WYSE TCX Flash Redirection

When it comes to Thin Client computing there are several questions that typically come up.  The big one is usually “What about video performance?”.   Video performance was typically subpar or “choppy”, how choppy usually depending on what protocol (ICA or RDP) you were using.  WYSE responded with it TCX Multimedia Redirection software which significantly improved video performance by redirecting the processing associated with certain video files to the local client.

Now with the advent of more and more flash content in web pages and web apps, “What about flash video performance?” is becoming a much bigger concern.  Yet again WYSE is answering the call with its new TCX Flash Redirection software (still in BETA).  Whereas TCX Multimedia redirects video files to the local client, TCX Flash redirects flash video.  Now your end users can watch YouTube videos all day at work with minimal irritation and stop calling the help desk to complain.

Speaking of YouTube…..there is a good YouTube video demonstrating the flash video performance both with and without TCX enabled.  You can check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4rPs84-FgY

Here is a little technical documentation about the product as well:

TCX server components required for TCX Flash Redirection Tech Preview

-          Rich sound Server  ver.1.1.7

Supported Thin Clients:

-          V class and R class with XPe (WFR2 SP2 & WES) and

                                i) Rich sound Client ver. 1.1.7  (Only for Xpe Clients)

                                ii) MMR client ver.1.24.0.0  (Only for Xpe Clients)             

-          V class Wyse Thin OS client (6.3.0_25)

Supported 32-bit operating system platforms:

-          XP Pro SP3

-          Vista (all flavors)

-          Windows 2003 Enterprise SP2

-          XenApp 4.5 & 5.0

Supported Protocols:

-          Microsoft RDP

-          Citrix ICA

-          Citrix PortICA

Supported Connection Brokers:

-          VMware View

-          Citrix XenDesktop

Supported Browsers:

-          Internet Explore Version 6

-          Internet Explore Version 7

WYSE Thin Clients in Your Environment

As VDI is used more and more across the enterprise, the use of thin clients becomes an obvious choice when it comes time to replace client hardware.  Some of the advantages to going the thin client route are:

-          Cost – Thin clients are usually half the cost or less of a standard PC.  Prices can range from $200 to $500 generally.  Thin clients also need much less maintenance and support which is a huge cost for any company.

-          Footprint – Thin clients take up a fraction of the physical footprint of a PC but more importantly they have a fraction of the carbon-footprint.  These devices usually draw around 10W of power compared to 80W+ of a PC.  If your company has hundreds or thousands of desktops this can mean significant savings on your power bill.

-          Longer Refresh Cycles – because thin clients have no moving parts they don’t need to be replaced as often.  Where we see typical refresh cycles on desktops and laptops of 3 to 5 years, thin clients can go twice as long.  This also translated in to big savings for companies with a large desktop infrastructure.

There are many different manufactures for thin clients but perhaps the largest and most popular is WYSE.  WYSE makes a wide range of thin client devices from the most basic all the way up to a thin laptop client.  They also develop software specifically in this space such as their TCX Multimedia and multi-display capabilities. 

There are several “OS” choices to consider when you are looking in to thin clients for your environment.  You have 4 choices from WYSE:

-          WYSE Thin OS – The simplest and lightest weight of the 4.  This is perfect for your most basic client needs.  It supports ICA and RDP protocols and is very inexpensive.  Examples:  S10, V10L

-          Windows CE – The mid-range client OS which adds a local IE client and support USB CD-ROMs, ZIP drives and Smart Cards.

-          Linux v6 – A full function scalable OS with a local copy of Firefox and Java.  It is fully customizable and supports all the functionality you would probably need.

-          Windows XPe – The most robust of the 4.  Essentially a thinned down version of Windows XP.  Enables the ability to run local applications including video and Java.

I recently sat through a presentation from Citrix and WYSE demonstrating their latest and greatest and was very impressed.  If you are considering implementing a VDI solution for your business you should definitely check out their product line.  In most cases WYSE will give you free demo product to try-out for yourself.  www.wyse.com

VMware View 3 Multimedia Performance

VMware View 3 Multimedia Performance

Implementing a VDI infrastructure in your environment can have lots of advantages including simplified management and lower hardware costs.  This is attractive to most companies but one concern that almost always comes up is that of performance, in particular multimedia performance.  How well will video and other multimedia files perform over a VDI session and will they be tolerable to the end users?

The last thing any IT admin or manager wants is a bunch of end users screaming that their YouTube videos or Windows Media files (purely business related of course) are choppy and impossible to watch.  The newest version of VMware View 3 integrates a technology from WYSE called TCX to help overcome this shortcoming.  TCX has a server and client component which detects certain types of files and redirects them to the local device (Thin Client) and works with RDP.  More info on TCX can be found on WYSE’s website.  http://www.wyse.com/products/software/tcx/index.asp

VDI still has its challenges but the list is getting shorter.  Better multimedia performance and the ability to check out sessions and work offline (experimental) are just a few of the things that has addressed in its latest release of View.  Check it out.

VECD Licensing Made Easy/Easier

After my last blog entry regarding Microsoft VECD licensing it appears I was still confused.  Here is the way VECD licensing works (really this time).

 

 

 

 

The Clients:

-          Licensing must be purchased through the Microsoft Open Value Program which is a 3yr subscription

-          For desktop/laptop Clients the OS must be upgraded to Software Assurance licensing for Vista

o   If the Client OS was purchased more than 90 days ago it will need a Vista Upgrade with SA.                   

§  MFG #:  66J-01442          

o   If the Client OS was purchased less than 90 days ago it needs a Vista SA Upgrade.

§  MFG #:  66J-01287           

-          For Thin Clients there is no Software Assurance licensing to worry about

 

The VECD License:

-          Once the client is licensed correctly as described above you also need a VECD license to cover the virtual desktop.  There must be 1 VECD license per client.  Each client can connect to up to 4 concurrent VDI session at one time per VECD license.

-          For Desktop/Laptop Clients:

o   VECD License

§  MFG #:  DSA-00050         

-          For Thin Clients:

o   VECD License

§  MFG #:  DTA-00051         

 

Note:  To start an Open Value agreement with Microsoft requires a minimum purchase of 5 Microsoft Licenses in any combination.  This can be for Windows OS, VECD, Office, …..”