How Citrix HDX Improves Cloud Desktop Performance

HDX (High Definition Experience) is a technology built on Citrix ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) protocol to deliver high-definition user-experience for any graphics-intensive software application including CAD, accessible from any device, with any network situation. Not only it gives a high performance of the most demanding applications, but it also gives fast delivery, irrespective of the location of users anywhere in the world.

Principles on which HDX works

There are three technical principles on which HDX works to bring results like decreasing bandwidth, optimizing applications, user-experience, and collaboration.

1. Intelligent Redirection happens through the monitoring of screen activities, application commands, end-devices, and network/server capabilities to determine how and where to render an application or a desktop activity. The redirection happens instantly on any device.
2. Active compression is an intellectual property of ICA to determine the codecs (a computer program that encodes/decodes digital data or signal for shrinking large audio/video files for speedy downloads/ streaming), that are to be used for different network situations ensuring optimal utilization of CPU or GPU resources.
3. De-duplication (a technique for eliminating duplicate copies of repeating data) is achieved through multicasting and caching techniques.
   In HDX multicasting, one-to-many communications happen by delivering a single transmission from one source point to many users; while HDX caching de-duplicates the most commonly used accessed data like graphics, streamed-media, files, print-jobs.

The 3-level user-experience through HDX

To deliver high-definition user-experience, HDX uses different technologies at various levels.

Device Level: The MediaStream technology of HDX is responsible for delivering a smooth, seamless multimedia experience at the endpoint device of the users. The workspace control enables users to pause/stop virtual desktops or apps, and restart from a different device exactly from the same left-off point.

Network Level: The advanced technologies of HDX ensures the best performance over any device using any network (including the low-bandwidth, high-latency WAN situations), adapt to changes in the environment, balance load for every unique user-scenario. All these are achieved irrespective of the user-device or user-location.

Datacenter Level: HDX uses the processing power and scalability of servers and delivers high-end graphics output irrespective of the capacity of the user device (desktop, mobile, or tablet).

The multimedia data are compressed through active compression and sent directly to the end-point user device in its native format. The channel monitoring capability of HDX shows the status of connected HDX channels on a user device.

User-experience actuals

1. Seamless Multimedia performance

   Users get the same kind of multimedia experience they receive from non-virtual desktops. The deep compression of graphics/video brings higher frame rates with better image quality at maximum bandwidth efficiency and the best audio performance with the lowest latency.

   Instant rendering of multimedia content is achieved through active redirection capability. The multicast video support for Flash and Windows media enables any number of users to access content rendered and transmitted only once. This saves enormous bandwidth and data center resources for live streaming of videos, training programs, web conferences, or news channels.

2. Unified Communication (UC)

   Association of Citrix with all the major UC vendors like Microsoft (business Skype), Cisco (Jabber), and Avaya one-X help real-time optimization of peer-to-peer communication between end-users when the app is hosted centrally in a virtual environment.

   HDX ensures real-time high-fidelity audio, video experience, and screen sharing with minimum latency and highest network priority, delivering a great experience during video meetings or conferences.

3. 2D, 3D Graphics

   Active compression and rendering help to optimize the performance of both 2D and 3D graphics and CAD. This can be accessed from any device and any network; even at low bandwidth scenarios. The HDX 3D Pro is now available both for high-end 3D professional graphics and business graphics apps as well (Microsoft Office apps for example).

4. HDX Mobile giving Windows apps a mobile-native experience

   Users of Citrix Receiver working in Windows apps and server-based desktops on mobile devices get the same mobile-native experience due to the native interface control channel of HDX. The native interface control allows Windows apps to be re-factored for a touch experience including multi-touch gestures like pinch-zoom and more.

5. USB-Support

   USB devices like webcams, audio recorders, music players, 3D Space Mouse, cameras get a seamless plug and play connectivity through HDX.

6. Printing, Scanning

   Both local and network printer types are supported. Citrix developed the print driver/server technologies from scratch. The advanced Universal Print Server brings improved scalability, OS-support, and performance monitoring.

7. Simplified administration

   Lastly, pre-defined HDX policy templates based on use cases (for example, bandwidth-constrained WAN users, high server scalability), and simplified administration ensure that the users get the best possible experience while meeting the IT objectives at the same time.

To sum up, HDX technology forms the foundation of Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp platforms bringing the best kind of high-definition user-experience globally accessible on any device, bandwidth, or network type.

Apps4Rent Can Help With Citrix Deployments

If you are looking for online implementation of graphics-intensive applications like CAD, live streaming, or rendering videos, Apps4Rent can help you with a solution on Citrix XenDesktop VDI or Azure. Apps4Rent is a Citrix Partner as well as a Microsoft Azure Partner.

We can provide a session-based or a dedicated plan as per your need and keep adding users instead of fresh purchase for every new user. There is no minimum user limitation. The pay-as-you-use with month-to-month billing brings substantial savings to otherwise expensive HDX-CAD virtualization. Contact our 24/7 sales team to discuss your requirements.