Parallels RAS 20 Administrator's Guide
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  • Parallels RAS 20 Administrator’s Guide
    • Introduction
      • Parallels RAS release history
      • About Parallels RAS
      • About this guide
      • What's new
      • Terms and abbreviations used in this guide
    • Installing Parallels RAS
      • System requirements
        • Hardware requirements
        • Software requirements
        • Microsoft license requirements
      • Install Parallels RAS
      • Log in and activate Parallels RAS
    • Getting Started with Parallels RAS
      • The Parallels RAS Console
      • Set up a basic Parallels RAS Farm
        • Add an RD Session Host
        • Publish applications
        • Invite users
        • Azure Virtual Desktop
        • Conclusion
    • Farm and Sites
      • Connecting to a Parallels RAS Farm
      • About Sites
      • Sites in the RAS Console
      • Adding a Site to the Farm
      • Replicating Site settings
      • Managing Licensing Site
      • Managing administrator accounts
        • Adding an administrator account
        • Administrator account permissions
        • Managing administrator accounts
        • Configure RAS Console idle sessions
        • Using instant messaging
        • Joining Customer Experience Program
    • RAS Connection Broker
      • Configuring RAS Connection Brokers
      • Secondary Connection Brokers
      • Managing Secondary Connection Brokers
      • Using computer management tools
    • RAS Secure Gateway
      • Overview
      • Adding a RAS Secure Gateway
      • Manually adding a RAS Secure Gateway
      • Checking the RAS Secure Gateway status
      • Configuring a RAS Secure Gateway
        • Enable or disable a Secure Gateway
        • Set public address
        • Set IP addresses for client connections
        • Site defaults (Secure Gateways)
        • Gateway mode and forwarding settings
        • Gateway network options
        • SSL/TLS encryption
          • SSL server configuration
        • Configure User Portal
          • Using Site defaults
          • Enable or disable User Portal
          • Client settings
          • Network load balancers access
        • Wyse ThinOS support
        • Secure Gateway security
        • Web request load balancing
      • Secure Gateway tunneling policies
      • Configure logging
      • Viewing Secure Gateway summary and metrics
      • Using computer management tools
    • RD Session Hosts
      • RD Session Host types
      • Add an RD Session Host
        • Installing the agent manually
      • Add a template-based RD Session Host
      • Manage RD Session Hosts
        • Manage host pools (RD Session Hosts)
          • Add host pools (RD Session Hosts)
          • Upgrading Agents (RD Session Hosts)
        • Manage templates (RD Session Hosts)
          • Creating an RD Session Host template
          • Assigning a template to a host pool (RD Session Host)
          • Managing RD Session Hosts based on a template
        • Manage hosts (RD Session Hosts)
          • Viewing RD Session Hosts
          • Check an RD Session Host Agent status
          • Change RD Session Host Site assignment
          • View and modify RD Session Host properties
            • Using default settings
            • General
            • Agent settings
            • User profile
            • Application Packages
            • Optimization
            • Desktop access
            • RDP printer
          • User profile
            • User Profile Disks
            • FSLogix
              • Configure managing existing profiles by Parallels RAS
              • FSLogix antivirus exclusions
          • Optimization
          • Drive redirection cache
          • Configure logging
        • Manage sessions (RD Session Host)
        • Using scheduler (RD Session Hosts)
      • Planning for high availability
      • Managing logons
      • Using computer management tools
      • Publishing from an RD Session Host
      • Viewing published resources
    • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
      • Supported providers
      • Add a provider
        • RAS Provider Agent information
          • RAS Provider Agent installation options
        • Add a hypervisor provider
        • Add a cloud Provider
          • Microsoft Azure
            • Introduction and prerequisites
            • Create Microsoft Entra ID application
            • Add Microsoft Azure as a Provider
            • Microsoft Azure and templates
          • Amazon Web Services
            • Introduction and prerequisites
            • Design considerations
            • Step 1. Creating an IAM user for programmatic access
            • Step 2. Adding AWS as a Provider
      • Manage VDI
        • Manage providers (VDI)
          • Installing RAS Provider Agent using the installer
          • Checking the RAS Provider Agent status
          • Using a Provider in multiple farms
        • Manage host pools (VDI)
          • Add host pools (VDI)
          • Delete host pools (VDI)
          • Add and delete host pool members
          • Using a wildcard to filter VMs
          • Managing hosts in pools
          • Upgrading Agents (VDI)
        • Manage templates (VDI)
          • Virtual desktop templates
          • Multi-provider template distribution
          • Creating a VM template
            • Step 1: Check and install the Agent
            • Step 2: Configure the template
              • Properties
              • Distribution
              • Advanced
              • Preparation
              • Optimization
              • License keys
              • Summary
              • Host naming
            • Parallels Test Template Wizard
            • Modifying template properties
          • How hosts are created from a template
          • Manually adding a host
          • Assigning a template to a host pool (VDI)
          • Template maintenance
          • Template status
          • Managing multi-provider template distribution
          • Managing template-based hosts
