Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provides limited web access to digital workspaces, while Parallels RAS delivers full-fledged clientless HTML5 browser access. Parallels RAS enables users to work on published applications and desktops from any HTML5-compatible browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer.
LearnMoreParallels RAS is installed through a standard MSI file, greatly simplifying the process via a guided setup-wizard. All the core required components are installed directly from the same file. Parallels RAS streamlines the deployment and maintenance of a farm by providing a set of tools, such as FSLogix Profile Container configurations, image optimizations and server tools, to manage Microsoft Remote Desktop Services, freeing IT administrators from lengthy and repetitive tasks.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Broker manages the distribution between the servers in the farm. However, it has limited capability, only allowing the distribution of connections based on session count and server weight. Parallels RAS load balances the traffic between the servers based on user sessions, memory, application usage, and CPU utilization, significantly improving the overall performance.
Parallels RAS improves CPU load balancing functionality by maximizing resource usage thereby improving the end-user experience. Services run smoothly due to the prevention of any application consuming too much processing time. Moreover, High Availability Load Balancers [HALBs] load balance front end traffic to the Secure Client Gateways.
Parallels RAS can dynamically create, remove, release, and load balance Windows Servers based on pre-defined criteria. IT administrators may utilize Parallels to generate and deploy virtual workspaces on the fly. RD Session Hosts and virtual desktops can auto-scale on-demand by group provisioning and de-provisioning based on workload. Sudden traffic-load spikes are managed easily without any manual action from IT staff.
The Remote Desktop Virtualization Host role only supports Microsoft Hyper-V to host VDIs. In contrast, Parallels RAS supports all major hypervisors, including Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware ESXi, and hyperconverged infrastructures such as Nutanix Acropolis, Scale Computing, and HPE hyperconverged infrastructures.
Parallels RAS can create and manage virtual machines [VMs] from different hypervisors under the same infrastructure, offering administrators extended flexibility when implementing VDI solutions. Parallels RAS supports Azure as a hypervisor, enabling Infrastructure as a Service [IaaS] deployments along with Desktop as a Service [DaaS] through Azure Virtual Desktop.