of a “session” or the time it takes to complete a task or transaction. The HTTP cookie will allow the session to be persistent, enabling the user to connect from a different network with a different IP address and continue working on the session.
Application Grouping
In version 16.5.1, we improved the UX by enabling users to either group multiple instances of the same application into a single icon or display them separately on the session task bar like the Windows10 taskbar feature.
Drag and Drop
Drag and Drop functionality has been added to the Parallels HTML5 Client. This feature will enable users to easily transfer files between the local device and the Parallels HTML5 Client session.
Application Handling in Tabs
Published applications and desktops can now be opened either in a single browser tab with a session task bar or in a new tab, improving users' productivity with a native-like web browser experience.
Parallels Client for Windows
Customization
Customization capabilities have been added to the Parallels Client for Windows. Organizations are now able to change the default logo and color theme to customize the user experience.
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Password Policy
The corporate password policy requirements are now visible in the Parallels Client, simplifying password updates and changes. When users change their domain passwords, they are presented with the password requirements for their user account. This allows them to easily come up with a password that complies with the password policy.
Enhancement of the Client Policy
In version 16.5.1, the Client policies are split down in 14 groups with more detailed options. The policies are re-designed to provide more in-depth control over users' access on the farm, enabling IT administrators to restrict or allow access and set specific settings, securing corporate data on the farm. Learn More
- Connection (Primary connection, Secondary connection, Reconnection, Computer name, Advanced settings)
- Display (Settings, Multi-monitor, Published applications, Desktop options, HTML5)
- Printing
- Scanning
- Audio playback
- Keyboard
- Local devices and resources (Clipboard, Disk drives, Devices, Ports, Smart cards, File transfer)
- Experience (Performance, Compression)
- Network
- Server authentication
- Advanced (Session advanced settings)
- Client options (Connection, Update, PC keyboard, Single sign-on)
- Advanced (Global, Language, Printing, Windows client)
- Control settings (Connections, Password, Import and Export)
- Redirection
How to Create Client Policies within Parallels RAS
A Client Policy controls which configuration tabs are available to configure on the user’s Parallels Client interface. With the policy, the Parallels administrator can also set to force settings within these tabs.
This allows Parallels administrators to easily manage and restrict the options available to users on the Parallels Client connection to a Parallels Farm. Criteria can also be configured to distribute different policies depending on where the user is connecting from or even the machines (MAC Address).
Security Enhancements
FIPS 140-2 Compliance
Parallels RAS 16.5.1 now supports FIPS 140-2 encryption, enabling organizations to adhere to data compliance regulations. FIPS 140-2 is mainly used in the United States for regulated industries such as financial and healthcare institutions.
Streamlined Multifactor Authentication
Version 16.5.1 makes it easy to configure multifactor authentication (MFA) via RADIUS for Microsoft Azure MFA, Duo, and FortiAuthenticator. Azure MFA is now natively supported by Parallels RAS, helping to increase data security and reducing the risk of unwanted data access.
Performance Counters
More Parallels RAS Counters
More counters have been added for a deeper overview of the Parallels RAS site performance. Those counters are exposed to the system's performance, so they can be used by the Parallels RAS Performance Monitor and other third-party performance monitoring solutions.
Performance Monitor
Parallels RAS Performance Monitor is a lightweight web-based application that allows administrators to gain real-time insights into key performance metrics for Parallels RAS and Windows server-hosting Parallels RAS components. The new counters are added to Parallels RAS Performance Monitor.
Microsoft App-V Integration
Parallels RAS v16.5.1 introduces integration with Microsoft App-V, allowing administrators to publish packaged applications. This reduces the need to remediate application conflicts that rely on App-V separation and isolation capabilities to run applications on the operating systems. Application updates can be delivered from a central location, streaming the delivery directly to the servers. In addition, App-V’s structure RDS CALs are automatically included in the license; no separate license for RDS CALs is required. Learn More
