UnParallel data access and protection
When protecting organisational data and information you need a solution to allow users access without restricting their ability to perform …
Starting at $120 per year per user
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What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS, formerly 2X RAS), is application virtualization technology, billed as a solution to extend the life of legacy OS (like Windows XP) with its virtual desktop for any device. Maltese company 2X Software developed the technology,…
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- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $120 per year per user
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What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is a remote work solution that provides secure virtual access to business applications and desktops on any device or OS—from anywhere. The platform offers an agile, cloud-ready foundation and end-to-end security fueled by a centralized management console with granular policies. Companies can leverage on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud deployments and integrate with existing technology like Microsoft Azure and AWS. Parallels RAS aims to give organizations the flexibility, scalability, and IT agility to adapt to changing business needs. Parallels RAS offers a single, full-featured licensing model that includes 24/7 support and access to product training. The vendor states its key benefits include:
- User experience—work from anywhere, on any device.
- Enhanced data security and compliance—centralized management console with granular policies.
- IT agility and business readiness—flexible hosting solutions to scale and adapt.
- Total cost of ownership—supports BYOD and includes a simple licensing model.
- Always-on support—access to 24/7 support and training at no additional cost.
Parallels RAS Features
- Supported: Advanced access controls: Secures corporate data with a client group policy in the Parallels RAS Console. Centrally manages and controls access by user, group, or device.
- Supported: Multifactor authentication: Requires users to authentication access via two-factor or smart card authentication. Parallels RAS also integrates with third-party security solutions.
- Supported: Encryption protocols: Parallels RAS Secure Gateway supports SSL and FIPS 140-2 encryption, helping organizations adhere to data compliance policies such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
- Supported: Centralized monitoring: Transforms raw data into custom visual reports to show traffic and resource usage from network infrastructure. Centrally monitors day-to-day user activities.
Parallels RAS Screenshots
Parallels RAS Videos
This video shows how to deploy virtual apps and desktops via Parallels RAS in Azure by using Parallels RAS in the Azure Marketplace. This is a fast way to create a proof of concept (POC) or test environment.
This video demonstrates the steps an administrator takes within the Parallels RAS Console to successfully deliver services to end users via Amazon EC2.
Parallels RAS themes allow an organization to transform what the user sees when they access resources delivered via Parallels RAS. For example, custom branding (white labeling) can be applied, a custom URL can be set for the end user, and access can be locked down to specific ...
Show More MSIX app attach is an Azure Virtual Desktop feature. It provides application modernization, improves application lifecycle management, and reduces hardware footprint and IT management overhead by using fewer templates.
Parallels RAS brings MSIX app attach technology to RDSH,...
Show More Automated certificate management with Let's Encrypt integration.
Parallels RAS includes cloud cost-reduction capabilities, including autoscaling, power management, and automated image optimization. Parallels RAS adds more cost-reduction measures by extending cost-saving capabilities to storage.
When the virtual machine (VM) is not running...
Show More Parallels RAS Integrations
Parallels RAS Competitors
Parallels RAS Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, Mac, Windows Server 2008R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2022, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11 |
| Mobile Application | Android, Mobile Web, iPadOS |
| Supported Languages | English, German, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean |
Parallels RAS Downloadables
Frequently Asked Questions
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS, formerly 2X RAS), is application virtualization technology, billed as a solution to extend the life of legacy OS (like Windows XP) with its virtual desktop for any device.
Maltese company 2X Software developed the technology, but was acquired by Parallels (in Seattle, WA) in February, 2015 to extend their cross-platform support solutions.
Parallels RAS starts at $120.
Citrix DaaS, VMware Horizon, and VMware Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure are common alternatives for Parallels RAS.
Reviewers rate Availability highest, with a score of 9.6.
The most common users of Parallels RAS are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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August 30, 2022
Simple to configure and use
We sell and support Sybiz ERP and Payroll software. We have Sybiz users who needed to upgrade their infrastructure but were put off by the projected costs. We configured our own Azure server with the Parallels image and now provide those resources to 12 client entities. We provide their users with published apps via the Parallels client. Our Azure server has 20 to 30 users connected most days.
- Published apps
- Local printers
- Support
- It just seems to work
We use this application to deploy our software to our customers. We publish the application using an Active Directory where our users are created. So, Only the usergroup with the name [Customer] is allowed to start the application of [Customer] When one of the customers decide to arrange their management to another customer, we easily add the other usergroup [Customer2] to also open the application of [customer]. In this scenario, a user connected to usergroup [Customer2] is having 2 desktop shortcuts. The application of [Customer] and the application of [Customer2].
- Active directory integration.
- detailed logging of incoming connections, so you can see what user account is trying to connect from which IP address at what time.
