This topic describes the release notes for Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) in 2024 and provides links to the relevant references.
November 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Support for unsubscription from limited computing plans | Unsubscription from cloud computers that use the 120-hour or 250-hour computing plans is supported. Note This feature is currently available only for invited users and is not available to the general public. | |
New | Support for changing the specifications of subscription cloud computers (limited computing plans) | The service hours and specifications of monthly subscription cloud computers (120-hour computing plans and 250-hour computing plans) can be changed. Note This feature is currently available only for invited users and is not available to the general public. | |
New | Support for specifying the disk types for High Frequency or Graphics cloud computers | Disk types, such as SSDs and Enterprise SSDs (ESSDs), can be specified for High Frequency or Graphics cloud computers. | |
New | Support for the association of logon terminals with Active Directory (AD) accounts | Improvements for enterprise AD accounts:
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New | Support for switching from region-specific policies to global policies | Custom policies created before October 2024 are specific to individual regions and can only be applied to cloud computers in the same region. Custom policies created after October 2024 are not region-specific and can be applied to cloud computers across regions. For custom policies created before October 2024, you can switch them from region-specific to globally applicable. In this case, you can bind them to cloud computers from any regions. | |
New | Support for scheduled hibernation upon inactivity | Scheduled hibernation tasks can be configured for cloud computers and executed when the computers are idle. | |
New | Support for enabling or disabling the automatic logon feature on terminals | The visibility of the automatic logon option on Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals can be configured in the EDS console. Note This feature is in invitational preview. If you want to use this feature, submit a ticket. | |
New | Support for setting a maximum number of terminals | By default, end users can log on to any number of Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals at the same time. If the maximum number of allowed terminals is reached, the first one logged on will be automatically logged off. Note This feature is in invitational preview. If you want to use this feature, submit a ticket. | |
Optimized | Improved cloud computer naming rules | A cloud computer name is composed of a name prefix and a numeric suffix. The numeric suffix contains a specific number of digits, with a starting value. | |
Optimized | Improved cloud computer details page | Improvements to the cloud computer details page:
| N/A |
Optimized | Support for jumping between different pages | When the number of entries on the Cloud Computers or Cloud Computer Pools page exceeds 20, the number of the page to which you want to jump can be specified in the lower part of the page. | N/A |
Optimized | Improved export feature | Improvements:
| N/A |
Optimized | Remembrance of previous search results | After you search for a cloud computer on the cloud computer list and view its details, returning to the list page will show your previous search results. | N/A |
Optimized | Improved search capability for batch processing on the Cloud Computers page | You can search for multiple cloud computers at the same time by using cloud computer names, IDs, office networks, and usernames. Separate multiple search filters with commas (,). | N/A |
Optimized | Improved Templates module | The Templates module is improved by adding cloud computer configurations, such as region, office network, policy, and scheduled task, in addition to computing and storage specifications. |
October 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Addition of community images | Community images are custom images created by Alibaba Cloud accounts and shared with the community. All Alibaba Cloud accounts can use community images to create custom cloud computer templates and use the templates to create cloud computers. | |
Optimized | Improved user experience with renewing cloud computers in batches | Up to 100 cloud computers can be renewed at the same time. You can also renew cloud computers from different regions at the same time. | |
Optimized | Addition of the Create Administrator portal in the Authorize Administrator panel | If no sub-administrator is available when you grant resource group permissions in the Authorize Administrator panel, you can click Create Administrator at the bottom of the list of existing sub-administrators. | Isolate the feature and data permissions across sub-administrators |
Optimized | Reduced restrictions on disk expansion | Cloud computers that are in the Running state support disk expansion. Previously, only cloud computers in the Stopped state supported disk expansion. | |
Optimized | Improved user experience with authorizing cloud computers in batches | Cloud computers from all regions are displayed on the Cloud Computer Assignment and Authorization page, which eliminates the need for region-specific operations. | |
Optimized | Improved cloud computer policies | New policies can be associated with cloud computers from any region, which eliminates region restrictions. | |
Optimized | Improved user experience with importing cloud computer images | Automatic matching is supported when you create GPU-accelerated cloud computers. You no longer need to configure GPU drivers when importing images for GPU-accelerated cloud computers. |
September 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Addition of the Scheduled Tasks module | Before the module is added, you can configure only isolated scheduled tasks for each cloud computer. Now, you can configure multiple scheduled tasks and associate each task with specific cloud computers. | |
Optimized | Improved EDS console | The left-side navigation pane layout in the EDS console is optimized based on the service modules and management requirements. This enhances operational efficiency and convenience. | |
Optimized | Improved batch assignment of cloud computers | The batch assignment button is moved from the upper-right corner to the upper-left corner for convenience. You can batch assign cloud computers to enterprise AD accounts. | |
Optimized | Addition of another entry to remote assistance | Before the remote assistance feature is optimized, remote assistance was accessible only from the Session Monitoring page. Now, another entry for remote assistance is added to the Cloud Computers page. |
August 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Support for configuring custom access domain names for office networks | If your end users need to access cloud computer resources across regions, such as accessing a cloud computer deployed in the Chinese mainland from a region outside the Chinese mainland, you can specify a custom access domain name for your office network to replace the default gateway domain name, and use network acceleration services such as Global Accelerator to speed up resource access and improve the service experience for end users. | |
Optimized | Support for specifying resource groups when you create cloud computers | When you create a cloud computer, you can specify a resource group for the cloud computer for subsequent management. | |
Optimized | Optimized console page for creating a cloud computer policy | The page used to create a cloud computer policy is optimized, which allows you to quickly find the required rules and configurations. | |
