Solution brief
Deliver Virtualized Graphics to Your
Most Demanding Power Users
With hosted remote workstations, users can now access sharp, responsive
3D graphics applications from anywhere and on any device.
Design Changes in a Global World
Design and manufacturing companies face increasing challenges in today’s
global workplace. They must be able to securely collaborate and manage
design lifecycles effectively with offshore, mobile, and remote employees. Yet
sharing complex 3D and 2D data across a global environment is challenging.
E-mail, FTP, and physical media remain the most common methods for large-
scale data sharing. However, these technologies are slow and cumbersome. They
generate multiple versions of the data that must be managed and synchronized,
and they increase the exposure of critical intellectual property (IP). As file sizes
continue to grow and the need for global collaboration increases, faster and
more secure strategies are needed.
Close the Gap with Hosted Remote Workstations
Intel and Citrix can help you address the global design challenge with a cost-
effective desktop-virtualization and app-virtualization solution that delivers
rich applications to any user on any device, including demanding 3D graphics
“Intel is pleased to partner with applications. With this solution, applications are centralized at the secure
Citrix XenServer to be the first data center near the 3D graphics data files, which helps deliver reliable high
performance and strong protection for IP. Users around the world can work from
in the industry to enable Intel the same data set, with no need for high-volume data transfers. They can also
enjoy workstation-class visual performance using any device, with or without
GVT-g support, allowing for graphics-processing-unit (GPU) capabilities on the endpoint. 3D graphics apps can
Citrix XenDesktop to deliver run equally well on a dedicated graphics workstation, a tablet, or a smart phone.
remote virtual graphics and Citrix XenDesktop* and Citrix XenApp* create a flexible, unified platform that
delivers Linux* and Windows* desktops and applications to remote users and that
rich applications to a broad set provides the high-definition performance of a local desktop or app. Combined
with the power and scalability of servers based on the Intel® Xeon® processor E3
of enterprise workers.” v5 family, XenDesktop and XenApp can deliver a high-quality user experience on a
dense, energy-efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure. The Intel Xeon processor
— Jim Blakley, E3 v5 family includes integrated graphics hardware acceleration based on Intel®
general manager of visual Iris™ Pro graphics technology, so there is no need for add-on graphics cards.
cloud computing, Intel1
Solution Brief | Deliver Virtualized Graphics to Your Most Demanding Power Users
iMProVe CollAborAtion ACroSS
Citrix GlobAl DeSiGn teAMS
XenDesktop*
Citrix
XenApp*
Intel® Xeon® Processor
E3 v5 Family
Integrated Graphics Hardware Acceleration
Figure 1. Deliver a workstation-class visual experience to any user on any device while protecting your data and applications
behind your data-center firewalls
By running virtual machines (VM) on the Citrix XenServer • Better resource utilization. XenDesktop and XenApp
7* hypervisor, each app and desktop receives graphics- dramatically simplify desktop provisioning and
acceleration benefits from Intel’s virtual GPU, Intel® Graphics management, and they have been used successfully to
Virtualization Technology (Intel® GVT-g). Based on Iris Pro support remote users across continents and oceans. 2
graphics, this technology integrates a standard Intel GPU Depending on requirements, the same centralized
driver within the centralized VM, which enables the VM to infrastructure and staff can be used to support multiple
render 3D apps and desktops. You can deliver graphics-rich teams in global, follow-the-sun work scenarios.
applications with cost models that support broad delivery to
Delivering Reliable High Performance to Remote Users
hundreds or even thousands of users.
WAN performance limitations have traditionally prevented IT
Improve End-to-End Collaboration organizations from hosting graphics-rich client applications
while Reducing Risk in the data center. Citrix overcomes these limitations
with Citrix HDX* technology, which includes a broad set
The performance and cost advantages provided by of technologies integrated across the entire end-to-end
XenDesktop, XenApp, XenServer, and the Intel Xeon delivery system. With Citrix HDX, only user commands and
processor E3 v5 family open the door to broader and screen-display information must traverse the network,
more effective collaboration. Detail engineers and leaving the data files securely inside the data center.
designers, production teams on the factory floor, engineers Deep compression, quality-of-service (QoS) controls, and
collaborating with third-party design teams, business network-level WAN-optimization technologies can reduce
analysts, and sales and support staff at customer sites can network-bandwidth requirements to optimize the end-user
all benefit from more responsive access to complex data and experience over narrow WAN links.
visualizations. Even users who have dedicated workstations
can benefit from the ability to switch seamlessly to a tablet Today’s office applications often require high-quality voice,
or smart phone and pull up the complex visualizations rich video, and multimedia. Citrix HDX optimizations can
during meetings, travel, and consultations. detect and offload audio-video processing to capable remote
client devices as needed to maintain the high performance
Centralizing data and applications in the data center delivers levels often demanded by virtual apps and desktops—even
many additional advantages: across high-latency, low-bandwidth networks.
•S
tronger security and compliance. Sensitive data remains Hardware-level GPU acceleration with Iris Pro graphics
in the data center, behind corporate firewalls. Citrix provides provides fast frame rates and smooth visual performance
strong identity management, intelligent access control, and for demanding 3D graphics applications. The HDX 3D Pro*
end-to-end encryption of all communications. optimization makes use of Intel’s graphics acceleration to
• Higher reliability. Data-center infrastructure can be deliver a smooth, responsive experience to remote users.
architected for high availability and disaster recovery. Consistent, high-quality user experiences can be provided
If a client device fails, or if users can’t make it to work with as little as 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) of network
due to weather conditions or other issues, the users can bandwidth and with round-trip latency as high as 200
connect securely from home using their personal PCs, milliseconds (ms). 3 Even higher latencies can be sustained
laptops, tablets, or smart phones. for short periods without impairing the user experience. 3
2
Solution Brief | Deliver Virtualized Graphics to Your Most Demanding Power Users
HDX 3D Pro provides full support for OpenGL* and
DirectX* applications, so it supports existing applications About Citrix
without modification.
Citrix (NASDAQ:CTXS) aims to power a world where
Smooth, Accurate Visuals with Integrated people, organizations, and things are securely
Graphics Acceleration connected and accessible to make the extraordinary
To provide high performance at lower cost, Intel possible. Its technology makes the world’s apps and
integrated Iris Pro graphics P580 directly into the server- data secure and easy to access, empowering people
class Intel Xeon processor E3 v5 family. By reducing the to work anywhere and at any time. Citrix provides
communications latency between the CPU and the GPU, a complete and integrated portfolio of workspace-
on-die graphics acceleration can provide better performance as-a-service, application delivery, virtualization,
and energy-efficiency than a comparable add-on card. mobility, network delivery, and file sharing solutions
that enables IT to ensure critical systems are securely
Intel Iris Pro graphics P580 is Intel’s most advanced available to users via the cloud or on-premises and
graphics-acceleration technology. It includes dedicated across any device or platform. With annual revenue in
on-die graphics memory (eDRAM), so the GPUs do not have 2015 of $3.28 billion, Citrix solutions are in use by more
to compete with processor cores for memory. This helps to than 400,000 organizations and over 100 million users
ensure exceptional, energy-efficient graphics performance, globally. Learn more at [Link].
even in combination with compute-intensive workloads.
The Intel Xeon processor E3 v5 family is designed
using XenApp, that same chassis can provide a high-quality,
specifically for high value in multi-user, virtualized desktop
rich application experience to more than 300 simultaneous
environments. It provides the following benefits:
users.4,6 All hardware and software are preconfigured and
•W
orkstation-class performance for multiple users. Four optimized for remote desktop delivery, and HP provides
server-class processor cores and integrated graphics full service and support to enable fast, reliable
acceleration support multiple, concurrent users for tasks implementation in complex environments.
such as 3D computer-aided design (CAD), animation apps, Increasing Value over Time
and streaming video. With Intel GVT-g, a single physical
GPU can be shared by up to seven simultaneous users, Citrix and Intel have been collaborating for years to help
depending on applications and usage models.4 businesses deliver better and more cost-effective user
experiences across a wide range of usage models. The
• H
igh-performance video encoding and decoding. Intel® two companies worked closely together to ensure optimized
Quick Sync Video dramatically reduces user wait times performance and reliability for XenDesktop and XenApp
when storing, playing, and transferring video content. running on the Intel Xeon processor E3 v5 family with Iris
Intel® Media Server Studio, software designed to work Pro graphics.
with certain Intel® processors, like the Intel Xeon processor
Intel is focused on increasing the performance and efficiency
E3 v5 family, provides an extensive suite of development
of Iris Pro graphics in future processor generations, and Citrix
tools for Linux and Windows. The Intel® Visual Compute
is working to ensure these enhancements deliver maximum
Accelerator enables ultra-high-definition (UHD) video. benefits to remote users across low-quality network
•E
fficient energy use. The Intel Gen9 graphics engine connections. Citrix Framehawk* technology, for example,
accelerates 3D graphics performance while rendering automatically adapts the graphics data stream to deliver
applications at low power. Other features such as the best possible experience based on user heuristics. An
workload consolidation and UHD 4K support help lower interruptible graphics layer works in combination with a
energy consumption. 5 QoS signal amplifier to prioritize the display updates that
are most important to each user’s real-time experience.
Framehawk is best suited for use on single-display devices
Fast, Low-Risk Implementation and mobile devices, such as working on centralized complex
Discrete GPUs might be appropriate for designers and 3D graphics models using tablets and smart phones.
engineers working on large models and simulations, but
they are too expensive for delivering hosted remote These and many other innovations will continue to deliver
workstations to hundreds of users. Citrix and Intel are dramatic improvements in the quality and reliability of
working with multiple hardware vendors to produce the end-user experience and the efficiency of data-center
complete desktop-virtualization solutions designed to infrastructure.
deliver the best balance of performance, cost, and density
for enterprise deployments.
One example is HP Moonshot* hosted desktop infrastructure,
which is available today. This production-ready solution
provides dedicated, multi-core hardware resources for up to
45 cartridges per chassis.6 When sharing hardware resources
3
Solution Brief | Deliver Virtualized Graphics to Your Most Demanding Power Users
Find Out More
Learn more about how Citrix XenDesktop*, Citrix XenApp*, Citrix XenServer*, and the Intel® Xeon® processor E3 v5
family with built-in Intel® Iris™ Pro graphics can transform the way that your business collaborates, while reducing
costs and risks.
•
Citrix XenDesktop: [Link]/xendesktop
• Citrix HDX 3D Pro*: [Link]/products/xenapp-xendesktop/[Link]
• Intel Xeon processor E3 v5 family: [Link]/content/www/us/en/processors/xeon/[Link]
• Intel Iris Pro graphics: [Link]/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/visual-technology/
[Link]
1
Citrix. “Optimized Server Virtualization for All Your Workloads.” [Link]/products/xenserver.
2
For an example of long-distance remote workstation delivery, see: Citrix. “ABB Schweiz AG.” [Link]/customers/abb_schweiz_en.html?solution=desktop_virtualization.
3
Citrix. “HDX 3D for Professional Graphics.” [Link]
[Link].
4
Jim Blakley. Intel IT Peer Network. “Enabling Anywhere, Anytime Design Collaboration with Intel Graphics Virtualization Technology.” May 2016. [Link]
anywhere-anytime-design-collaboration-with-intel-graphics-virtualization-technology/.
5
Intel. “The Intel® Xeon® Processor-Based Platforms for Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions.” August 2015. [Link]/content/www/us/en/embedded/products/skylake/s-desktop/xeon-processor-
[Link].
6
Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “HPE Moonshot System with HPE ProLiant m710x Server Cartridges.” July 2016. [Link]/h20195/v2/[Link]/[Link].
Cost reduction scenarios described are intended as examples of how a given Intel- based product, in the specified circumstances and configurations, may affect future costs and provide
cost savings. Circumstances will vary. Intel does not guarantee any costs or cost reduction.
Intel technologies’ features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software or service activation. Performance varies depending on system
configuration. No computer system can be absolutely secure. Check with your system manufacturer or retailer or learn more at [Link].
Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, specific software, or services activation. Check with your system manufacturer or retailer.
Intel, the Intel logo, Intel. Experience What’s Inside, the Intel. Experience What’s Inside logo, Intel Inside, Iris, and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
Citrix, the Citrix logo, HDX, Framehawk, XenApp, XenDesktop, and XenServer are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S.
and other countries.
Copyright © 2016 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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