Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

HDX 3D Pro

The HDX 3D Pro capabilities of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops enable you to deliver desktops and applications that perform best using a graphics processing unit (GPU) for hardware acceleration. These applications include 3D professional graphics applications based on OpenGL and DirectX. The standard VDA supports GPU acceleration of DirectX only.

For the HDX 3D Pro policy settings, see Optimize for 3D graphics workload.

All supported Citrix Workspace apps can be used with 3D graphics. For best performance with complex 3D workloads, high-resolution monitors, multi-monitor configurations, and high frame rate applications, we recommend the latest versions of Citrix Workspace app for Windows and Citrix Workspace app for Linux. For more information on supported versions of Citrix Workspace app, see Lifecycle Milestones for Citrix Workspace app.

Examples of 3D professional applications include:

  • Computer-aided design, manufacturing, and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE) applications
  • Geographical Information System (GIS) software
  • Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) for medical imaging
  • Applications using the latest OpenGL, DirectX, NVIDIA CUDA, and OpenCL and WebGL versions
  • Computationally intensive non-graphical applications that use NVIDIA Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) GPUs for parallel computing

HDX 3D Pro provides the best user experience over any bandwidth:

  • On WAN connections: Deliver an interactive user experience over WAN connections with bandwidths as low as 1.5 Mbps.

  • On LAN connections: Deliver a user experience equivalent to that of a local desktop on LAN connections.

    You can replace complex and expensive workstations with simpler user devices by moving the graphics processing into the data center for centralized management.

Lossless compression option for specialized use cases

HDX 3D Pro also offers a CPU-based lossless codec to support applications where pixel-perfect graphics are required, such as medical imaging. True lossless compression is recommended only for specialized use cases because it consumes more network and processing resources.

When using lossless compression:

  • The lossless indicator in the Graphic Status Indicator, a notification area icon, notifies the user if the screen displayed is a lossy frame or a lossless frame. This icon helps when the Visual Quality policy setting specifies Build to lossless. The lossless indicator turns green when the frames sent are lossless.

Lossless-1

Lossless-2

  • The lossless switch enables the user to change to the Always Lossless mode anytime within the session. To select or clear Lossless within a session, right-click the icon and click Switch to pixel perfect or use the shortcut ALT+SHIFT+1.
    • For lossless compression: HDX 3D Pro uses the lossless codec for compression regardless of the codec selected through policy.
    • For lossy compression: HDX 3D Pro uses the original codec, either the default or the one selected through policy. Lossless switch settings are not retained for subsequent sessions. To use a lossless codec for every connection, select Always lossless in the Visual quality policy setting.

You can override the default shortcut, ALT+SHIFT+1, to select or deselect Lossless within a session. Configure a new registry setting at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\HDX3D\LLIndicator.

  • Name: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_HotKey, Type: String
  • The format to configure a shortcut combination is C=0 1, A=0 1, S=0 1, W=0 1, K=val. Keys must be comma “,” separated. The order of the keys does not matter.
  • A, C, S, W and K are keys, where C=Control, A=ALT, S=SHIFT, W=Win, and K=a valid key. Allowed values for K are 0–9, a–z, and any virtual key code.
  • For example: For F10, set K=0x79 For Ctrl + F10, set C=1, K=0x79 For Alt + A, set A=1, K=a or A=1, K=A or K=A, A=1 For Ctrl + Alt + 5, set C=1, A=1, K=5 or A=1, K=5, C=1 For Ctrl + Shift + F5, set A=1, S=1, K=0x74

Optimize the HDX 3D Pro user experience

When multiple users share a connection with limited bandwidth (for example, at a branch office), we recommend that you use the Overall session bandwidth limit policy setting to limit the bandwidth available to each user. Using this setting ensures that the available bandwidth does not fluctuate widely as users log on and off. Because HDX 3D Pro automatically adjusts to use all the available bandwidth, large variations in the available bandwidth throughout user sessions can negatively impact performance. For example, if 20 users share a 60 Mbps connection, the bandwidth available to each user can vary between 3 Mbps and 60 Mbps, depending on the number of concurrent users. To optimize the user experience in this scenario, determine the bandwidth required per user at peak periods and limit users to this amount always. For users of a 3D mouse, we recommend that you increase the priority of the Generic USB Redirection virtual channel to 0. For information about changing the virtual channel priority, see the Knowledge Center article CTX128190. Use the HDX Monitor tool to validate the operation and configuration of HDX visualization technologies and to diagnose and troubleshoot HDX issues. The tool is available in the Support folder on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops installation media.

HDX 3D Pro