The document discusses Microsoft RemoteFX, detailing its requirements, architecture, and enhancements introduced in Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2008 R2. It covers the capabilities of RemoteFX to render rich graphics and the technical prerequisites for setting up a VDI environment that utilizes RemoteFX features. The document also emphasizes planning and best practices for deploying RemoteFX in a virtual environment.

1. Microsoft RDS, VDI, RemoteFX and
what Service Pack 1 will bring us
Ronnie Isherwood
@virtualfat
E2E Virtualization Conference

2. Rough Agenda
• Introduction
• RemoteFX Requirements
• Architecture
• USB Redirection
• Planning
• Things to know, monitoring, support etc
• 3rd Party Enhancements

3. Introduction to RemoteFX
RDP 7.1 for Session Host
Uses server CPU to render rich graphics
such as HD film, DirectX, flash and
HTLM5
RDP 7.1 USB Redirection
New redirection capabilities for devices
such as scanners and webcams.
RDP 7.1 for VDI
Can leverage Server GPU to render rich
graphics such as HD film, DirectX, flash
and HTLM5

4. RemoteFX™ HD Demo
RDSH running HD Video on RDP 7.0
VS
RDSH running HD Video on RDP 7.1

5. RemoteFX requirements
• RDVH
– SLAT-enabled processor
– GPU
• The GPU driver must support DirectX 9.0c and DirectX 10
• If more than one GPU is installed in the RemoteFX server, the GPUs must be
identical
• Enough GPUs or VRAM to cope with the number of users
• To use Live Migration, the source and destination RemoteFX servers must
have the same GPU installed.
• RDSH
– The processor on the RD Session Host server must support Streaming SIMD
Extensions 2 (SSE2)

6. RemoteFX - More System Requirements
• Hyper- V Host
– Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
(Hyper-v, Standard, Enterprise, and DataCenter
editions)
• VDI Virtual Machine
– Windows 7 Enterprise with SP1
– Windows 7 Ultimate with SP1
• Remote Client Device
– Windows 7 with SP1
– Devices with RDP 7.1

7. RemoteFX Architecture
• The whisle-stop tour of…
• Hyper-V VDI Components
• Session Host Components
• RFX for RDSH
• The RFX Payload
• Client components and graphics pipeline

8. Hyper-V VDI + RemoteFX Components
W7 SP1
Guest OS
VGPU Driver
Hyper-V
Parent
Partition
RCC
VMBUS
Hyper-V
Integrated
Shared
Memory
Comms
RDP
GPU
• VGPU output
rendered to
physical GPU
via DirectX.
• Screen deltas
captured from
GPU.
• First phase of
CODEC runs on
GPU.
Inter-VM Communications
Optionally offloads
CODEC from CPU/GPU
increasing fidelity and
scale.
Protocol Fundamentals
(e.g. Authn, Encryption)
vGPU (WDDM)
driver exposes
parent GPU to
guest OS.
RemoteFX
Hardware
ASIC and
Driver
WS08 R2 SP1 Hyper-V Server

9. RemoteFX Virtual GPU and Rendering Pipeline
9
Silverlight ActiveX Control
DX9 APIs GDI
GPU

10. RemoteFX Capture and Encoding Pipeline
DX10 APIs
GPU Vendor
Driver
GPU
RDP

11. User
Kernel
Session [1…n]
RemoteFX-for-RDSH (aka TS)
TS Core
Session 0
RDP Core
WIN32K.SYS
RDP

12. RemoteFX-enabled RDS Server Infrastructure
RemoteFX-enabled Remote ClientRemote Client
RDS Server
Infrastructure
Graphics Virtual Channels
(VCs)
Mouse &
Keyboard VCs
Partner Virtual Channel Plug-
Ins
Bulk Compression (RDP5+, RDP6.0, RDP6.1)
Virtual Channel Multiplexing and Framing
Security Layer (SSL/Kerberos/NTLM)
Transport Layer (e.g. TCP, RPC/HTTP, Windows Live Tunnel)
Device
VCs
RemoteFX leverages the RDP protocol structure
RDSH (TS)
RDVH
The RemoteFX ‘Payload’

13. RDP 7.1 Client Components and Graphics
Pipeline
HW Decode
Driver
CA Decode
ASIC
CPU
GPU
RDP

14. RDP 7.0 + RemoteFX USB
Device Redirection
Isochronous
RDP Device Redirection + RemoteFX!

15. Demo USB redirection
For more information about RemoteFX USB Redirection, see the Configuring USB Device Redirection with
RemoteFX Step-by-Step Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=192431) on the Windows Server 2008
R2 Technical Library.

18. Planning
• Understand the user and applications requirements
• Download the planning guides
• Create a test lab, test apps and benchmark
• Talk to the hardware vendors
• Enhance with software solutions from partners e.g. Citrix,
Quest.
• Combine technologies and focus on consistent user
experience if using multiple technologies.

19. Planning - GPU
Minimum resolution Maximum number of monitors in virtual machine setting
1 monitor 2 monitors 3 monitors 4 monitors
1024 x 768 75 MB 105 MB 135 MB 165 MB
1280 x 1024 125 MB 175 MB 225 MB 275 MB
1600 x 1200 184 MB 257 MB 330 MB N/A
1920 x 1200 220 MB 308 MB N/A N/A

20. Planning
• New Physical Core to Virtual CPU Ratio
– Specifically for Window 7 VDI
– 12 vCPU to 1 Physical Core or Thread
Suggest 2 x vCPU per VM
• Suggest 2 GB Memory per VM
• LAN, 0.5Mb/s to 9.5Mb/s

21. Things to know
• Hotfixes
• KB2519946
– Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) randomly occurs in a virtual machine that uses
the RemoteFX feature in Windows Server 2008 R2
– Host and Client, Reboot required
• KB2523676
– GPU is not accessed leads to some VMs that use the RemoteFX feature to not start in
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
– Host only, Reboot required

22. Things to know
• DRAC/ILO not supported, install RemoteFX cap driver.
• When clustering VDI guest need to have identical
graphics cards to live migrate
• Identical cards. Don’t connect cards e.g. Crossfire or SLI
• Confirm card length width and total power draw against
the server, blade, blade expansion or PCI chassis design
and supported configuration.

23. Things to know
VMM 2008 R2 SP1
• VDI Management
• RemoteFX Config
• Dynamic Memory

24. Thing to know At
capacity
already
SCVMM Dynamic Placement

25. Blogs
• The Remote Desktop Services Blog
• http://blogs.technet.com/RDS/
• The Windows Virtualization Team blog:
• http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualization/
• The SCVMM Team blog:
• http://blogs.technet.com/scvmm/

26. Links
• IPD Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services.
• Introducing Microsoft RemoteFX USB Redirection: Part 1
• Hyper-V Dynamic Memory test for VDI density
• Requirements and Limits for Virtual Machines and Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2
• Q&A: Microsoft RemoteFX and Remote Desktop Session Host Servers
• http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualization/archive/2008/01/21/calista-joins-the-microsoft-virtualization-product-
lineup.aspx
• http://talhasaeed1.blogspot.com/2011/04/john-savills-faqs-for-411-monitoring.html
• http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000009858
[MS-RDPRFX]: Remote Desktop Protocol: RemoteFX Codec Extension
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff635423.aspx
[MS-RDPBCGR]: Remote Desktop Protocol: Basic Connectivity and Graphics Remoting Specification
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc240445(v=prot.10).aspx

27. Demo
• Configuring
– Enable RemoteFX
– Add VM Card

29. Questions?
Thank you – see you in London
Ronnie Isherwood
@virtualfat
E2E Virtualization Conference