june, 2013 hdx enhancements project excalibur miho hoshino, ww support readiness

June, 2013

HDX EnhancementsProject Excalibur

Miho Hoshino, WW Support Readiness

© 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute

Focus areas for HDX in Excalibur

Accelerating desktop transformation

User experience

Cost reduction

Simplicity & supportability


HDX enhancements in ExcaliburHi-def video and audio playback

Server-rendered Rich Graphics and Video

Windows Media Redirection• Windows Media Redirection for Mac, iOS, Android• Client-side content fetching for Windows Media Redirection• Multicast support for real-time video

Improved Flash Redirection


HDX enhancements in ExcaliburVoice and video for real-time collaboration

Enhancements for Lync optimization

UDP audio for Windows server machines

Webcam video compression


HDX enhancements in ExcaliburGraphics

Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 support

Desktop Composition Redirection

Scalable, cost-effective 3D graphics


Video delivery in ExcaliburServer-rendered video

Over 2X increase in frame rate on

3G connections at 800 Kbps

100% increase in bandwidth efficiency and

WAN link scalability at the same video quality

Up to 10x reduction in bit rate when playing HD

videos over a low speed connection

Smooth video on any device, even over 3G


H.264 encode in HDX SuperCodec For all users

• First appeared in XenDesktop in 2009 for high-end 3D graphics (Deep Compression codec)

• Enhances adaptive display with best-in-class video encoding

• Dynamically adapts to network conditions

• VDI and hosted-shared (RDS) workloads

• Reduced battery drain on mobile devices


What is H.264?

• Is a standard for video compression

• Doubles the compression efficiency of MPEG-2

• Is widely used in technologies such as:ᵒ Blu-ray Discsᵒ Video sharing websites (YouTube, Vimeo, Nico Nico Douga, etc.)ᵒ Web software (Adobe Flash Player, QuickTime, etc.)ᵒ HDTV broadcasts (DVB-T, DVB-C, etc.)


Windows Media Redirection

• Extended to Mac, iOS, Android for even more server offload

• Client-side content fetching cuts bandwidth consumption in half: HTTP, MMS*, RTSP* (* Windows & Linux devices)


Windows Media RedirectionHow to configure Windows Media Redirection

• Configure Citrix Machine Policy settingᵒ Policy Multimedia

• Windows Media Client-Side Content Fetching• Windows Media Redirection

In most cases, no adjustments to the Windows Media feature policies are

needed. They are enabled by default and automatically fall back if the requirements

are not met


Real-time multimedia transcodingFor Windows Media delivery

• Transcodingᵒ Is the process of transforming multimedia content from one storage format to anotherᵒ E.g., compression of RAW video data, decompression of compressed media data

• Improved video transcoding and dynamic compression to adapt to available bandwidth , delivering a strikingly better video experience

• Audio-video h/w decode on mobile devices improved battery life & performance


Real-time multimedia transcodingExample use case

Before Excalibur In Excalibur

• Rendered on server• User experience depends

on the bandwidth• Audio and video synchronization

will not be guaranteed

• Notices the client is an iPad• Performs an in place transcode of the media

to H.264 • The media is rendered on the client• The user experiences smooth and

even playback, even over WAN• Audio and video remain in Sync


Real-time multimedia transcodingRequirements

• Supported clients:ᵒ Receiver for Windowsᵒ Receiver for Linuxᵒ Receiver for Macᵒ Receiver for iOSᵒ Receiver for Android

• For GPU transcoding:ᵒ A NVIDIA CUDA-enabled GPU with Compute Capability 1.1 or higher


Real-time multimedia transcodingHow to configure

• Configure the Citrix Users Policy settingᵒ Policy ICA Multimedia

• Optimization for Windows Media multimedia redirection over WAN• Limit Video Quality

• For GPU encodingᵒ Set the registry key


Multicast supportExample use case

• 50 workers at a branch office need to simultaneously watch a real-time video presentation by their GM from their desks (in Windows media formats)


