Happy with Parallels Remote Application Server
Updated July 30, 2022
Happy with Parallels Remote Application Server
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction 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.
- Our business objectives are non-profit which means that (low) IT costs are an important factor. The increase of license costs for Parallels Remote Application Server since "2x" is not easy to handle for us.
- On the other hand, Parallels Remote Application Server is reliable and integrated, and standard procedure in our setting, so at the moment, we have no plans to change.
- Any user can access our system from any of our 12 locations and also from outside of our locations with no loss of "look and feel."
We have not used or evaluated other products since 2005.
We have been using Parallels Remote Application Server since 2005. We have migrated our setup over several server generations with little effort. The original setup has not much changed since. We have benefited from the ease of use.
Corona made home office use necessary. Parallels Remote Application Server offers the HTML5-Gateway, so we were able to send users home and keep them connected without any installations or upgrades. Use on iOS or Android devices is not frequent but works well when needed.
Over the years, we went from hardware servers to a virtual server environment with VMWare ESXi. Parallels Remote Application Server has gone along all the way.
Except for one of our locations, all locations and computers connect via VPN. Connecting via Parallels Remote Application Server "distances" the users from our servers. There is no business data on local computers. Without certain knowledge, access to the servers without Parallels Remote Application Server is not possible. Malware on a local computer can at most access the local LAN without creating damage.
Do you think Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS)'s feature set?
Yes
Did Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) live up to sales and marketing promises?
I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process
Did implementation of Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) again?
Yes
Using Parallels Remote Application Server
110 - All of our employees use Parallels RAS regardless of their function.
2 - Overall daily use of Parallels does not require much user support. Once installed it is neccessary to know the connection settings, to know how to publish applications and to whom. It is neccessary to be able to explain the "logic" of the system to the users who need to understand the difference between the local and the remote system and where the actual work is being done - for example that the local Windows Explorer cannot find the folders and files on the remote file server. Using the internet and downloading file happens on the local computer and transfering files to the remote file server needs to be explained. Installing printers in the Parallels printer folder is also a regular issue.
- MS Office - Outlook, Word, Excel
- Printing
- HTML5-Gateway during the pandemic
Evaluating Parallels RAS and Competitors
- Price
- Product Features
- Product Reputation
In 2005 we only had the choice between Parallels (then called "2x" and Citrix. 2x/Parallels cost much less and seemed to be the right system for our small organisation (and still is).
The price factor has changed significantly. There are issues with being able to use USB devices on local computers which seem to be easier handled with citrix through special citrix connectors that come with the product.