Overview of Remoting Protocols - By VDIworks
- 2. Overview • Genesis • Terminal Services and Citrix – “Low-end and High-end”: RDP and ICA • Desktop Virtualization – The protocol explosion • What every protocol wants to be • Things to consider • Protocol Comparison • VDIworks VideoOverIP • Future • Additional Resources • Questions
- 3. Genesis • User experience remoting has been around as long as multi-user systems (1960s) • Protocols initially focused on text-only experiences across serial lines • With the advent of MIT’s X in 1984, graphical remoting protocols like XDMCP became mainstream • Products like Norton pcAnywhere and Carbon Copy where early PC remoting solutions. DesqView/X brought X to the PC.
- 4. Wargames Remoting Protocols (and a Data General terminal) almost caused Armageddon!!
- 5. Terminal Services and Citrix • Citrix was founded in 1989 to add multi-user remote computing to OS/2 • Microsoft then developed Windows NT as a multi-user, multi- threaded system – Chief architect of VMS was behind the effort – A key enhancement involved a multi-user capable kernel that could isolate sessions • Microsoft funded Citrix in 1993 to help develop the remoting protocol and multi-user enablement – MS Terminal Services was born! – Citrix launched WinFrame for NT 4 and later MetaFrame
- 6. Low-end and “high” end: RDP and ICA • Citrix and Microsoft partnered, so market differentiation become important – RDP evolved into lower end protocol for Admins – ICA was capable of delivering a relatively better experience, but still not suited for true multimedia • Today, Citrix and Microsoft maintain a partnership but they are increasingly competing – RDP has improved, and with RDP7 may equal or improve upon ICA – With the XenSource acquisition, Citrix now has system level components (Hypervisors) that compete with Microsoft’s offerings
- 7. Desktop Virtualization • Despite being around since the early 90s, Terminal Services and Citrix were able to capture ~ 2% overall market share – Call centers, Task workers & Niche applications – User experience, isolation and app compatibility were challenges • With the advent of VDI, a clear need for a “full” desktop experience developed – Virtualization solved isolation and app compatibility – A new generation of protocols was needed for high-quality experiences
- 8. The Protocol Explosion • Microsoft – RDP6 launched with enhancements in performance – RDP7 shipping with Win7, “Calista” • HP: Remote Graphics Solution (RGS) • Wyse: TCX Extension to RDP • Citrix: Enhancements of ICA, HDX (Hi Def Experience) • Quest/Provision: EOP (Experience Optimization Pack) • Qumranet: ICE (now Redhat) • Teradici: PCoIP • VDIworks: VideoOverIP
- 9. What every protocol wants to be (Or should, anyway!) • Fast – High frame rates • Flexible and Open – Able to run on multiple platforms – Configurable for HW, Network and Hypervisor • High Fidelity – Lossless images, full colour capabilities, expansive resolutions • Light – Bandwidth efficient, processor efficient • WAN-capable – Latency, jitter and bandwidth tolerant with features like local cursor • Simple and Reliable • Codec independent
- 10. Things to consider • Keep your usage scenarios front and center – WAN? Dual monitor? Full screen multimedia? Codec independence? Need DirectX or OpenGL support? – Cost? Can you afford dedicated host and client hardware to support the protocol? – Peripherals? Do you need Analog Audio in/out? Is USB support important? • Keep HW and Hypervisor needs in mind – Can you afford to be tied to a particular HW platform? – Is committing to a single Hypervisor ok? – Do you need a compact form-factor Thin client? Or is a full-fledged PC acceptable as a client? – Does the customer already have server or client hardware in place that will have to be used? • How well supported is the protocol? – Is there a good connection broker available? – Is there a long-term roadmap? Are updates being delivered quickly? – Does it work on XPe and Linux?
- 12. VDIworks VideoOverIP • Simple & Inexpensive: Protocol host and client available without expensive bulky software infrastructure • FAST: 720p full motion, high res and dual monitor capabilities, delta-updates • Open: Runs on any hardware, any Hypervisor • Flexible: Highly configurable; sound buffer, encoders, levels • Unique: Desktop Compositing & Transparency, Aero support, GDI/Mirror modes • Good support for Peripherals: Analog Audio In/Out, USB • Rapid Improvements: OpenGL, DirectX support came out in alpha recently. Hyper- V optimizations expected soon. Linux client in Alpha. Significant roadmap.
- 13. Future • VMware View Enhancements expected – “Soft” version of PCoIP only for Vmware • Microsoft RDP 7 and “Calista” – MSFT aggressively pursuing partners – Hyper-V/Calista positioning vs. Vmware • Questions about RGS futures • Questions about ICE/KVM tie-ins and Redhat strategy • Rapid VideoOverIP development
- 14. Additional Resources • VideoOverIP Info – Full demonstration: http://vdiworks.com/wp/?p=86 – Running DirectX apps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUW1LarDM_M – Product page: http://vdiworks.com/new_vdi/?q=node/4 • More on protocols – How much bandwidth do I need for VDI? http://vdiworks.com/wp/?p=56 – Demonstrations of VMware View on YouTube http://vdiworks.com/wp/?p=53
- 15. Questions