Plenty of Mac users are already familiar with Parallels Desktop, which makes it easy to run virtual Windows applications on a Mac computer. IT administrators should become familiar with Parallels Desktop too, because it also comes in a business edition that provides centralized deployment and management features for Parallels Desktop on Macs across the enterprise.
In a typical installation, Parallels Desktop runs locally on a Mac and provides a virtual environment for the Windows operating system (OS). That makes it possible to run Windows-based programs either side by side with Mac-based applications or within a dedicated space isolated from the Mac environment. With Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition, IT administrators can centrally deploy Windows-based virtual machines (VMs) and manage their settings, while providing a secure environment for conducting business and protecting sensitive data.
I have Parallels 12 and trying to connect homegroup in virtual machine running Win10. I can see all devices connected to the network, and when typing in the homegrown password, the Mac starts to think and nothing happens. As from version 16.5 upwards, the client policy settings are split into groups with the ability to configure and enforce each group on the client side individually. Over a series of blog posts I’m going to be taking a look at managing Macintosh devices via the third party application Parallels Mac Management for SCCM. The Parallels product embellishes Macintosh Management within SCCM beyond what native Mac support in ConfigMgr is offering. Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows Over 30 one-touch tools—clean your drive, secure private files, take screenshots, or download a video all with just a single click. Easy to use, no hassle, and no complex keyboard shortcuts.
Getting started with Parallels Desktop Business Edition
To get started with the business edition, organizations must acquire the necessary licensing and set up a Parallels business account to manage the license keys. Administrators can register license keys and view detailed license information in the licensing portal.
A computer running Parallels Desktop automatically sends license renewal requests to the Parallels Key Administrator server, which makes that information available to the portal. From the portal, administrators can view a list of computers with active licenses, deactivate licenses on specific computers and even blacklist computers to prevent future licensing.
Preparing the Parallels Desktop VMs
An organization planning to implement Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition will likely want to deploy its own VMs to users, which means first creating one or more master VMs to include in the deployment package. Administrators start by setting up a Mac computer with the business edition installed, and then create and configure the Windows VM exactly as they want to deploy it.
Admins should install the Parallels Tools suite of utilities on the guest operating system to facilitate seamless operations between Mac OS X and Windows. Parallels Tools includes features such as the Mouse Synchronization Tool, which detects when the mouse input is inside the guest OS window, allowing users to go back and forth smoothly. This is also a good time to set up shared folders and user profiles, install applications and take any other steps necessary to prepare the environment for the end user.
The business edition supports a number of features not available to the Parallels Desktop basic edition, which admins can configure when setting up the master VM. For example, administrators can assign asset tags to the basic I/O system to help track and control VMs across the enterprise. They can also password-protect configuration settings, encrypt the VMs, or set an expiration date so the VMs work only for a specific period of time.
Regardless of the features they want to include, administrators should use this time to get the VM images just right. This will make the overall deployment and management processes easier going forward, and keep the user experience as painless as possible.
Deploying and updating Parallels Desktop packages
Next, administrators can download the Parallels Desktop Mass Deployment package, which includes the necessary files and instructions for installing the business edition on the local Macs, configuring the virtual environment and then adding VMs.
The configuration file (deploy.cfg) is a special script that automatically runs on Macs and controls the installation of Parallels Desktop Business Edition and VMs on the target computer. Administrators should update the script to customize their installations. This includes adding the license key to the script's licensing section. They can also configure settings such as restricting users from changing VM settings, controlling where the VM images reside, customizing the Parallels Desktop Control Center window and specifying how Parallels Desktop should check for updates.
There are also several options for how to deploy the packages. For example, admins can integrate their deployments with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), which allows them to deploy Parallels Desktop packages directly from the SCCM console. Administrators can also use Apple Remote Desktop to deploy the packages from a Mac on the corporate network. In addition, they can deploy Parallels Desktop packages from the JAMF Casper Suite or IBM Endpoint Manager.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition can also link with an update server on the local network. Administrators can download available updates from Parallels to the update server, which then updates the company's Mac computers with the new version. Most admins prefer that option over the alternative, which is downloading Parallels updates for each computer via the Internet.
Making the most of Mac in the enterprise
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition makes it easier than ever to integrate Windows applications on enterprise Macs. The software package also includes extensive command-line utilities, support for NetBoot and a headless mode that allows the business edition to run as a service on a central Mac computer to support remote desktop access. Parallels Desktop also provides a software developer's kit to allow further customization of the service and can support additional guest OSes including Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, Android and Chrome.
Parallels Desktop does not guarantee that all apps will run as expected within their virtualized environments, but most do, and they usually perform well. That said, before implementing Parallels Desktop Business Edition on a mass scale, administrators should first test the applications they plan to run in the virtualized OS. They might run into a glitch here or there that they will need to address.
Even so, administrators will likely find that Parallels Desktop Business Edition takes Window/Mac interoperability to a whole new level, bringing the best of both worlds into a single desktop.
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Parallels For Mac Coupon Code
Parallels Desktop for Mac is desktop virtualization software that allows Microsoft Windows, Linux and Google Chrome operating systems and applications to run on an Apple Mac computer. The software integrates the guest operating system (OS) into Mac OS X, allowing it to mimic native OS performance.
Users can choose to run Mac and guest apps side by side on the Mac OS or as a full-fledged guest virtual desktop. For example, users can open a Windows app such as Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player from the Mac Finder utility. Similarly, users can drag and drop documents, folders and other data from Windows File Explorer to Finder -- and vice versa. Users can also swap between OS X and Windows without rebooting their computers and select which OS they want specific applications to open in.
Parallels Desktop for Mac comes with three modes. Coherence mode runs guest and Mac applications side by side in one window. Full Screen mode creates a full guest desktop, and Modality lets users resize and customize virtual machine windows running on top of the Mac OS.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition includes centralized deployment and management capabilities for IT administrators to streamline Windows virtual machine (VM) delivery. Admins can also link Parallels Desktop for Mac with an update server to ensure that the guest OS stays up-to-date. Business Edition also includes security capabilities such as enforcing USB thumb drive device policies and restricting users from altering VM settings or creating new VMs.
Parallels For Mac Reviews
Starting with Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac, the program is compatible with Windows 10 and OS X El Capitan. It also supports Windows 8 and 8.1.