- Easy to setup, for example, the HTML5 environment was already created while configuring the basic steps of the farm.
- Announcement of maintenance beforehand.
- Remote control of the connected user computer, not the session.
- Parallels Remote Application Server Client 19 now is asking for an email address? This is weird.
August 17, 2022
A solid product for a good price, but support is mediocre
At first it was used as a Call Center application suite, so that our call center users could connect to their apps via thin clients, which worked very well and cut down the maintenance overhead for our support team. As we migrated more and more servers to AWS, we needed a way for some departments to run their apps at the proper speed, as the network connection between us and AWS was too slow to support the programs locally. Parallels became the go to for any apps that required heavy network traffic, as the Parallels app could be run in the same AWS region as the one hosting the app server, basically creating a local network in a remote location.
- Very easy to set up
- Works well with profile redirection
- Easy to switch servers in and out of service, for easy maintenance.
- In switching servers in and out of service, it would be nice if Parallels migrated the user session immediately to an available server. As it is, you need to wait for them to close their apps before they are out of the old server, or kick them out, which ends their session. (Note : I am still on version 16, so this may be a thing now)
- I've found that Parallels needs to be set up with the HTTPS cert directly on the app in order to host secure traffic for the HTML5 site. Would be nice if it allowed HTTPS traffic to be sent to it via the load balancer, so the cert can be managed there instead.
August 17, 2022
just work anywhere
Like many other organizations we often work at various locations. Additionally we moved our server infrastructure to a housing service provider. VPN connectivity was not an option for us and to avoid several security issues we decided to only allow terminal services when working on our financial or document management systems.
- easy to implement
- seamless operation on local systems
- fast screen output
- security
- multi os
- better HTML5 only implementation
- browser based management
August 17, 2022
In our organization Parallels RAS allows users to access sensitive data with 2FA worldwide
Parallels RAS is in use in our company for several years. It is used together with DeenNeet DualShield Authentication server to provide 2FA secure access to those corporate servers which should not be exposed directly to the Internet due to sensitive data stored there.
Users are able to access the sensitive data from any point. Parallels's comprehensive server/feature management allows our IT department to be very flexible.
Users are able to access the sensitive data from any point. Parallels's comprehensive server/feature management allows our IT department to be very flexible.
- Centralized servers status view (memory, disk, CPU)
- Flexible permissions (users, groups)
- Possibility to customize the corporate WWW portal view
- It would be great to have the option for temporary license. For example 10 licenses for 1 month, instead of yearly subscription.
August 12, 2022
Parallels Remote Application Server - it works every time!
We have different versions of certain applications that need to be available all at once - streaming these via Parallels Remote Application Server has provided the flexibility needed to meet our SLA. Additionally, certain web applications need a certain browser to work correctly and having the ability to force the browser to open the application has been invaluable to us.
- OS independent; work from various devices
- Does not need a plugin to work as it works in HTML5 just fine
- Redundancy model using HALB
- VDI out of the box without the need for additional software
- Ability to Shadow sessions
- Ability to better finger print client OS and version and deny access if client OS is obsolete. This worked in windows 7 but in windows 10 - it does not detect os level
- Ability to customize the GUI/frontend more than currently possible
August 12, 2022
Goodbye Citrix.... hello Parallels Remote Application Server
We use Parallels Remote Application Server in multiple ways. The first use is for our remote works, allowing them to secure access to our networks with little fuss. The biggest things for us are the ease of security and also the ease of access. It feels like a great combination of secure but simple. Sometimes simpler is better!
- Simple RDP / Application access
- Setup is a breeze compared to competitors
- Simple layout for management
- In constant development
- I feel it could give more options in the Parallels Remote Application Server client around connection settings
- Personally not a fan of the default settings applied to some settings
- Parallels Remote Application Server tenant broker could be better sign posted
We use Parallels Remote Application Server internally and for multiple clients to provide an easy and secure remote access method for end users. It allows users with limited technical ability to be able to access secure corporate systems from a variety of different device types, usually with little to no setup assistance from a technician.
- It's versatile - can be accessed from almost any device.
- It's secure - it gives administrators the ability to only allow users remote access to applications they need.
- It allows for a flexible deployment model with redundancy .
- The initial design and setup takes some time to work out.
- The name recognition for users outside the IT field is limited; they are more familiar with competing products.
- Technical support is not always as responsive as they could be when there are issues.
August 04, 2022
Parallels - The Good and the Bad
We use it as an alternative to RDP connections internally, and for clients who want to remote into their servers externally.
- External Access
- Full Desktop Capabilities
- Default Policies
- Printing not always working
August 02, 2022
Parallels RAS saved our bacon
We used and advised clients to use it for centralized access to our general ledger software, line of business apps, and files.
- Access from anywhere with an Internet connection.
- Easy to manage.
- Excellent price/performance.
- Managing non-standard printers (large format - KIP printers, HP plotters.
- Easier setup for MFA.
- Easier setup for non-standard display sizes.
July 30, 2022
Happy with Parallels Remote Application Server
We are an organisation with a central server system and 12 locations with about 110 users connecting via Parallels Remote Application Server (formerly "2x" when we started in 2005) over permanent VPN/IPSEC connections. Corona led to regular home office use, which Parallels Remote Application Server provided onboard via HTML5 (instant usability, no installation necessary). Our firewall provides an SSL-VPN-Client so that the Parallels-Client can be used in non-business environments, too. We also use the OpenVPN Connect client with an SSL-VPN-Configuration file provided by our firewall.
- Parallels Remote Application Server provides access and published applications to specified users or groups via Active Directory user or group privileges
- Parallels Remote Application Server provides on the fly remote access via HTML5-Gateway
- Parallels Remote Application Server provides remote printing service to local printers
- Although better since v18 connecting to local resources (e.g., HDDs and similar) could be faster.
- As far as we know, HTML5 access cannot be limited to certain users or user groups. Anyone who knows how it works can use this access as long as they have user privileges for our system. It would be nice to be able to configure user privileges for the feature.
We use Parallels Remote Application Server to replace Citrix Servers and deliver a simple yet powerful tool to our end users for running published applications and accessing network resources from either mobile platforms or from other locations that are offsite. We found it simpler to get up and running and much less expensive than Citrix.
- Printing from published applications.
- Easy to set up and keep running.
- We would like to be able to do what we do with Citrix published ICA files—essentially free-standing configurations that once ran function like a local application while they log in (in the background).
July 27, 2022
Parallels is awesome for what it is for
We use it as a remote access tool for users to access our resources away from the hospital. It gives them the ability to remote into their desktop as well as let us publish single apps instead of having to give access to the whole network. It combines those tools into one central interface that is pretty easy to learn.
- It is great for creating remote desktops
- Publishing single Applications
- easy to use administrator console
- Requires that a client is installed on your PC
- VDI's built in Parallels crash sometimes requiring us to rebuild them
One of our major clients uses Parallels Remote Application Server and has over 500+ end users. The software allowed simplified deployment and management of custom Apps including security group management and granular personalization based on user login. This addresses the problem of requiring each remote desktop server previously have non-standard apps installed with no standard build. It was previously a major headache when patch Tuesday came around. Parallels Remote Application Server solved that! We reviewed the customer's requirements both internal Lan-based customers and those working remotely We investigated the large number of out of the box and custom and often ageing applications and found that all of them were easily deployed and managed by Parallels.
- Remote Access when Network Down
- Mobile Application is amazing
- Centralised management of remote applications
- Granular configuration of user properites
- Iphone App graphics a bit lacking
- More Customised Reporting
- Support Team pre-testing of Microsoft apps to assess impact
July 18, 2022
Affordable product with optimal features
We are using the Parallels Remote Application Server to distribute an application that was decades old and we contribute to maintaining the application cause of the legacy nature. The Parallels Remote Application Server helps in situations where end-user support requirements are critical to the IT organization. We see the value of having ease of access to end users and applications at the same time
- Application distribution
- Support
- Ease of access
- Reporting
- Integration with AD groups
- User level permission setup
July 17, 2022
Give it a chance you will not be dissapointed!
Sharing Virtual Desktops and applications to consultants to be accessed anytime from everywhere. We have configured different authentication mechanisms and created a series of tools to show the API integration. Also have different use cases to show RDS and VDI. The reporting capabilities are also deployed for monitoring and KPI analysis.
- Easy to administer.
- Access from any device.
- All in one capabilities.
- Users Groups or categories for applications access.
- How-to videos.
- Whole capabilities on web administration.
We use Parallels Remote Application Server to deploy our billing solution to multiple users across our infrastructure. Parallels Remote Application Server allows us to launch the application by simply putting a shortcut on the end user's desktop that creates the remote connection and launches the application automatically. That allows for quick deployment to multiple computers and saves time and effort.
- Simplifies connecting to a user's environment.
- Quickly deploy new applications.
- Licensing database has had some issues that kept users from connecting and the workaround is a bit tedious.
- Tech support can be a bit rude.
We currently deploy Parallels Remote Application Server on Windows RDS servers to provide remote access to the company resources, mainly for law firms. In some cases, we install the agent on a physical desktop and it allows the user to access that PC remotely. Everything is done in the same console and this is a great benefit, configure the apps, desktop, and certificates all from the same console. Parallels Remote Application Server makes things easy and removes the complexity, I am amazed at how easy it is to install and configure a certificate for the public-facing URL, you can easily decide to use TLS1.2 and so make it more secure just by one click! Also, you can integrate it easily with Google 2FA authentication or other 2FA solutions. I have only in a few cases needed to contact technical support, it just works once you set it up.