Unicast vs. multicast

Unicast

Unicast connections

require multiple connections from

the same streaming server

even when it streams the same

content

Multicast

Multicasting broadcasts the

same copy of the multimedia over

the entire network to a group of

clients


Multicast supportFor Windows Media formats

Multicast + Client Fetching

Branch Office


Client fetching with local media server

Unicast + Client Fetching

Branch Office


Flash Redirection in ExcaliburEnabled based on network type

Network is public

Flash redirection is

disabled

Network is domain

authenticated

HDX determines network is secure and correct Flash player is installed

Flash content is played on client device


Flash Redirection in ExcaliburFlash dialog box of Receiver

Citrix Receiver detects outdated version of Flash

Player

The dialog box offers user an opportunity

to install correct version

Users can override intelligent network detection

from Desktop Viewer Preferences


Flash RedirectionRequirements

• Flash Redirection is not supported for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 VDAs

• User device:ᵒ Supported Adobe Flash Player:

• Adobe Flash Player for Windows Internet Explorer (For legacy Flash Redirection)• Adobe Flash Player for Windows – Other Browsers (For second generation Flash Redirection)

ᵒ Supported clients:• Receiver for Windows (for second generation Flash Redirection features)• Receiver for Linux (for second generation Flash Redirection features)• Citrix Online plug-in 12.1 (for legacy Flash Redirection features only)

• Server running the Delivery Agents:ᵒ Adobe Flash Player for Windows Internet Explorer ᵒ Internet Explorer 7,8,9 or 10 (in non-Metro mode)


Configuring Flash Redirection on the server

• Configure the Citrix Users Policy settings on the server:ᵒ Flash default behavior (Enabled by default)

Option Behavior

Block Flash player Flash Redirection and server-side rendering are not used. The user cannot view any Flash content.

Disable Flash acceleration Flash Redirection is not used. The user can view server-side rendered Flash content if a version of Adobe Flash Player for Windows Internet Explorer compatible with the content is installed on the server.

Enable Flash acceleration Flash Redirection is used. This option requires that the Enable HDX MediaStream Flash Redirection on the user device Group Policy Objects policy setting is enabled on the user device.


Configuring Flash Redirection on the client (1/2)

• Import and add the HDX MediaStream Flash Redirection - Client administrative template (HdxFlash-Client.adm)ᵒ (32-bit): %Program Files%\Citrix\ICA Client\Configuration\languageᵒ (64-bit): %Program Files (x86)%\Citrix\ICA Client\Configuration\language


Configuring Flash Redirection on the client (1/2)

• Edit Enable HDX MediaStream Flash Redirection on the user device and select Not Configured, Enabled (the default), or Disabled

• If you selected Enabled, choose an option from the Use HDX MediaStream Flash Redirection list:ᵒ Only with Second Generationᵒ Alwaysᵒ Neverᵒ Ask (the default)


Unified Communications approaches

Generic: Media-over-ICA• Unmodified softphone

ᵒ Very broad app compatibility

• Audio-video traffic over ICA

• Citrix audio/video codecs, echo cancellation, jitter buffering, etc., to maximize audio-video quality

• Broad device supportᵒ Windows, Linux, Mac, ThinOS*

* ThinOS support developed by Dell-Wyse

Optimized: Peer-to-peer• Softphone modified or hooked to

offload media processing to the user deviceᵒ Maximum server scalability

• Real-time audio-video traffic bypasses Citrix serverᵒ Traffic flows directly to the other user

or to the conference bridgeᵒ Zero degradation (no hairpinning)


Multi-Stream ICA for generic HDX RealTimeTrue network QoS

CitrixReceiver

for Windows

XenDesktopWindows 7

or XenApp

WS08 R2*

HTTPServer

Router

ICA Real Time

HTTP HTTP

ICA Interactive

ICA Background

ICA Bulk

ICA Real Time

ICA Interactive

ICA Background

ICA Bulk

ICA UDP/RTP Audio * ICA UDP Audio *

* UDP/RTP Audio now also available for Hosted Shared workloads in XenDesktop 7


Optimized delivery leveraging the user device

Lync 2010 – HDX Optimization Pack for Lync• Optimized support for Windows, Mac and Linux devices

• New in v1.4: Meet Now join via IP voice-video

Lync 2013 – Optimizing delivery of the new Lync UI• Support for Microsoft’s new Lync VDI Plug-in (media engine) for Windows

PCs and Windows Embedded Standard thin clientsᵒ Video region tracking integrated with Citrix Receiver 4.0ᵒ Works with XenApp 6.x and XenDesktop 7

• Looking beyond: HDX Optimization Pack for Lync 2013 on Linux, Mac

Enhancements for Microsoft Lync™


Roadmap for Lync 2013 support

Tech Preview Phase 1 (Jan’13)