Optimized | Optimized console page for screen recording playback | If you want to view a screen recording file, you can click Play Back on the Screen Recordings page. Then, a new page appears, on which you can view the file. On the Screen Recording File page, the file details section is moved to the upper part of the video window. | |
Optimized | Support for downloading the authorized user list of a cloud computer pool | You can download the list of authorized users of a cloud computer pool to on-premises devices. | |
Optimized | Support for configuring the density of visible watermarks | You can configure the number of columns and rows of the watermark content displayed on the desktops of cloud computers. The watermark content can be displayed in 3 to 10 rows and columns. | |
Optimized | Support for configuring secondary domain controller hostnames and DNS addresses of enterprise AD office networks | This parameter is used to ensure high availability. Even if one of the domain name controllers is shut down, operations such as cloud computer creation, assignment, and logon are not affected. |
July 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Addition of bandwidth throttling for cloud computers | After you enable a premium bandwidth plan, you can configure a bandwidth throttling rule and apply the rule to a cloud computer to deliberately slow down the Internet speed. | |
New | Support for switching monthly subscription (unlimited computing plan) to pay-as-you-go | You can switch the billing method of cloud computers from monthly subscription (Unlimited computing plan) to pay-as-you-go if the remaining quota is sufficient. | Switch monthly subscription (Unlimited computing plans) to pay-as-you-go |
New | Addition of stream collaboration | EDS provides the stream collaboration feature for administrators and end users. You and your end users can share the desktops of cloud computers for remote assistance and collaboration. | |
New | Addition of organization IDs and enterprise identity sources |
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Optimized | Support for system disk capacity options on the Quick Purchase tab | Before system disk capacity options are added to the Quick Purchase tab, it was only possible to purchase system disks with 80 GiB capacity. Now, you can purchase the disk with 120 GiB capacity. | |
Optimized | Addition of the Billing Method column | The Billing Method column is added to the Session Monitoring page of the Monitoring & Alerts module. This allows you to easily filter cloud computer sessions. | |
Optimized | Support for configuring the maximum retry duration of automatic reconnection in a cloud computer policy | You can configure the maximum retry duration in a cloud computer policy in case of connection failures. | |
Optimized | Support for manually disabling the system snapshot feature | You can manually stop the creation of automatic snapshots for cloud computers. Note The feature is in invitational preview. If you want to use this feature, submit a ticket. | |
Optimized | Support for increasing the maximum number of remote commands that can be sent | Before the increase, you can send up to 100 remote commands. Now, you can send up to 500 remote commands. |
June 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Support for switching billing methods | The monthly subscription (Unlimited computing plan) and pay-as-you-go billing methods can be switched to monthly subscription (limited computing plans). | |
New | Support for resizing disks of monthly subscription cloud computers | You can resize the system disks and data disks of cloud computers that are billed on a monthly subscription (120 Hours/Month or 250 Hours/Month) basis. | |
New | Support for scheduled tasks upon inactivity on cloud computers running Linux 2.0 or later | You can configure scheduled tasks to be executed during idle times for Linux cloud computers that use the Adaptive Streaming Protocol (ASP) and whose image versions are V2.0.0 or later. | |
Optimized | Support for configuring automatic stop for monthly subscription cloud computers | If the monthly running hours of a cloud computer are used up before the end of the month, the cloud computer continues to run and generates extra fees. If you want the cloud computer to stop running upon hour exhaustion, select When the monthly running hours of a cloud computer are exhausted in advance, the system automatically stops or hibernates the cloud computer.... | |
Optimized | Improved renewal process for one or more cloud computers | You can renew monthly subscription cloud computers. |
May 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
New | Addition of new computing plans to monthly subscription plans | The following computing plans are added: 120 Hours/Month and 250 Hours/Month. The monthly duration refers to the length of time during which end users can use cloud computers in a month. If the duration is not exhausted within a month, the remaining hours do not roll over to the next month. If the duration is exhausted before the end of the month, further use is billed on an hourly basis. The specific pricing is stated on the EDS buy page. A fee cap mechanism is provided to prevent excessive charges. When the fee of a monthly subscription cloud computer with limited service hours reaches the fee of a monthly subscription cloud computer with unlimited service hours, you are not billed for additional usage. | |
New | Addition of the quick purchase mode | The the Quick Purchase tab is added, which streamlines the creation process. This method is suitable for general customers with no special requirements. | |
New | Support for configuring the password validity period | By default, the password of a user account is valid permanently. You can specify a validity period of 30 to 365 days for the password. When the specified validity period elapses, end users must change the password before they can log on to terminals. Note This feature is in invitational preview. If you want to use this feature, submit a ticket. | |
New | Removal of the user whitelist for the user data roaming feature implemented by user profile management (UPM) | All users can use the UPM feature. | |
New | Support for automatic addition of information about Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients to the Software Clients tab of the Hardware Terminals & Software Clients page | After end users log on to the Windows or macOS client by using organization IDs, information about the client is automatically added to the console. You can also bind Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals to user accounts. | |
Optimized | Removal of the restrictions on office network types when you migrate cloud computers across office networks | Cloud computers can be migrated from advanced office networks to basic office networks. |
April 2024
Type | Feature | Description | References |
Optimized | Improved image management of cloud computer pools |
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Optimized | Improved management of cloud computer pools |
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New | Addition of the running duration rankings of cloud computers to the Cloud Computer Monitoring page | The Top Runtime Duration tab is added to the Cloud Computer Monitoring page. You can view the runtime duration rankings of all cloud computers, manage cloud computer resources, and view user operation logs based on your business requirements. | |
Optimized | Improved compatibility of the usernames of convenience accounts | The naming conventions of the usernames of convenience users are optimized. This prevents the failure of assigning Linux cloud computers to convenience users. |