- One console to configure everything, and simple to use and configure.
- It is easy to configure security on the product, SSL certificate, 2FA, logging, alerts.
- you have several options to deploy the product, RDS hosts, VDI, remote PC
- you can also configure reporting if you need more details on the environment
- Performance monitor also can be configured as part of the same installation
- Offer the option to include windows licensing (by paying extra of course)
- sometimes had issues with support not understanding my request (it was more related to a Microsoft issue rather than Parallels Remote Application Server at the end.)
July 09, 2022
Cost effective wrapper for MS RDP/VDI deployment. Worth it for consolidation and ease of management.
We originally migrated from Citrix ICA due to overall cost. It is used in an RDP environment to deploy Windows-based ERP and Fulfillment applications to remote warehouses.
- Easy Administration of Microsoft Terminal Services
- HTML5 (web-based), Chrome, Linux Clients
- Universal Printing
- Thin Client. This was deprecated.
- x86 support. This was deprecated
- Certificate management
We implement Parallels Remote Application Server for customers in various industries. It is used to access remote PCs located in the office but also to access central virtual desktops hosted via MS RDP.
- fast and lean structure
- Very simple management
- very good and fast manufacturer support
- Simple license model - all features in one license
- MS Teams optimization / Offloading
A published application that can be hosted\updated\managed on one server and used by multiple users on multiple platforms. With Parallels Remote Application Server we were able to establish a working solution for our company's needs and is easy to do with excellent Parallels support and a cost-friendly licensing solution. The main tool for Deltek OpenPlan usage in our company.
- Simplicity
- Performance
- Cost friendly licensing
- Support
- Azure AVD integration
- Hybrid VM management
June 23, 2022
Remote Application Server, the way it should be.
We have been using Parallels RAS since the beginning of the Covid Pandemic, and continue to use it to this day. It has an easy-to-use main dashboard on the RAS Server directly and easily allows you to configure any setup you like. Whether this is having multiple gateways, to allow for easy load balancing, RDS, or VDI environments. We use Parallels in an RDS and physical PC setting, and the RDS side works as we'd expect. If I was to say what our primary issue is, it would be to do with the physical PC side. This is because as the PCs do get turned off, the RAS server-client keeps saying that machines need updating as it doesn't like them being offline. As a business, we will be continuing to use Parallels RAS, as we're very happy with the product, after coming from one of their main competitors - Citrix.
- Management and deployment of devices.
- Reporting on user/application times.
- Policies on the application/HTML portal.
- Prompts to update offline devices (workstations in our case).
- A direct method of allowing you to disable the HTML portal (instead of a 404 - we added a redirect for anyone requesting the portal).
June 20, 2022
Best and Easy RAS Solution
We publish our ERP systems through RAS to remote users. This includes our branch offices, roaming users, and remote locations. For some of the critical users, we also publish desktop for ease of use to the WAN sales teams as well. Without 2X it was difficult for us to provide ERP connection to the remote users.
- Remote Application Publish.
- Local and Remote Printing Support.
- Application Permission Management.
- Remote Administration.
- Folder Redirection.
- Application Launch Speed.
- Some reports of ERP running very slow using Parallels Remote Application Server.
June 15, 2022
Parallels RAS? More like RA-YES!
Parallels Remote Application Server has allowed us to implement a flexible and customizable work environment comprised of thin clients, virtual desktops, and individuals working from home. It was relatively easy to set up and is simple to maintain.
- Virtual Desktop Environments
- Integration with Thin Clients
- Easy user/session management via portal
- Sessions will sometimes suspend and fall into a 'sleep' state where they don't fully disconnect. This leaves users confused as to why they can't actually get on their computers.
- Cursors on thin clients will often disappear when hovering over different applications.
- Not all software can be virtualized and utilized in the "published apps" method of implementation. This isn't really Parallel's fault, but it's definitely something to be aware of. Some users may need a full VDI if working from home over just the apps.
April 08, 2022
Make the switch to Parallels RAS!
Prior to using Parallels RAS, we were using a competitor product that was very complex and cumbersome when it came to needing to upgrade. We trialed Parallels RAS and were blown away by how easy it was to stand up the product and begin using the features. Employees have been very happy with the performance and ease of use. Upgrades are also very easy with Parallels and only take a fraction of the time of the competitor product to complete.
- Reliability
- Ease of Use.
- Ease of Administration.
- Availability of release notes.
- Notification of new releases.
- SSO on client stops working once the client is upgraded to newer version.