As announced on August 31st, HDX 3D for Professional Graphics is now available for download. There's also lots of great documentation on HDX 3D Pro Graphics now on our Support site (scroll down to the bottom of the Product Documentation for XenDesktop 3 page). Or if you are just looking for a high-level overview, be sure to visit hdx.citrix.com.

Here are some highlights of this new XenDesktop feature:

• Supports the delivery of 3D professional graphics applications, both OpenGL and DirectX based, which need graphics hardware (GPU) acceleration for optimal performance.
• Works as an add-on to XenDesktop 3 and XenDesktop 3 Feature Pack 1.
• Automatically adjusts compression based on bandwidth and available resources. Delivers full HDX user experience on a LAN (100 Mbps) and very usable, interactive experience over a WAN (2 Mbps or above, with up to about 200 ms roundtrip latency). Makes desktop virtualization viable and practical for design engineers, architects, and other professional graphics users.
• Supports high resolution monitors (e.g. 1920 x 1200). For best results over limited bandwidth WAN connections, resolutions of 1280 x 1024 or below are recommended.
• Provides a real-time image quality configuration tool with an easy way to switch between a sharper image or smoother motion (great when working on  a limited bandwidth connection).
• HDX 3D host workstation (e.g. blade or rack workstation in the data center) is supported on Windows XP SP3 32-bit Professional.
• HDX 3D online plug-in for Windows (client) is supported on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista. The plug-in is supported on both 32-bit and 64-bit OS versions.

Download a free Eval and try it out!

Derek Thorslund
HDX Product Strategist

I was recently chatting with one of my contacts in the GIS space about 3D graphics delivery from XenApp and XenDesktop, and he passed on an intriguing observation from a mutual customer. Apparently, on the same hardware, OpenGL applications perform much better under 64-bit Windows Server than they do under the 32-bit OS.

ESRI ArcScene, for example, is a 32-bit OpenGL application with 3D graphics. Running on XenApp, the graphics rendering is done in software -- that is, by the CPU -- since Windows Terminal Services does not provide GPU acceleration for OpenGL (you'll need our Prism technology for that). The rendered graphics can then be delivered over a WAN/Internet connection using HDX 3D Progressive Display. On 32-bit Windows Server, the performance of the 3D rendering was disappointing, but on the 64-bit OS it is very usable. I'm not sure why; we have a hunch that it might be thanks to the 64-bit OS being able to leverage the SSE4 registers on the CPU.

If you have any insights on this, or any experience running OpenGL apps on XenApp under Windows Server 64-bit, please share your comments!

Derek Thorslund
HDX Product Strategist

In case you missed it, there's a brief video up on Citrix TV in which Thomas Nikl of our Advanced Solutions Group shows the latest iteration of project Prism (which you may remember as the 3D Accelerated Bitmap Remoting subproject of Apollo/HDX). Prism is an enhancement to HDX 3D for XenDesktop focused on delivering high-end professional graphics applications (e.g. CAD, CAM, GIS) to remote users. Prism leverages GPU hardware on the host (typically a blade or rack mount workstation) to render the OpenGL or DirectX graphics, then uses advanced compression technology to deliver the resulting images over a standard DSL or equivalent Internet connection. Look closely and you'll notice that this recent build supports Windows XP virtual desktops (whereas my previous post on this topic showed a Vista desktop).

 
Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, HDX Multimedia Virtualization

As I promised in my blog post about SmartRendering (a key aspect of HDX Adaptive Orchestration), here's a video that demonstrates a new Citrix technology for leveraging the graphics processor on the user's PC or deskop appliance to locally render DirectX graphics. HDX Adaptive Orchestration queries the graphics capabilities of the endpoint device and intelligently determines how to combine client-side and server-side rendering. Furthermore, rendering decisions can be made based on available network bandwidth or application characteristics. The result is a high definition user experience, increased server scalability and optimal use of network bandwidth. This video shows how the Windows Aero desktop and WPF-based data visualization applications can be delivered using DirectX command remoting while an OpenGL-based GIS application is delivered using accelerated bitmap remoting.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

In this 4-minute video I interview Nitin Desai, team lead for the 3D professional graphics subproject of our Apollo multimedia virtualization initiative, and he demonstrates a high-end CAD application - CATIA V5.19 from Dassault - running on XenDesktop with graphics hardware acceleration. This technology, available as a Tech Preview, enables organizations to deliver DirectX and OpenGL applications and large 3D models over DSL-like network connections while keeping their intellectual property safe within the data center.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

It is always exciting when the first emails start to come in with feedback on a new software release. A few weeks ago, the Apollo team put out a second Tech Preview release of our accelerated bitmap remoting technology for 3D graphics acceleration on XenDesktop. This release introduced support for delivering 3D professional graphics applications -- both OpenGL and DirectX based -- over a DSL-like WAN/Internet connection (1.5 - 6 Mbps). With this new technology, companies can keep their intellectual property safe in the delivery center while enabling workers to access 3D applications remotely, even from another continent. Here are some of the early comments:

• "We have been extremely impressed by early results while testing the Apollo Tech Preview with [Autodesk] Revit Architecture." -- Global architectural firm, testing over high latency trans-Atlantic WAN links.
• "The [test subjects'] reactions are positive so far. At 1.5 Mbps it is still very usable." -- Major software vendor.
• "So far this is the only product to have anywhere near acceptable performance." -- Top tier system integrator.
• "[We're] doing user testing and so far everyone is loving it." -- Diversified manufacturer of commercial and defense products.

Based on the positive response, we are now accepting additional organizations into our Tech Preview Program. So if you'd like to "kick the tires", please complete the application form at www.citrix.com/apollo3Dgraphics.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

Can you run Direct3D apps on XenApp? What about WPF apps?

