Leveraging Virtualized Graphics to “Let Go of the Box”

CIOs want to deploy desktop virtualization to increase the security, manageability and reliability of the systems in their organizations. Despite the obvious benefits of reduced complexity, and centralized processing and storage in the data center, user objections around the quality of the experience have been difficult to overcome.

Several positive technology developments now make it possible to address traditional user opposition to (VDI) head-on. The proliferation of higher-speed bandwidth and advances in server platforms, virtual graphics processing units (vGPUs) and virtualization technology, allow the enterprise to deliver 3D and graphic-intensive applications to virtual desktop infrastructure.

The ability to deliver high-performance graphics allows organizations to increase productivity and encourage user acceptance, and provides a powerful and flexible alternative to traditional desktop platforms.

Previously, graphic designers, engineers, developers, video producers and other task and knowledge workers who use high-performance graphics required PCs that were tailored for their needs. The latest graphics enhancements allow CIOs to deliver powerful VDI tools that accomplish the same work without the cost and additional system complexity of custom units.  It also allows IT to centralize applications and storage in the data center to lock down critical data and ensure the protection of corporate assets.

The needs for enhanced graphics capabilities do not stop in the creative department. Knowledge workers throughout the enterprise now use 3D graphics to present and share information. Business analysts, marketing managers, sales people and executives utilize powerful graphics to convey in-depth information to their audiences, and customer education and employee training departments routinely use video and multimedia-rich presentations.

Using the advanced performance and capabilities of Dell, Citrix and NVIDIA GRID technology, IT can offload graphics processing from the CPU to the GPU in virtualized environments, allowing the data center manager to deliver true PC graphics-rich experiences and applications to more users.

Organizations can now implement shared GPU solutions in a VDI environment. NVIDIA GRID vGPU brings the benefit of NVIDIA hardware-accelerated graphics to virtualized solutions. GRID vGPU allows the enterprise to share GPU hardware acceleration between multiple virtual desktops without compromising the graphics experience. Application features and compatibility are exactly the same as they would be at the desk.

Using Dell PowerEdge servers with Citrix XenDesktop 7 and NVIDIA GRID vGPUs, the Wyse Datacenter for Citrix XenDesktop allows organizations to expand the reach of virtual desktop environments across a broad spectrum of users – not only designers and engineers, but power users and knowledge workers who want a more full-featured, graphically-rich experience from their Windows desktops. The enterprise can leverage virtualized graphics to “let go of the box”, and IT can better meet the needs of performance users while better protecting critical data with virtual desktops and a secure data center.

Amy Price

About the Author: Amy Price

Amy Price is Team Lead and Portfolio Evangelist for Product Marketing in Client Solutions Group, with responsibility for portfolio positioning and messaging around cybersecurity and endpoint management. In her work, she bridges technical and product marketing, messaging, sales enablement and PR/analyst relations with a healthy dose of creativity to position and tell the most effective stories to advance these solutions. Amy has held leadership positions in product and partner marketing organizations as well as product management in companies which include Dell, Nutanix and Schlumberger. Her experience bridges numerous industries including utility and energy/oil & gas, software development and data storage and archiving. She has a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Masters in Science and Technology Commercialization from the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin.