Last updated on June 25, 2021
Parallels RAS and Microsoft WS2012
What are the key differentiators of using Microsoft WS2012 with Parallels RAS ? Let’s do a comparison:
Key Differentiators of Microsoft WS2012 with Parallels RAS
- Easy installation and implementation.
- Can create virtual desktops (VDI Solution) from different hypervisors.
- Publish resources via HTML5.
- Proprietary scanner redirection, Universal Scanning.
- Printer redirection on a wide range of devices including mobile devices.
- Full desktop shadowing.
- Client power manager (Switch On, Switch On, Logoff, Restart).
- Windows desktop replacement.
- Reporting.
- Gateways high availability – HALB.
- Publish application filtering.
- Administrator roles & collaborations.
What Parallels RAS Does Better than Microsoft WS2012 alone:
- Can publish applications irrespective of the technology.
- Built-in and multiple load balancing configurations for applications.
- Easy to use and configure load balancing.
- Can remotely install all needed components.
- Supports second level authentication.
Now, let’s do an even deeper comparison…
Installation & Setup
Microsoft WS2012
To install and set up a Microsoft RDS 2012 virtualization solution, an administrator has to:
- Be a well-trained Windows Server user, specialized in virtualization.
- Go through several long and time-consuming installation procedures which include several restarts etc.
- Install several different server roles, applications, and additional components in the operating system, such as Microsoft Connection Broker.
- Configure several options and parameters from different places such as server manager, different MMCs, etc (no centralization available).
- It does not support LINUX and Chrome Apps.
Parallels Remote Application Server
To install Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS), administrators only have to run a single Windows MSI installation and do not need to be highly specialized in virtualization or similar.
Setting up servers and other components needed for desktop and application delivery is also simple, and can be done via wizards from a single location—Parallels Application Server Console.
Publishing Applications
Microsoft WS2012
Administrators cannot publish an application from an out-of-the-box installation of Microsoft RDS 2012. Another Microsoft component/application called RemoteApp has to be installed. Once installed, a lengthy procedure has to be followed to publish the application. Administrators can only publish applications that are installed on the server where RemoteApp is installed.
Parallels Remote Application Server
To publish an application via the Parallels Remote Application Server, administrators have to follow one simple wizard. They also have the option to specify from which servers on the farm will the application be published. Additionally, they can also configure different settings for each individual server or a group of servers.
Publishing applications from all servers in a farm is done via a centralized location—Parallels Remote Application Server Console.
Filtering
Microsoft WS2012
Microsoft RDS 2012 allows administrators to filter connections by active directory users and groups only.
Parallels Remote Application Server
Parallels Remote Application Server allows administrators to filter connections by users and groups (both from the location machine and Active Directory), Client, MAC address, IP address, and gateway.
Security & Authentication
Microsoft WS2012
- In a Microsoft RDS 2012 implementation, users can only authenticate against Active Directory to use published resources.
- Microsoft RDS 2012 allows users to use Smartcards to authenticate; this is integrated with Active Directory.
- Microsoft RDS 2012 supports Kerberos and certificate authentication.
- Microsoft RDS 2012 integrates with any other type of secondary authentication, but only when the RD Gateway is in use.
Parallels Remote Application Server
- Parallels Remote Application Server integrates with Microsoft Active Directory, so users can authenticate against it. Administrators can also use users from the local machine for authentication purposes.
- Parallels Remote Application Server supports “one-time code” authentication mechanisms such as RADIUS, DeepNet, and SafeNet, which can be easily integrated from Parallels Remote Application Server console for improved security.
High Availability
Microsoft WS2012
Microsoft RDS 2012 does not have any built-in features related to high availability. Administrators have to use and rely on other Microsoft components, such as Microsoft NLB, to ensure that published resources are always available. Most of these components are complicated to install and configure, and one must be specialized to be able to set them up.
Parallels Remote Application Server
Parallels Remote Application Server overcomes the limitations of existing redundant routers by adding load balancing and high availability functionality. Besides being able to set priorities on different gateway routers, Parallels HALB allows the distribution of connections based on workload. Operating in a high availability configuration, Parallels RAS intelligently directs traffic among healthy gateways in order to remove single-points-of-failure, optimize utilization, and guarantee always-available applications.
Load Balancing
Microsoft WS2012
- Microsoft RDS 2012 has a basic built-in load balancer.
- Configuration options for the load balancer are limited.
Parallels Remote Application Server
- Parallels Remote Application Server load balancer is enabled by default for all servers, and no configuration is required.
- There are two types of load balancing: resource-based and round-robin.
- In resource-based load balancing, the server uses the following counters to determine whether a server is busy or not: the number of existing user sessions, memory, and CPU utilization.
- Disconnected sessions will always be reconnected by default, ensuring the user does not lose any work or data.
- You can publish an application and load balance on any combination of your Terminal Server or Terminal Server groups.
Reporting
Microsoft WS2012
Microsoft RDS 2012 does not provide any type of reporting and logging capabilities.
Parallels Remote Application Server
The new Parallels Reporting engine is capable of providing information that helps administrators adjust systems for better performance and efficiency. The intuitive reporting interface boasts 14 new reports in total, separated into 5 groups for easy access. Below are the available groups:
1. User Reports group provides insight into how end-users are interacting with Parallels RAS.
2. Group Reports indicate how groups of users are interacting with the system.
3. Devices Reports yields information about the devices connecting to Parallels RAS.
4. Server Reports generate Parallels RAS server component usage statistics including server health, showing CPU and RAM usage in a graph.
5. Application Reports show which applications are being used.
Client Software, Shadowing & Client Management
Client Software
Microsoft WS2012
- Microsoft has an RDS Client for Windows, iOS, and Android.
- For all other operating systems, users have to resort to third party software.
Parallels Remote Application Server Advantages
- Parallels Remote Application Server provides an HTML5 portal that users can connect to; users do not need to use a native client but can use an HTML5 browser to stream a published application or desktop over HTTP.
- Users can use Parallels Client software to access all published resources and connect to them.
- Parallels Client runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and several other platforms.
Helpdesk Support Shadowing
Shadowing is a cool feature that allows an administrator to work and simultaneously control – remotely – the desktop of an end-user, usually in an RDS environment. This is limited to the remote session and not the workstation. If the end-user has issues outside the RDS session, traditionally, they cannot be solved using the shadowing concept.
Session shadowing enables a given user session to be displayed in real-time on an administrator’s workstation. This functionality can be used either for troubleshooting purposes or watch a user’s activities to confirm suspected misuse.
Microsoft WS2012
Shadowing has been reintroduced in Windows Server 2012 R2, but with limited functionality. Shadowing is possible, but it is complex to implement and doesn’t support most of the tasks required by a Helpdesk agent. As a matter of fact, Windows Server 2012 R2 can only shadow an RDS remote session; if the workstation needs to be fixed outside the remote session, you cannot use this tool.
Parallels Remote Application Server
Shadowing is easy with Parallels Remote Application Server. The feature is installed and ready to use from the very beginning, without complex and specific configuration. However, intuitive and easy management is not the main differentiator. Parallels RAS shadowing allows complete control, not only of the remote desktop session but the entire workstation. IT Helpdesk and support have never been easier: Helpdesk agents can support the end-user completely, from their own desktop.
Client Management
Microsoft WS2012
The only type of client management an administrator has through Microsoft RDS 2012 is checking who is connected on the server itself via a specific MMC console.
Parallels Remote Application Server
- Parallels Remote Application Server allows administrators to check who is connected via a central location – Parallels Remote Application Server console.
- Parallels RAS can manage an end user’s desktop, configurations, Logoff, Shutdown, and Reboot for Windows workstations from XP to 8.1.
Hypervisors and VDI Support
Microsoft WS2012
- Microsoft RDS 2012 only supports Microsoft technology for VDI / Hypervisors, mainly Microsoft Hyper-V and Microsoft Virtual Server.
- Inactive sessions are not automatically suspended, therefore a lot of resources are consumed and the server becomes less efficient.
Parallels Remote Application Server Advantages
- Parallels Remote Application Server supports a wide range of different hypervisors, VMware, Hyper-V & Citrix.
- Centralization: VDI host/s configuration is done via the same Parallels Application Server Console.
Scalability – Multi-Site Support
Microsoft WS2012
Microsoft RDS 2012 does not provide any such features and concepts thereby making it difficult to scale the solution into different geographical locations.
Parallels Remote Application Server
Parallels Remote Application Server supports sites. Sites allow administrators to expand their farms in different geographical locations and still easily manage them from a centralized location. It also allows different administrators to collaborate and share resources.
Administrator Roles & Collaborations
Microsoft WS2012
Microsoft RDS 2012 does not provide out-of-the-box collaborations and administrator roles.
Parallels Remote Application Server
Parallels Remote Application Server administrators can manage and configure the farm and sites within it. Permissions can also be configured to limit access to specific categories and sites.
Parallels Remote Application Server is installed in an Active Directory environment; any user that has elevated privileges and write access to the installation directory can be configured as a Parallels Remote Application Server administrator.
Parallels RAS is the best-integrated solution to virtualize your applications, desktops, and data. Learn more today.
References
Microsoft WS2012: Windows Server 2012 | hyperv.veeam.com
Microsoft WS2012: WS2012 Licensing Pricing FAQ | highergroundtech
Microsoft WS2012: Wikipedia
Microsoft WS2012: searchwindowsserver