        • Manage hosts (VDI)
          • Persistent hosts
          • Configuring hosts to interact with RAS Provider Agent in a different subnet
        • Manage sessions (VDI)
        • Using scheduler (VDI)
      • Configure logging
      • Enabling high availability for VDI
      • Site defaults (VDI)
      • Using computer management tools
      • Viewing Provider summary
      • Remote PC pools in VDI
        • Adding a Provider
        • Adding Remote PCs to a Provider
        • Adding Remote PCs to a pool
        • Managing Remote PCs in a pool
        • Persistent Remote PCs
        • RAS Guest Agent installation options
    • Azure Virtual Desktop
      • Introduction
      • Prerequisites
      • Deploy Azure Virtual Desktop
        • Enable Azure Virtual Desktop and add a provider
        • Add workspaces
        • Add host pools (Azure Virtual Desktop)
      • Manage Azure Virtual Desktop
        • Manage providers (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Manage workspaces (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Manage host pools (Azure Virtual Desktop)
          • Upgrading Agents (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Manage templates (Azure Virtual Desktop)
          • Create a template
          • Manage existing templates
          • Assigning a template to a host pool (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Manage hosts (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Manage sessions (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Using scheduler (Azure Virtual Desktop)
      • Site defaults (Azure Virtual Desktop)
        • Site defaults for single-session hosts
        • Site defaults for multi-session hosts
      • Using Parallels Client with Azure Virtual Desktop
      • Verify the deployment
    • Remote PCs
      • Overview
      • Manage host pools (Remote PC)
      • Manage hosts (Remote PC)
        • Adding a Remote PC to a Farm
          • Admin-initiated Remote PC enrollment
          • Self-service Remote PC enrollment
        • Configuring a Remote PC
      • Viewing Remote PC summary
      • Using computer management tools
    • Publishing
      • Overview
      • Publishing a desktop
      • Publishing an application
      • Publishing local applications
      • Publishing an application with MSIX app attach
      • Publishing a web application
      • Publishing a network folder
      • Publishing a document
      • General management tasks
      • Manage published applications
      • Manage published desktops
      • Manage published documents
      • Manage folders
      • Site defaults (Publishing)
      • Using filtering rules
      • Configuring preferred routing
      • Understanding session prelaunch
      • Checking effective access
      • Specifying client settings
      • Quick keypad
    • Session Management
      • Overview
      • Session information
      • Monitoring settings
      • Managing sessions
      • The Resources tab
    • SSL Certificate Management
      • Generating a self-signed certificate
      • Generating a certificate signing request (CSR)
      • Let's Encrypt certificates
        • Requesting a Let's Encrypt Certificate
        • How Parallels RAS requests certificates from Let's Encrypt
      • Importing a certificate
      • Exporting a certificate
      • Assigning a certificate to Secure Gateways and HALBs
      • Auditing certificates
      • Permissions to manage certificates
      • Upgrading from an older RAS version
    • Connection and Authentication Settings
      • RAS Connection Broker connection settings
      • Remote session settings
      • Logon hours settings
      • Restricting access by Parallels Client type and build number
      • Multi-factor authentication
        • Adding an MFA provider
        • Using RADIUS
          • Connection
          • Attributes
          • Automation
          • Advanced
          • Configuring Azure MFA
          • Configuring Duo
        • Using TOTP
          • Configuring TOTP
          • Configuring Google Authenticator
          • Configuring Microsoft Authenticator
        • Configuring email OTP
        • Using Deepnet DualShield
          • Supported tokens
          • Configuring DualShield 5.6+ Authentication Platform
          • Configuring Parallels RAS to use the DualShield Authentication Platform
          • Connect to a RAS Farm
        • Using SafeNet
          • Configuring SafeNet
        • Configuring MFA rules
      • Allowing users to change domain password
      • Allowing users to discover RAS connections via email address
    • Load Balancing and HALB
      • Resource based & round robin load balancing
        • Configure CPU optimization
      • High availability load balancing (HALB)
        • Prerequisites
        • Deploying a Parallels HALB appliance
        • Adding a HALB virtual server
        • HALB Device status and version number
        • HALB maintenance
        • HALB connection and session information
        • Changing the HALB appliance password
    • RAS Multi-Tenant Architecture
      • Overview
      • Architecture description
        • Implementation overview
        • User connection flow
      • Deploying Tenant Broker and Tenants
        • Deploying Tenant Broker
        • Deploying a Tenant
          • Join a Tenant to Tenant Broker
          • Joining with a secret key
          • Verify join status
          • Configure network
          • Assign a public domain address
          • Configure an SSL certificate
          • Set up routing for incoming traffic
        • User authentication
        • Unjoining from Tenant Broker
      • Managing Tenants
        • Tenant configuration
        • Deleting a Tenant object
        • Opening a Tenant console
      • Shared Gateways
      • Third-party network load balancers
      • Web Client and Themes
      • Monitoring Tenants
      • Tenant Broker compatibility and updates
      • Upgrading from an older RAS version
      • Configuring notifications
      • Communication ports
