Advanced Computing in the Age of AI | Friday, March 29, 2024

Graphics Apps Shift to Cloud 

Graphics-heavy applications based on Linux or Windows can now be accessed remotely via the public cloud with the availability of Teradici Corp.'s cloud connection software on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) marketplace.

Based on the Canadian company's PC-over-IP technology, the cloud software gives users of Linux and Windows graphics applications access via the AWS cloud with performance comparable to a local workstation.

PCoIP technology uses display compression to provide users with cloud-based virtual machines as an alternative to local computers. This virtual workspace architecture compresses, encrypts and transmits only pixels to software and mobile clients. The new cloud service uses the PCoIP protocol to transmit graphics content as encrypted pixels from the AWS cloud to users.

The cloud access software supports Linux and Windows applications hosted on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) G3 GPU instances, the partners said. That framework allows user to access applications remotely from laptops or PCoIP clients. The service targets GPU applications in markets like oil and gas as well as engineering and construction.

Teradici, Burnaby, British Columbia, said the ability to access graphics applications via the AWS cloud would also simplify billing, with cloud consumption bundled into one payment that includes the use of graphics applications.

Teradici's cloud access software is available now on the AWS Marketplace in all regions with Amazon EC2 G3 instances. The software is priced at $0.50 per hour or $240 per year, and usage will be integrated into a customer’s AWS bill. Software updates available via the AWS Marketplace also are supported on Windows Server 2016 and CentOS 7 operating systems, the partners said.

AWS is the latest enterprise player to back Teradici's PCoIP protocol. HP Inc., the personal computing and printing spinoff from Hewlett Packard, rolled out a new "Zero Client" last July targeting graphics applications.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) launched EC2 G3 instances last July as the next generation of its GPU-based instances for graphics-intensive applications such as 3-D visualizations. The high-end version is based on Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) Tesla M60 GPUs along with Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) Broadwell processors. AWS also touted it G3 instances as the first to support Nvidia GRID virtual workstation capabilities.

In September, the cloud giant introduced another new GPU instance called Graphics Design intended to accelerate graphics applications. The new instance is based on AMD’s (NASDAQ: AMD) FirePro S7150x2 server GPUs that incorporate the chipmaker's Multiuser GPU technology.

Teradici announced Tuesday (Feb. 6) that the Linux and CentOS 7.4 and Windows 2016 versions of its cloud access software available now on the AWS Marketplace.

 

About the author: George Leopold

George Leopold has written about science and technology for more than 30 years, focusing on electronics and aerospace technology. He previously served as executive editor of Electronic Engineering Times. Leopold is the author of "Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom" (Purdue University Press, 2016).

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