Virtual Machines
Last updated
Last updated
This section allows you to monitor all the Parallels virtual machines in use with your organization and delete them in case of need. The list shows not only the corporate machines installed from the but also other virtual machines running on your users' Parallels Desktop installations.
You can use the drop-down menu in the top-left corner to select which of the following parameters you want to monitor:
User name. This parameter is derived from the user account name on that Mac;
Computer name;
VM device name. As designated during the virtual machine’s image preparation process;
VM device ID. As generated during the virtual machine's registration with Parallels Desktop;
VM state. This parameter has the following possible values: Running, Stopped, Suspended, Unknown;
VM status. This parameter will help you sort between active virtual machines, the ones whose Parallels Desktop setup had been deactivated, and the ones that have failed to delete;
VM OS, VM Edition, VM OS build. This sorts your organization’s virtual machines by the operating systems, including editions and build numbers;
VM serial number. This serial number is generated by Parallels Desktop for Mac. For Windows and Linux virtual machines, the format is "Parallels-6A F9 99 70 E2 6E 4F AB A4 CD 91 8C E4 29 A4 7D" while for macOS virtual machines, the format is "XNTJH2MFPN". This parameter resets to a new random value when a virtual machine image registers on an end-user's Mac;
VM Source. This parameter helps you identify which virtual machines were set up using your company's ;
VM encryption. This parameter reflects the encryption status of a specific virtual machine. The possible values are "Not encrypted", "Encrypted with a custom password", or "Encrypted (license based)". The latter value reflects the use of the Do not allow running virtual machines without this company's Parallels license policy as described in the chapter;
Last command. This parameter reflects the last command sent to the Parallels Desktop installation. The possible values are "None"; or "Pending delete", "Pending lock", "Pending redownload", "Pending restart", etc. for the commands that have been sent but not yet executed; or "Failed to delete", "Failed to lock", etc., for the commands that failed to execute;
Last used date (UTC). This shows when the particular virtual machine was last launched. This parameter may help you quickly find unused virtual machines;
Last reported date (UTC). This parameter shows the date and time a specific virtual machine’s presence was reported to the server;
Parallels Desktop Version. This shows the major version number of the Parallels Desktop installation used to run a specific virtual machine. This may help you identify installations that have failed to upgrade to a newer, better version of Parallels Desktop;
Parallels Desktop State. This shows the activation state of the Parallels Desktop installation used to run a specific virtual machine. The possible values are "Activated (SSO)", "Activated (License Key)", and "Deactivated". If you are, e.g., trying to migrate your user base from one activation type to another, this parameter may help you identify the users that require your attention;
Parallels Tools Version. Using this parameter, you can, for example, identify the machines in your organization that either do not have Parallels Tools installed or use an outdated version;
Mac serial number;
CPU. In this column, you can sort your virtual machines by their operating systems’ target architecture: Intel or Arm (Apple silicon);
Uncheck the parameters you won’t need for your monitoring requirements.
Use the drop-down menu in the bottom-right corner to adjust the number of virtual machines shown per page from 10 to 40.
Use horizontal scrolling to adjust column widths and ensure all selected columns are displayed.
Use the search bar in the top right corner to find virtual machines by their known parameters, or use the individual filters in each column to search by that column’s parameter. Clicking on the funnel symbol in the header of each column will help you filter virtual machines by a specific parameter.
This may, for example, help you quickly identify the machines that require your immediate attention when an urgent upgrade is required to plug a known severe vulnerability.
Once you have located a specific virtual machine, you can delete it by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete Virtual Machine or using the context menu on the right marked with three dots. Read the dialog carefully and confirm by clicking Delete.
Sometimes, information on a specific virtual machine may be incomplete or entirely missing from the Parallels Management Portal's virtual machine monitoring panel described earlier in this chapter. This section provides a list of possible explanations for each case so that you may follow it to eliminate potential causes.
The VM is no longer active or has been removed.
The Parallels Desktop for Mac application did not manage to report/communicate with the Parallels backend after the VM was created.
The Parallels Desktop for Mac application is on an older version that does not support reporting these specific details. Use the Parallels Desktop Version parameter to verify.
The Parallels Desktop for Mac application has been updated but hasn’t reported to the portal yet. Use the Last reported date (UTC) parameter to verify.
Parallels Tools is not installed.
Parallels Tools is installed but outdated and requires an update. Use the Parallels Tools Version parameter to verify.
If you delete the only virtual machine that was running on a particular Parallels Desktop installation, its user will be offered to download a new virtual machine from the supplied by your organization.
