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1 2 Previous Next 17 Replies Last post: Nov 6, 2009 2:30 PM by Warrenjc  

Unhappy User Experience of VM posted: Apr 17, 2008 6:32 PM

Click to view nasterizer's profile Enthusiast 26 posts since
Mar 21, 2007

Ok I need everyones help here. Basically I have setup our VDI solution using ESX 3.5 VDM 2 using Wyse V90L's to connect to VM. I have setup to VM packages. The first package is basically your WinXP SP2 with basic apps like MS Office, Adobe Reader and Multimedia programs. Nothing out of the ordinary. The second was built upon the first except for some graphic intensive map applications.

Now even people using the first build (very basic package) have major complains about performance. They get black squares often where the graphics just dont show. There is also a lag in the responsiveness of most apps. Basically its really heavy.

Now were getting complaints and users are requesting regular PC's as a replacement. Where does my problem lie? Is it in the initial image that was created? Could it be it was created incorrectly? Network load is fine with pleanty to spare.

Again, I need any feedback I can get so dont hesitate.

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

1. Apr 17, 2008 8:03 PM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view jasonms's profile Enthusiast 30 posts since
May 1, 2007

What kind of storage are you using?

How many users? Number of servers? How do the performance charts in VC look?

Do you have same problem when connecting with a fat client?

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

3. Apr 18, 2008 2:54 AM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view mpryor's profile Expert 317 posts since
Aug 30, 2007
The black squares are a result of bitmap caching on the thin client, and there not being enough space to save the files. Disable bitmap caching and the black squares will disappear.

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

4. Apr 18, 2008 10:30 AM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view jasonms's profile Enthusiast 30 posts since
May 1, 2007

Have you done any testing with a fresh build? It seems like it would be worth doing at this point.

I would also try connecting directly to a VM with RDP on a fat client (no VDM) just on the off chance that the CB is causing problems.

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

5. Apr 18, 2008 11:14 AM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view mittim12's profile Master 955 posts since
Mar 24, 2006
What kind of resources have you assigned to the guest. Are they single processor or dual processor and how much memory has been assigned?

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Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

7. Apr 19, 2008 10:28 PM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view markbenson's profile Hot Shot 157 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
This is a well known issue with Windows XP/e and VDM. Turn off RDP bitmap caching on the VDM Client and the black squares problem will go away. This is what mpryor has already said.

Let us know how you get on.

Mark.

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

9. Apr 20, 2008 12:25 PM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view mittim12's profile Master 955 posts since
Mar 24, 2006

Take a look at this document and see if it helps

http://vmware.com/files/pdf/XP_guide_vdi.pdf

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Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

11. Apr 21, 2008 11:46 PM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view tom howarth's profile Guru 7,322 posts since
Jul 25, 2005
have a mosey on over to DABCC.com a lot of the optimisation techniques I have used for years in Server Based Computing environemnts (Citrix) are of great use in the VDI environment where the concepts although diferent are similar enough to be useful.

Tom Howarth
VMware Communities User Moderator

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

12. May 7, 2008 8:00 AM in response to: tom howarth
Click to view azn2kew's profile Champion 2,941 posts since
Jun 21, 2006
Have you thought of 3rd party WAN/LAN optimization such as Expand Networks, Riverbed, Certeon, etc..I know Expand Networks is pretty good with VDI performance check them out. Could it be your storage is on local disk that has limited in performance comparing to traditional SAN. If you try SANMelody for your SAN solution that migh boost up performance as well if you check them out.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen
iGeek Systems Inc.
VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

13. May 7, 2008 8:44 AM in response to: nasterizer
Click to view MainlineVCS's profile Novice 4 posts since
May 7, 2008

Wyse also offers TCX which is a multimedia accelerator that pushes multimedia requests down to the Thin Client, instead of doing it over the wire.

Just a suggestion.


Re: Unhappy User Experience of VM

14. May 16, 2008 1:32 PM in response to: MainlineVCS
Click to view heybuzzz's profile Hot Shot 247 posts since
Mar 20, 2007

nasterizer ,

Did you solve your problem? If so was it your "Golden Image"?

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