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Understanding Deployment Scenario Diagrams

Terms and Abbreviations

Deployment scenario diagrams include terms and abbreviations, which are explained in the following table.

CB

RAS Connection Broker

SG

RAS Secure Gateway (including User Portal)

Private SG

Private RAS Secure Gateway (used for direct client connections)

RDSH, RDS host

RDSH Agent

RD Session Host (formerly Terminal Server)

RAS RD Session Host Agent installed on an RD Session Host.

Remote PC

A remote Windows computer with RAS Remote PC Agent installed

VDI

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (a VDI host with a hypervisor running virtual machines). Each virtual machine must have RAS Guest Agent installed.

HALB

High Availability Load Balancing. An appliance that provides load balancing for RAS Secure Gateways.

Converted PC

A PC with Windows converted to a thin-client-like OS.

Enrollment Server

RAS Enrollment Server (an essential part of SAML SSO Authentication functionality).

Icons

The following table describes the icons used in deployment scenario diagrams.

Parallels RAS Server Components

_Solutions_Guide_icon_RDS.png

A server hosting RAS Connection Broker. May also host other Parallels RAS components depending on a deployment.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_GW_Gateway.png

RAS Secure Gateway (including User Portal) used for secure (SSL) client connections.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_GW_Direct.png

Private RAS Secure Gateway, used for direct client connections.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_TS.png

RD Session Host with RAS RD Session Host Agent installed.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_Windows_PC.png

A remote Windows computer with RAS Remote PC Agent installed. Not to be confused with Converted PC described below (a similar icon in red color).

_Solutions_Guide_icon_VDI_Host.png

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (a VDI host with a hypervisor running virtual machines). Each virtual machine must have RAS Guest Agent installed.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_HALB_VA.png

High Availability Load Balancing. An appliance that provides load balancing for RAS Secure Gateways.

Parallels RAS Client Devices

_Solitions_Guide_icon_PC_black.png

A desktop computer (Windows, Linux, Mac) with Parallels Client installed.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_Converted_PC.png

A PC with Windows converted to a thin-client-like OS. Not to be confused with a remote PC described above (a similar icon in orange color).

_Solitions_Guide_icon_Kiosk.png

A converted PC (same as above) with Kiosk mode enabled.

_Solitions_Guide_icon_HTML5.png

HTML5 enabled web browser.

_Solitions_Guide_icon_Mobile_Device.png

Mobile device (iOS, Android).

Other Components

_Solitions_Guide_icon_Active_Directory.png

Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP server(s).

_Solutions_Guide_icon_SQL_Reporting.png

Microsoft SQL Server database.

RAS Reporting and SQL Server Reporting Services (installed on the same server).

_Solitions_Guide_icon_RADIUS.png

RADIUS server (used for second-level authentication).

_Solitions_Guide_icon_File_Server.png

File server for storing user profiles and redirected folders.

_Solitions_Guide_icon_Firewall.png

Firewall (ports 80 and 443 are open).

_Solutions_Guide_icon_VPN

On-premises VPN gateway.

_Solitions_Guide_icon_Enrollment_Server.png

RAS Enrollment Server.

_Solutions_Guide_icon_Azure-LB.png

Azure Load Balancer and/or Azure VPN Gateway.

Diagram Layout

To understand the diagram layout, consider the following sample diagram:

The left side of the diagram displays client devices that can connect to Parallels RAS. In the example above, the clients are (from top to bottom):

  • HTML5 enabled web browser

  • A converted Windows PC running in Kiosk mode

  • A mobile device (iOS, Android)

The Location rectangle denotes a physical location, such as an office.

Firewall, represented by a brick wall, is responsible for network protection. Please note that if the scenario description doesn't include any specifics about DMZ or firewall(s), it is up to the administrator or network security officer to decide how network protection should be implemented.

The Farm rectangle represents a Parallels RAS farm, which is comprised of one or more sites.

The Site 1 rectangle represents a site with individual servers and components. In the example above, the site has a single server with RAS Connection Broker (CB), RAS Secure Gateway (SG), and RAS RD Session Host Agent installed.

The LAN bar represents a local area network with the following computers and servers connected to it:

  • Desktop computer

  • Converted Windows PC running in Kiosk mode.

  • File server

  • Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP server(s)

  • RADIUS server

The lines between icons denote the communication channels between individual components.

The Installation Notes section describes how a component (or components) must be installed on a corresponding server. The following installation methods are used to install Parallels RAS server components:

  • Parallels RAS Installer (standard installation). This is a standard MSI installer package that you run in Windows to install an application.

  • Windows Installer (custom installation). This is the same type of installer as described above, but you must choose the Custom installation type, which allows you to select which component(s) you want to install.

  • Push Installation. A component is installed remotely from the RAS console by pushing the MSI installer packages to a remote server and then performing an unattended installation on it.

  • Virtual appliance. A preconfigured virtual appliance for VMware or XenServer. You can download a virtual appliance for the hypervisor you are using from the Parallels website by visiting the following URL: http://www.parallels.com/products/ras/download/server/links/

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