    • SAML SSO Authentication
      • Introduction
      • System requirements
      • SAML basics
      • SAML configuration
        • Prerequisites
        • IdP side configuration
        • SP side configuration (RAS side)
        • Active Directory user account configuration
        • Configure certificate authority templates
          • Create an Enrollment Agent template
          • Create a smartcard logon certificate template
        • RAS Enrollment Server configuration
        • RAS Enrollment Server high availability
        • SAML integration examples and tips
          • User account attributes
          • Security tip
      • Parallels Client configuration
      • Parallels client policy configuration
      • Test the SAML SSO deployment
      • Error messages
    • Parallels Web Client and User Portal
      • Configure Web Client
      • Configure Themes
        • General settings
        • Access settings
        • Message settings
        • Web Client settings
          • URLs
          • Branding
          • Colors
          • Language bar
          • Messages
          • Input prompt
          • Gateway
          • Legal policies
        • Parallels Client for Windows settings
        • General Theme tasks
        • Delegating session management permissions
      • Open Parallels Web Client
      • Main menu options
      • Running remote applications and desktops
        • Using drag and drop functionality
        • Native clipboard experience
        • Other useful features
      • Auto login
      • Direct App access
      • Using the toolbar
        • Using the toolbar on desktop computers
        • Using the Toolbar on Mobile Devices
        • Using the remote clipboard
        • Hiding toolbar items
    • Universal Printing
      • Managing Universal Printing Settings
      • Universal Printing drivers
      • Font management
    • Universal Scanning
      • Managing Universal Scanning
      • Adding scanning applications
    • User Device Management and Client Policies
      • Inviting users to connect to Parallels RAS
      • Mass configuring user devices
      • Enabling Help Desk support for users
      • Enabling Help Desk support for custom administrators
      • Monitoring devices
        • Getting additional device information
      • Windows device groups
      • Managing Widows devices
        • Windows desktop replacement
      • Scheduling Windows devices & groups power cycles
      • Client policies
        • Add a new client policy
        • Configure session settings
          • Appearance
          • Connection
          • Display
          • Printing
          • Scanning
          • Audio
          • Keyboard
          • Local devices and resources
          • Experience
          • Network
          • Server authentication
          • Advanced settings
        • Configure client policy options
        • Configure control settings
        • Configure Gateway redirection
        • Client policy backward compatibility
        • Policy information in Parallels Client
      • Configuring remote file transfer
        • Configure file transfer to a server
        • Configure file transfer in User Portal
        • Configure file transfer for a client policy
    • Reporting
      • System requirements
      • Install Microsoft SQL Server
        • Install Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or earlier
        • Install Microsoft SQL Server 2017 or 2019
        • Install Microsoft SQL Server 2022
      • Install Parallels RAS Reporting
      • Running Parallels RAS Reports
      • GDPR compliance
    • Performance monitor
      • Overview
      • Install RAS Performance Monitor
      • Using Parallels RAS Performance Monitor
      • Configure RAS Performance Monitor security
      • Updating RAS Performance Monitor
    • Common Management Tasks
      • Recovery – add a root administrator
      • Host name resolution
      • Computer management tools
      • Site information
      • Site settings
      • Using MSIX application packages
      • Using template versions
      • Settings audit
      • Upgrading RAS agents
      • Licensing
      • Configure HTTP proxy settings
      • System event notifications
        • Configuring notification handlers
        • Configuring notification scripts
        • Configuring SMTP server connection for event notifications
      • RAS session variables
      • Resolving z-order issues
      • Maintenance and backup
        • Importing and exporting Farm settings from the command line
      • Problem reporting and troubleshooting
      • Logging
      • Suggest a feature
    • Parallels RAS Management Portal
      • Overview
      • Prerequisites
      • Installation
      • Log in to RAS Management Portal
      • Configure RAS Web Administration Service
      • RAS Management Portal user interface
    • Parallels RAS APIs
      • RAS PowerShell API
      • RAS REST API
        • Installation
        • Permissions
        • Getting started
        • Logging in and sending requests
        • More information
      • RAS Web Client API and Parallels Client URL scheme
    • Appendix
      • Microsoft license requirements in Parallels RAS
      • Port reference
        • Parallels Client
        • Web browsers
        • HALB
        • RAS Secure Gateway
        • RAS Connection Broker
        • RAS Console
        • SSRS
        • RAS Reporting
        • RAS Web Administration Service (REST/Management Portal)
        • RAS PowerShell
        • RAS Provider Agent
        • RAS Enrollment Server
        • RAS RD Session Host Agent
        • RAS Guest Agent
        • RAS Remote PC Agent
        • Tenant Broker
        • Active Directory and Domain Services ports
        • Azure Virtual Desktop
      • RAS performance counters
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On this page
  • General
  • RD Session Hosts
  • Hypervisor and VDI
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Azure Virtual Desktop
  • FSLogix
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • App-V
  • Other References

