How to Improve RDP File Transfer with Parallels RAS Accelerated File Retrieval

When working with published applications or desktops, certain use cases may require that users are provided the capability to access files and folders located on their client devices. Accessing local files from a remote desktop or application may provide an unsatisfactory user experience, even more so over a low-quality connection. Read how you can use Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) Accelerated File Retrieval to improve file input/output (I/O) operations over a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session. RDP file transfer done efficiently.

What is RDP File Transfer?

RDP is a secure network communications protocol from Microsoft commonly used by IT administrators to diagnose PC problems remotely. Using RDP, an IT administrator can access a user’s PC from a remote machine. When an employee needs to access their work computers remotely, they can also do so with RDP.

For RDP to work, software needs to be installed on both the RDP server and the remote client PC. RDP file configuration needs to be performed on the client to enable it to connect to the RDP server seamlessly at any time.

RDP supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix, Android, and Apple iOS. There is also an open-source version of the protocol. .

Accelerated RDP File Transfer Benefits

Listed below are the main benefits that Accelerated RDP File Transfer provides:

Parallels RAS Accelerated File Transfer Setup Instructions

Accelerated RDP File Transfer is enabled by default for Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Windows Virtual Desktop and Remote PC workloads.

To check if RDSH, Windows Virtual Desktop multi-session or Windows Virtual Desktop single-session hosts are enabled, follow these instructions:

  1. From the Parallels RAS Console, click Farm.
  2. Click Site view.
  3. Select Tasks from the pull-down menu in the upper right-hand corner of the window.
  4. Click Site defaults.
  5. If you wish to check RDSH, select RD Session Hosts. Then select Agent Settings. In the Site Default Properties window, check the box next to Enable drive redirection cache, which is located at the very bottom.
  6. If you wish to check WVD multi-session hosts, select WVD multi-session hosts. Then select Host pool settings. In the Site Default Properties window, check the box next to Enable drive redirection cache, which is located at the very bottom.
  7. If you wish to check WVD single-session hosts, select WVD single-session hosts. Then select Host pool settings. In the Site Default Properties window, check the box next to Enable drive redirection cache, which is located at the very bottom.

To check if the VDI-provider is enabled, follow these instructions:

  1. From the Parallels RAS Console, click Farm.
  2. Click VDI provider properties.
  3. Click Agent Settings.
  4. Check the box next to Enable drive redirection cache.

To check if the host name is enabled, follow these instructions:

  1. From the Parallels RAS Console, click Farm.
  2. Click Remote PC.
  3. Click Host-name properties.
  4. Click Agent Settings.
  5. Check the box next to Enable drive redirection cache.

figure 1 - accelerated file retrieval

This configuration can also be done directly from the RDSH and Windows Virtual Desktop sections.

The Accelerated File Transfer feature requires that drive redirection is enabled in the user session. This can be configured through Parallels RAS Policies:

  1. From the Parallels RAS Console, navigate to policies > Tasks > Add to configure a new policy. You are now in the Policy Properties window.
  2. Enter a Name and a Description before selecting the users to whom you want to apply the policy.figure 2 - accelerated file retrieval
  3. In the left panel of the screen, find the Local devices and resources section. Check that Disk drives are toggled on. Make sure that you enable Allow disk drives redirection and complete the other options according to your needs.figure 3 - accelerated file retrieval
  4. Click the OK button.

Technical Confirmation

To ensure the cache works in a session, enable at least extended logging in the client Tools > Options and look for the records like the one below, where RasRdpFs: QueryDirectoryFirst highlights that the Parallels RAS caching mechanism in the session is working.

[D 77/00000000/T4360/P21A4/S0002] 27-11-20 22:44:38 - RasRdpFs: QueryDirectoryFirst(path='\\?\S:\DCIM\104APPLE', searchHandle=24, id=100, size=4096)

Performance Improvement with Accelerated File Transfer

The table below table shows the capabilities of the RDP File Transfer feature, comparing file retrieval duration when working with a file redirection of over 5000 elements in a Local Area Network (LAN) environment:

First run Consecutive runs
Standard RDP or Parallels RAS without Accelerated File Retrieval 12 seconds 10 seconds
Parallels RAS with Accelerated File Retrieval 2 seconds (using optimized communication) <1 second (using caching mechanism)

Improve the RDP File Transfer User Experience with Parallels RAS

Trying to build local-like environments is one of the most important challenges that enterprises face when working with published desktops and applications. In scenarios where users need to access information located on their client devices, the Parallels RAS Accelerated File Transfer feature will help accomplish that, ensuring optimal file retrieval times and thus enhancing the overall user experience.

Give Parallels RAS a go with a 30-day free trial now!

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Requisites

To use Accelerated RDP File Transfer, you need: