Video performance Q

[darrellg1972]

It was explained to me, that as far as video performance goes, ESX doesn't do any real video processing on the server side. It just sends the data and the client is responsible for processing it and the resulting performance. This would lead one to believe that a good video card is needed on the client.

That same person told me the same holds true for View. However, I have read elsewhere that the video is handled on the server.

The server I have planned for learning View and/or ESX has very poor onboard video, and only pci-x (not pcie) slots, so an upgrade is not possible. Which is true of the video processing and speed? Server or client side?

[vedeht]

Video is handled exclusively on the server.  With VMware View the only thing that gets sent to the client or device is pixels and audio (some data for usb devices if one is plugged in).  No processing is done on the client device.  That's the real value with PCoIP.

Here's a video on PCoIP made from Teradici who owns the protocol and makes the silicon used in all PCoIP zero clients.

http://www.teradici.com/pcoip-technology.php

[darrellg1972]

I'm guessing that means the video speed will be poor due to the awful 8MB onboard video, and I will have to find a way to upgrade. PCI-X video cards are rare. I have found a PCI-X to PCIe 16x riser, but it costs $200. There are PCI slots. I've wondered how good those high end PCI cards really are. Any suggestions?

[vedeht]

No its not bad at all.  It's just kind of crappy when you try running heavy graphics intensive applications like Autocad or something like that.  The VMs can be configured to use RAM as vRAM for a virtual graphics card up to 128MB per VM.

If you want to see for yourself login to our demo environment.  www.virtualdojo.com

You will get a Windows 7 virtual desktop powered by VMware View 5.1.  Which incidentally I am using to write this post.

[darrellg1972]

Thank you for the replies. I'll take a look at it when I get a chance.