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  1. Parallels RAS 20 Administrator’s Guide
  2. Appendix

Microsoft license requirements in Parallels RAS

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This section is to be used as guidance to provide clarity on Microsoft license requirements in a Parallels RAS environment while not used as an exclusive list. It is recommended to refer to your Microsoft licensing partner for further information.

Microsoft license requirements include:

General

  • Any Windows Server and Desktop Operating System (OS) to be used.

  • Windows Server OS to be accessed must be covered by Microsoft Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs).

RD Session Hosts

If Windows Server is accessed remotely (for non-administrative work) then you need Remote Desktop Service (RDS) access license:

  • RDS CALs are required for users or devices that want to utilize Remote Desktop Service functionality on Windows Server. The following types of RDS CAL are available:

    1. RDS Device CAL: Permits one device (used by any user) to use Remote Desktop Services functionality on any of your servers.

    2. RDS User CAL: Permits one user (using any device) to use Remote Desktop Services functionality on any of your servers.

    3. RDS External Connector: Permits multiple external users to access a single Remote Desktop server. If you have multiple servers, you need multiple external connectors in addition to any required Windows Server External Connectors.

    You may choose to combine RDS Device CALs and RDS User CALs simultaneously with the server software. Regular User or Device CALs are required in addition to the RDS User or RDS Device CALs.

  • RDS SAL is a service that provides a Microsoft Remote Desktop Service Subscriber Access License (called an "RDS SAL") on Virtual Machines created in Compute Resource. This makes it possible for three or more users to connect to a remote desktop (RD Session Host) for a specific Virtual Machine in Compute Resource (for SPLA partners).

Read more:

  • License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs): .

  • RDS Licensing Data Sheet .

  • RDS CAL overview and FAQ .

  • Licensing of Microsoft Desktop Application Software for use with Windows Server RDS .

Hypervisor and VDI

  1. In case using Microsoft Hyper-V as a hypervisor, Microsoft Windows Server Operating System (OS) Licenses are required

    Read more:

  2. In case using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Windows Software Assurance or Azure Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) licenses are required. Microsoft licenses Windows by access device:

    • Virtual desktop access rights are a benefit of Windows Client Software Assurance (SA). Customers who intend to use PCs covered under SA have access to their VDI desktops at no additional charge.

    • Customers who want to use devices that do not qualify for Windows Client SA, such as thin clients, will need to license those devices with Azure Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) in order to access a Windows VDI desktop. Windows VDA is also applicable to third-party devices, such as contractor or employee-owned PCs.