Direct3D, part of Microsoft's DirectX API, is used to render 3D graphics in applications where high performance is required. Direct3D apps are not generally supported on XenApp because they require hardware acceleration. That's what kicked off the 3D acceleration technology being developed by Citrix under project Apollo. However, some Direct3D apps will fall back to software rendering, so they can be hosted on XenApp. It depends on whether the software developer has enabled fallback to the software rasterizer. Be aware that Direct3D apps may consume a lot of CPU to do the graphics rendering, especially if they make use of a lot of fancy effects. You'll probably want a multi-core server with lots of memory to deliver these apps.

WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation, the graphical subsystem of .NET Framework 3.0 and above), although Direct3D based, automatically falls back to software rendering when no GPU is available. WPF apps have been supported on XenApp as of PS 4.5 FP1 which was released in September 2007. They will run on XenApp for Windows Server 2003 when 16-bit or "5-6-5" color (also called "High color") is configured. With Windows Server 2008, 24-bit or "8-8-8" color ("True color") is also supported.

Depending on the WPF functionality that is leveraged by the application, performance and scalability on XenApp will vary. SpeedScreen Progressive Display optimizes the delivery of rendered graphics to the client device via compression and auto-sharpening. However, WPF applications using intensive 3D graphics or fading effects will consume more CPU and memory than typical GDI applications, so you can expect server scalability to be lower. Another challenge for project Apollo . . .

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

Many organizations have a need to give certain remote workers access to 3D graphics and imaging applications, but that has been a big challenge in the past. Managing high-end graphics workstations at remote locations isn't easy. And even if the user has the right equipment, pulling up large design drawings (potentially millions of vertices) from a central database over a network connection can be agonizingly slow. On top of that, the company's intellectual property may be exposed because the data has to be sent over the network to the user's workstation.

Citrix solved these challenges for 2D and lightweight 3D graphics with the introduction of SpeedScreen Progressive Display in XenApp PS 4.5 (also included in XenDesktop), and since then we have been working on combining our remoting technologies with 3D graphics hardware acceleration. One of the new technologies being developed under the Citrix Multimedia Virtualization Initiative is Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting (ABR), and we're about to unveil our second Tech Preview of Apollo ABR on October 27, 2008. Whereas our first Tech Preview release was focused on demonstrating the ability to deliver DirectX applications and Vista Aero desktops with full animation and glass effects, this new release is all about delivery over DSL-like WAN/Internet connections. This will allow organizations to effectively deliver high-end 3D graphics and imaging applications to remote users who have standard PCs or recent-model desktop appliances. Centralization allows organizations to protect their intellectual property and reduce IT management costs and complexity. It even opens up the potential for organizations to recruit professionals from around the world.

Apollo ABR is a XenDesktop-based technology that leverages a graphics processing unit (GPU) on the host workstation in the delivery center to render 3D graphics. Users connect through the XenDesktop Desktop Delivery Controller. A special version of the XenDesktop plugin (client) has been created for Apollo ABR to optimize the user experience over DSL-like network connections (2-6 Mbps).

If your organization would like to evaluate Apollo ABR Tech Preview 2, please review the information on our web page and complete the application form. Applications will be evaluated according to match against Citrix's objectives for the Tech Preview program, variety and graphics-intensity of applications, and resource availability for support.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

Adam Jacques gave a brilliant demonstration of project Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting at Citrix's Application Delivery Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Take a look at this 5-minute video on YouTube.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

Did you miss the Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting demo at Synergy in Houston? Click here to view a brief video recorded by Vishal Ganeriwala, featuring "yours truly" and Daniel L'Hommedieu from our Engineering team.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

The Project Apollo multimedia virtualization team has just released the first Technology Preview of Accelerated Bitmap Remoting, a new technology that leverages graphics processor hardware acceleration to efficiently deliver high end 3D professional graphics and imaging. Although most customers' graphics needs are already well met by SpeedScreen Progressive Display (a revolutionary technology introduced in XenApp Presentation Server 4.5 and also included in XenDesktop), working with large 3D graphics models often demands the added computational power of a graphics processing unit (GPU). Project Apollo follows in the footsteps of Project Pictor which developed the technology behind Citrix's new Virtual Design Studio product for applications built on the popular OpenGL graphics API. Since many software vendors are now introducing applications using DirectX, the Apollo team has been busy researching new techniques for supporting the full range of Windows-compatible 3D graphics technologies. The Apollo technology also delivers Microsoft Windows Vista Aero desktops with full "glass" effects and Flip 3D animation.

This Tech Preview release marks the completion of phase one of project Apollo, focused on verifying the ability of this technology to efficiently capture graphics from a very wide range of professional graphics applications. Optimizations to reduce network bandwidth consumption, including enabling SpeedScreen Progressive Display to work along with Accelerated Bitmap Remoting, are in the works for the next phase of the project.

If you'd like to nominate your organization to evaluate this Tech Preview release, please visit www.citrix.com/apollo and complete the application form. The Apollo web site also provides answers to frequently asked questions and information on technical prerequisites.  

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization

The Apollo team is busy developing several new technologies for multimedia virtualization. Details of the upcoming Tech Preview release of Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting have now been posted on the Citrix.com web site. This technology expands Citrix's capabilities for high-end professional graphics and 3D medical imaging beyond OpenGL. This video demonstrates Accelerated Bitmap Remoting delivering Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit Architecture and Google Earth over ICA, leveraging the graphics processor on a Windows Vista host.

Derek Thorslund
Product Strategist, Multimedia Virtualization