Terminal Server 2016 And How To Get More Out Of It | Parallels Explains

The release of Microsoft Windows Terminal Server 2016 is sending waves through the IT industry as many CIOs and IT executives consider migrating. Since its release in 2003, the Windows Server operating system has been the first choice for many businesses.

Why Microsoft Terminal Server 2016?

A survey by the online IT professional network Spiceworks reported that 87.7% of the physical servers used by companies in their community ran on Windows Server. Among them, 23.6% used Windows Server 2012, 45.4% used Server 2008, and 17.9% used the Windows 2003 edition. Windows Server is also widely used to deliver virtual applications and desktops by enabling the Microsoft Remote Desktop Services role. The 2016 Spiceworks State of IT report found that at least 76% of organizations are now taking advantage of virtualization.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS), formerly known as Terminal Services, enables users to access virtual session-based desktops or applications that are hosted on the server from both corporate networks and the cloud.

What’s new in Windows Server 2016?

When it comes to RDS 2016, there are several important additions to the tool. Firstly, the user experience is improved with the Windows 10-like graphical interface. The enhanced RemoteFX protocol and GPU capabilities bring powerful graphical features on board. Secondly, it is tightly integrated with cloud service Azure, simplifying cloud deployments. Furthermore, it comes with new RDP clients for macOS, Android, iOS, and Windows. Other features include multipoint services, an optimized connection broker, and personal session desktops. Read more.

Limitations of Microsoft RDS 2016

While RDS 2016 comes with enhanced features and performance, not all challenges are completely addressed. First off, the installation and configuration of the Windows Server tool is a challenge because it involves the configuration of multiple components. Similarly, deployment of RDS 2016 involves configuring multiple components such as Remote Desktop Gateway, Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RDCB), Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host), Remote Desktop Web Access, and the Licensing server. In addition, a Network Load Balancing component is required for load balancing. Managing all these tools is not easy.

How does Parallels RAS enhance RDS 2016?

On the other hand, Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a comprehensive virtualization solution that is easy to deploy and use. Virtualization tools such as load balancing and device redirection come auto-configured by default. Moreover, Parallels RAS offers an extensive number of reporting modules. With these reports, IT administrators can get a better insight into resource usage across the infrastructure.

Another area where Parallels RAS cleans up is in support for non-Windows devices. RDS 2016 provides limited support for non-Windows devices or non-conventional platform devices such as Chromebooks. Parallels RAS supports a wide range of devices, covering all major platforms in the market. Furthermore, the tool also provides filtering for a higher level of data protection. Finally, Parallels RAS supports major hypervisors, which means IT administrators can integrate existing infrastructure and enhance the performance of the network with minimal effort and risk.

Want to try Parallels RAS? Download the free trial today.

References

Operating Systems Market Report | w3techs.com https://w3techs.com/technologies/report/operating_system

Terminal Server 2016: Server Virtualization and OS Trends | community.spiceworks.com

https://community.spiceworks.com/networking/articles/2462-server-virtualization-and-os-trends

Welcome to Remote Desktop Services – technet.microsoft.com

Terminal Server 2016: What’s New in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 5: Networking Features | petri.com

https://www.petri.com/whats-new-in-windows-server-2016-technical-preview-5-networking-features

Terminal Server 2016: How to Enable Remote Desktop in Windows Server 2016 | tomsitpro.com

http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/enable-remote-desktop-in-windows-server-2016,2-1102.html