Read more:

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Online business services, such as Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Azure, require Microsoft Entra ID for sign-in and to help with identity protection. If you subscribe to any Microsoft Online business service, you automatically get Microsoft Entra ID with access to all the free features. To enhance your Microsoft Entra ID implementation, you can also add paid capabilities by upgrading to Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1 or Premium P2 licenses.

Read more:

Azure Virtual Desktop

  • Access to Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session, Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 11 Enterprise desktops and apps is provided at no additional cost (excluding compute, storage and networking costs) if you have one of the following per user licenses:

    1. Microsoft 365 E3/E5

    2. Microsoft 365 A3/A5/Student Use Benefits

    3. Microsoft 365 F3

    4. Microsoft 365 Business Premium

    5. Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5

    6. Windows 10 Education A3/A5

    7. Windows 10 VDA per user

  • Access to desktops powered by Windows Server Remote Desktop Services running Windows Server 2012 R2 and newer is provided at no additional cost (excluding compute, storage and networking costs) if you have a per-user or per-device RDS CAL license with active Software Assurance (SA).

Read more:

FSLogix

You are eligible to access FSLogix Profile Container, Office 365 Container, Application Masking, and Java Redirection tools if you have one of the following licenses:

  • Microsoft 365 E3/E5

  • Microsoft 365 A3/A5/ Student Use Benefits

  • Microsoft 365 F1/F3

  • Microsoft 365 Business

  • Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5

  • Windows 10 Education A3/A5

  • Windows 10 VDA per user

  • Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access License (CAL)

  • Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Subscriber Access License (SAL)

FSLogix solutions may be used in any public or private data center, as long as a user is properly licensed.

Read more:

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server is required if using Parallels RAS Reporting. SQL Server installation may be based on:

  • SQL Express which is free but has a database size limit of 10 GB.

  • SQL Server commercial edition Standard or Enterprise, using Core based licenses or Server + CAL based licenses.

Read more:

App-V

App-V is not licensed on its own, but included in other license agreements such as Microsoft Volume Licensing, Windows Software Assurance Microsoft, Remote Desktop Services (RDS) CAL, as part of a wider Microsoft licensing agreement. For instance, with an RDS CAL (either per-user or per-device), App-V client may be used on RD Session Host to deliver App-V applications.

Other References

Windows Server 2022 license datasheet .

Windows Server 2019 license datasheet .

Windows Server 2016 license datasheet .

Windows 11 licensing portal .

Windows 10 licensing portal .

Licensing Windows desktop operating system for use with virtual machines guide .

Licensing the Windows Desktop for VDI Environments .

Microsoft Entra ID Implementations

Azure hybrid benefits

Azure Virtual Desktop pricing overview

FSLogix Overview .

SQL Server 2019 licensing guide

To license App-V correctly it is recommended you to engage with a Microsoft Partner (solution provider) knowledgeable on Microsoft Volume Licensing (list of Microsoft Partners: ).

For a detailed list of Microsoft Volume Licensing Product Terms please see .

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license
https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/B/A/6BA3215A-C8B5-4AD1-AA8E-6C93606A4CFB/Windows_Server_2012_R2_Remote_Desktop_Services_Licensing_Datasheet.pdf
https://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Licensing-Windows-Server-2012-R2-RDS-and-Desktop-Apps-for-RDS.pdf
https://download.microsoft.com/download/3/d/4/3d42bdc2-6725-4b29-b75a-a5b04179958b/desktop_application_with_windows_server_remote_desktop_services.pdf
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing
https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/C/E/7CED6910-C7B2-4196-8C55-208EE0B427E2/Windows_Server_2019_licensing_datasheet_EN_US.pdf
https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/2/9/7290EA05-DC56-4BED-9400-138C5701F174/WS2016LicensingDatasheet.pdf
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Licensing/product-licensing/windows
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/product-licensing/windows10?activetab=windows10-pivot:primaryr3
https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/d/98d6a56c-4d79-40f4-8462-da3ecba2dc2c/licensing_windows_desktop_os_for_virtual_machines.pdf
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/storage/temp/12620-microsoft-vdi-and-vda-faq-v3-0.pdf
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-directory-whatis
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/hybrid-benefit/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/fslogix/overview
https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/6/0/66078040-86d8-4f6e-b0c5-e9919bbcb537/SQL%20Server%202019%20Licensing%20guide.pdf
https://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-us/search?type=companies&competency=100010
https://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/Downloader.aspx?documenttype=PT&lang=English