| Thin client upgrades boost multimedia performance |
Sep. 16, 2008
Two manufacturers of Windows-based thin client devices announced software said to enhance multimedia performance, while slashing network bandwidth and server utilization. Igel's DSV (digital services virtualization) and Wyse's TCX (thin client interface) Multimedia 3.0 add-ons redirect Flash, Windows Media, MP3, and other A/V streams for local decoding, say the companies.
As the vendors hasten to explain, multimedia is the Achilles' heel of traditional thin client computing, in which applications are run on a centralized server, then delivered to clients via "screen scraping." Microsoft's RDP (remote desktop protocol) and Citrix's ICA (independent computing architecture) have no problem serving up typical office applications, thanks to the bandwidth provided by a modern LAN. However, these protocols weren't designed for multimedia or applications that seek to access client hardware directly. In addition, even the most powerful server can be brought to its knees when it is forced to decode multimedia files for dozens of simultaneous users.
To get around the problem, some thin clients have included proprietary interfaces that let users toggle into a locally installed web browser or media player. However, this solution required retraining users, and provided them with a constant reminder that they weren't running a "proper" desktop PC.
The other "solution" would simply be banning users from playing audio or video files on their thin clients. But, given a web dripping with Flash applications, plus videoconferencing and other business uses for multimedia, that's hardly practical.
Igel's DSV
Igel claims its DSV solution, incorporating the PowerFuse Workspace Extender client from RES Software, solves the problem by monitoring a thin client session, watching for any attempts to launch Flash, Windows Media, or other multimedia software. Such application calls are "trapped," and relevant services are then forced to run locally on the thin client, the company says.
According to Igel, digital services communicate directly via the native protocol designed for the application, without having the bottleneck of streaming everything from a server via ICA or RDP. Transparent to the user, DSV works with multimedia types, VoIP, video conferencing, and DirectX local applications on Igel's Windows XP Embedded (XPe) thin clients, the company claims.
Wyse's TCX
Wyse's TCX Multimedia software is conceptually similar, and apparently supports Windows CE as well as XPe thin client OSes. Previously touted as providing local decoding of MPEG and Windows Media video as well as MP3 files, TCX Multimedia did not include Flash support. Version 3.0 now solves this problem, via the adoption of Desktone Software's dtFlash technology.
Also new to the updated version of TCX Multimedia is support for Windows Vista virtual machines, Wyse says. The company claims that forcing multimedia to be decoded locally slashes server CPU and network utilization, as illustrated by the graphic below. TCX allows an 800 percent improvement in the number of concurrent multimedia sessions, or roughly 65 virtual machines playing media files, instead of 15 on a typical set-up, Wyse reckons.
Network and CPU utilization with (bottom) and without TCX multimedia
Source: Wyse
Other announcements
As part of a bevy of announcements made at this week's VMWare-run VMWorld show in Las Vegas, Wyse also announced version 2.0 of its TCX USB Virtualizer 2.0 software. The new release now supports Windows Vista virtual machines as well as isochronous USB devices. IT administrators can now selectively enable their end users to use USB devices, such as thumb drives, scanners, webcams, or headsets, the company says.
VMware VDI typical use
(Source: VMware. Click to enlarge)
Meanwhile, vendors including Wyse, Devon IT, and Chip PC, all announced that some of their thin clients have been certified for use with VMWare's VDM (virtual desktop manager), a "connection broker" for use with VMWare's VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure). With VDM, users can securely access their personalized virtual desktops from any compatible thin client device, says VMWare.
Further information
For further information about VMWorld, including details of VMWare's newly announced product roadmap, see the ongoing coverage on our sister site eWEEK.com, here.
For more information about Wyse's thin client architecture and TCX Multimedia, including an interview with company CMO Jeff McNaught, see a story on our sister site LinuxDevices.com, here.
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