- XenApp 6.x, Windows Receiver

Tech Preview Phase 2 (Apr’13)- XenDesktop VDI

(Excalibur)

June 2013: GA of support for

Lync 2013 VDI Plug-in

Post-Excalibur: GA of support for Lync 2013 on non-Windows devices


Alternatives for Lync 2013 client delivery

Generic HDX RealTime• Media-over-ICA

• No change to Lync UI

• Windows, Linux, Mac, ThinOS

• Supported by Citrix

HDX Media Engine• Out-of-band media

• Some UI differences

• Windows, Linux, Mac and others to follow

• HDX SoC support for low-cost thin clients

• XA6.0 and above; XD5.0 and above

• Supported by Citrix

Microsoft VDI Plug-in• Out-of-band media

• No change to Lync UI

• Windows devices only

• Higher-end thin clients

• XA6.0 and above; XD ‘Excalibur’

• Supported by Microsoft


Microsoft Lync VDI Plug-inSupports enterprise-grade audio and video over VDI

• A stand-alone application that installs on the endpoint machine

• Allows the use of local audio and video devices with the Lync 2013 client running on the virtual machine

• Download available from Microsoft

• How to deploy the Lync VDI Plug-inᵒ http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj204683.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=35457

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj204683.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj204683.aspx


Lync 2013 architectureOptimized audio & video

Citrix Receiverfor Windows

XenDesktop/XenApp

Microsoft Lync VDI Plug-in (User A)

Lync (User A)

Lync (User B) Signaling for all modes

IM,P

,Data

C

olla

b

A/V

Media

A/V signalin

g

ICADisplay Adapter

Plug-in

The plug-in does not require Lync to be

installed on the endpoint machine



• Improves bandwidth efficiency during video conferencing

• Supported clients:ᵒ Receiver for Windowsᵒ Receiver for Linuxᵒ Receiver for Macᵒ Receiver for iOS

• Supported video conferencing applications:ᵒ Citrix GoToMeeting with HDFacesᵒ Microsoft Office Communicatorᵒ Microsoft Lync 2013 and 2010ᵒ Adobe Connectᵒ Cisco WebExᵒ IBM Sametime


HDX enhancementsGraphics

Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 support


Scalable, cost-effective 3D graphics


Windows 8 desktops & appsFull support for Windows 8


Windows 7 Aero & Windows 8 desktops/apps

DirectX is replacing GDI/GDI+ as the new standard for Windows graphics

DirectX Rendering Technology XenApp (RDS) XenDesktop (VDI) VDI-in-a-

Box

Server

Hardware GPU acceleration XA6.0(Apr2010)

XD7(XD4: HDX 3D Pro) ViaB 5.3

“Software GPU” XD7 XD7 ViaB 5.3

Client

Desktop Composition Redirection XD7 XD5.5(Aug2011)

ViaB 5.0(Nov2011)



• Improved Aero Redirection

• Terminology changed from “Aero Redirection”

• Leverages the GPU on supported Windows client devices for local DirectX graphics rendering

http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Image:Flip3danimation.jpg


Desktop Composition RedirectionRequirements

• Endpoint requirementsᵒ DirectX 9 supportᵒ Pixel Shader 2.0 supported in hardwareᵒ 32 bits per pixcelᵒ 1.5 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processorᵒ 1 GB of random access memoryᵒ 128MB of video memory on the graphic card or integrated graphics processor


Desktop Composition RedirectionRequirements

• Server hardware requirementsᵒ A PCI display card with an IRQ line

• Server software requirementsᵒ Aero-capable operating system (Windows 8 or Windows 7)ᵒ XenServer or VMware ESX (physical machines not supported)ᵒ Physical machines are not supported

• Bandwidthᵒ Minimum available: 1.5Mbpsᵒ Recommended: 5Mbps

If the bandwidth is not sufficient to sustain Windows Aero, Desktop Composition

Redirection is terminated and Windows 7 Basic is delivered


Desktop Composition RedirectionHow to configure Desktop Composition Redirection

• Configure Citrix Users Policy settingsᵒ Policy ICA Desktop UI

• Desktop Composition Redirection• Desktop Composition Graphics Quality


XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro

• XenDesktop feature for high-end 3D professional graphics

• GPU acceleration for hardware rendering of large 3D models

• Multiple compression options including deep compression codec for access over WAN links


Recap: GPU- accelerated graphics

XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro XenApp HDX 3D

Citrix Confidential - Do Not Distribute

• GPU acceleration of DirectX and OpenGL

• One user per GPU• Deep compression • 3D SpaceMouse support

• GPU acceleration of DirectX (OpenGL is CPU-rendered)

• Each GPU can be shared by multiple users

• Apps must be compatible with RDS (Terminal Services)


XenApp HDX 3DGPU sharing on Windows Server

Option 2 (GPU Passthrough):

1 Server : 4 GPU* : ~40 Users

1 Server : 2 GPU* : ~20 UsersNote - * Server & GPU dependent

XenServer

XAVM

XAVM

XAVM

XAVM

Option 1:

• 1 Server : 1 GPU : ~10 Users


Hardware platform

XenServer GPU Passthrough with XenApp

GPU

XenServer hypervisor

XenApp WindowsServer VMs

GPU

GPU

GPU

XenAppVM

XenAppVM

XenAppVM

Session 1

XenAppVM

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

SessionN-1

SessionN. . .


HDX 3D Pro with GPU sharing on Hosted SharedSecure intellectual property, facilitate collaboration, increase productivity

Scalable GPU-accelerated rendering

ᵒ High performance GPU sharing for OpenGL, OpenCL, DirectX and CUDA

ᵒ Direct access to NVIDIA/AMD/Intel video driver and hardware

ᵒ Cost-effective multi-user Windows Server 2008R2/2012 RDSH platform

H.264 adaptive compression

ᵒ High frame rate (interactivity), image quality and bandwidth efficiency

ᵒ Decoding on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux (x86/ARM), ThinOS


VDI versus RDS (hosted shared) workload

HDX 3D Pro on VDI HDX 3D Pro on RDS

Citrix Confidential - Do Not Distribute

• GPU acceleration of Direct3D, OpenGL, CUDA, OpenCL

• H.264-based Deep Compression • One user per GPU (but ready for

use with VGX™ hardware vGPU)

• 3D SpaceMouse support

TOP PERFORMANCE SOLUTION

• GPU acceleration of Direct3D, OpenGL, CUDA, OpenCL

• H.264-based Deep Compression• High performance GPU sharing • Lower cost Microsoft licensing• Apps must be RDS compatibleMOST COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION


Support for up to 4 monitorsOn VDI workloads

• Citrix Receiver for Windows or Linux

• Efficient use of bandwidth


HDX 3D ProRequirements

• Host:ᵒ Windows 8ᵒ Windows 7 SP1ᵒ Windows XP Professional Edition with SP3ᵒ Windows XP Professional x64 Edition with SP2ᵒ Windows Server 2008R2/2012


HDX 3D ProHow to install or upgrade

• How to installᵒ Install Delivery Agent and select “Delivery Agent for HDX 3D Pro”

• How to upgrade from an earlier version1. Uninstall “HDX 3D for Professional Graphics” and VDA2. Install the latest Delivery Agent for HDX 3D Pro3. When switching from the standard Delivery Agent to the Delivery Agent for 3D Pro,

do the same


References

• Real-time Windows Media multimedia transcodingᵒ http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Feature_Specᵒ http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Concept_Specification

http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Feature_Spec

http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Feature_Spec

http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Concept_Specification

http://citrixwiki.eng.citrite.net/Realtime_Transcoding_Concept_Specification

Receiver enhancementsFor full HDX experience on any device


Multimedia & Graphics in Excalibur

64

Windows Mac Linux iOS Android

Codecs & optimizations

3D professional graphics

RemoteFX/RDP

Audio playback

Redirection technologies (offload from server to endpoints)

• Optimized Lync support

• Windows media redirection

• Flash redirection

• Local app access

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

Improved

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

Improved

ImprovedImproved

Improved

Improved


Peripheral Support in Excalibur

65


VoIP (bidirectional audio)

Webcam (video chat)

Smartcard remoting

USB thumb drive

GPS

SMS

Phone

Improved

ImprovedImproved

Improved

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

Improved


Experience in Excalibur

66


Tablet-optimized desktops

3D desktop composition

True gesture support

Tablet-optimized apps

Pop-up keyboard

ImprovedImproved

ImprovedImproved

Improved

ImprovedImproved

Work better. Live better.

june, 2013 hdx enhancements project excalibur miho hoshino, ww support readiness

Documents

citrix confidential

video delivery

video quality

class video

excalibur server

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citrix systems

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