Technical paper

Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy

Citrix and Simplify Delivery of Rich Graphics Applications as a Service Using Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1200 Product Family with Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics

Executive Summary Server-hosted workstations for detailed (such as the Citrix WorkspacePod™). and final design engineers traditionally These platforms support native are defined by virtualizing expensive instancing with dedicated remote multi-socket, high-core-count servers access via Citrix XenDesktop® and HDX® and their costly discrete GPU cards. 3D Pro, or shared access through Citrix Until now, large virtualized solutions XenApp.® Using Citrix Receiver® remote were among the limited options for IT. graphics , engineers can access Partitioning these large systems could their rich graphics applications anytime, easily lead to an under-powered virtual anywhere from any mobile device to machine (VM) for the design tasks at support mobilized workflows. When hand or to over-provisioned VMs that virtualized, these servers can provide waste expensive resources for the work dedicated or shared GPU resources to to be done. Today, using high-density, support virtual desktops for office and low-cost servers based on the Intel® content creation or PLM usages, making Xeon® processor E3-1200 product them extremely flexible for a wide family with Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics, range of IT’s hosted workloads. companies have more choices for high- Intel and Citrix, leaders in data center performance, flexible server-hosted and remote-enabling technologies, workstation solutions with profes- simplify IT’s workloads, while enabling sional-level graphics that meet the delivery of rich graphics applications as demands of detailed and final design a service at low TCO. engineers at low total cost of ownership (TCO). This white paper specifically examines the needs of IT as well as detailed and Powered by the latest Intel Xeon final design engineers for hosted work- processor E3-1200 product family stations. It also discusses how high- with Intel Iris Pro Graphics, each high- density servers based on the Intel density, modular server delivers four Xeon processor E3-1200 product physical cores and dedicated, powerful, family with Intel Iris Pro Graphics can professional- and workstation-quality effectively deliver remote hosted graphics performance for the user, workstation solutions. hosted in a high-density platform Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 2

Table of Contents Simplifying Rich Graphics IT’s Virtualized Hosted Application as a Service for Workstation Challenges Executive Summary...... 1 Detailed and Final Design Server-hosted workstations elimi- Simplifying Rich Graphics Application Engineers nate the IT headaches associated with as a Service for Detailed and Final deskside systems, while delivering the Design Engineers...... 2 What Users Need resources detailed and final design What Users Need...... 2 Detailed and final design engineering engineers need in an experience they IT’s Virtualized Hosted tasks encompass the core of product desire. A key IT benefit is that hosted Workstation Challenges...... 2 definition through 3D modeling, solutions allow Cloud Service Provid- Intel and Citrix Simplify Rich simulation, drawings, specifications, ers and IT departments in large and Graphics Applications as and rendering. With today’s advanced global operations to centralize design a Service...... 3 and massive data sets for data in the data center. Centralization enables IT to provide high security of Hosted Workstations using modeling and simulation, detailed Intel Xeon Processor E3-1200 design engineers often require comput- intellectual property and strict control Product Family with Intel Iris ing well above standard office desktops. over management, data resiliency and Pro Graphics – Easy on IT . . . . .3 Historically, these engineers needed the recovery, and access. In addition, the realization of connectivity with a mobile Intel Iris Pro Graphics – performance and proximity of deskside Non-discrete, Workstation-level workstations. But today’s enhanced device to professional-level graphics in Processor Graphics Performance. . 3 servers and fast networks enable data a hosted solution brings increased flex- center-hosted, remote workstation ibility, mobility, and choice of platform Intel Processor Graphics solutions to meet the engineers’ needs to the engineer, as long as the device Performance Advancements. . . 4 for an experience characterized by the can support the application’s significant Processor Graphics Elements . . .4 following: requirements for CPU, GPU, memory, Intel Iris Pro Graphics and power. • Fast load times Architecture...... 4 • Rotation, pan, and zoom performance Many current hosted workstation solu- Intel Xeon Processor Graphics tions involve virtualizing multi-socket Workstation Certifications. . . . .5 equal to or better than the deskside experience on systems today servers with very high core counts and Simplifying Remote Rich Graphics numerous costly discrete GPU add-in Applications and Remote Office • Rotations must be smooth cards. Partitioning these large physical Applications with Citrix...... 5 • Application CPU performance must systems and GPUs into smaller virtual Citrix XenApp and Citrix be equal to or better than dedicated machines (VMs) can easily result in VMs XenDesktop Enable Rich deskside systems that are underpowered in one respect Application Experiences • Consistent experiences across all or another, with too few CPU cores on Any Device...... 5 devices and networks per instance or a lack of the graphics performance required for the engineer Support for Full • Multi-monitor and spatial mouse is Still an Option...... 6 to complete tasks on complex design support models. Conversely, overprovisioning of Citrix HDX Technologies • Full print-enabling capability Remove the Network VMs only used for less demanding tasks Performance Barrier ...... 6 Additionally, with today’s increasingly wastes expensive resources that are mobile workflows, engineers can benefit better employed elsewhere. Intel and Citrix—Delivering Optimized, Hosted Rich Graphics from being able to connect to a remote, Applications Solutions...... 6 hosted application with any mobile device—from mobile workstation to Conclusion...... 6 tablet and smartphone—anytime and anywhere to open, update, manipulate, and render their designs. Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 3

While enabling improved information With Citrix Receiver remote graphics Intel Iris Pro Graphics – security and data localization, improp- client software running on mobile Non-discrete, Workstation-level erly provisioned hosted, virtualized devices, engineers can easily access Processor Graphics Performance solutions can result in limited flexibility. their applications using a broad range of It can be difficult and time consuming mobile end-clients—from phones and With its introduction of Intel® HD to tune systems to meet service-level tablets to traditional PCs. Citrix HDX 3D Graphics in 2010, Intel moved built-in 1 agreements (SLAs) required for detailed Pro delivers a familiar experience over a visual technology onto the processor and final design engineers. This can range of network connectivity choices, die. On-chip graphics is an important lead to high per-user costs, both in including 4G, Wi-Fi,* and wired Ethernet. part of Intel® processor architecture. terms of capital expenses and power These Citrix technologies allow engi- Intel annually invests billions in manu- usage, as more systems are needed to neers to take advantage of mobilized facturing development to support virtualize in order to meet the demands workflows from anywhere, at any time. the advances in its technologies, of the engineers. including evolving the performance Hosted Workstations Using the of processor graphics. Intel and Citrix Simplify Rich Intel Xeon Processor E3-1200 Professor Clayton Christensen defines Graphics Applications as a Service Product Family with Intel Iris the phenomenon of disruptive inno- Pro Graphics – Easy on IT New, Intel-powered, high-density vation as when “an innovation trans- servers, together with Citrix XenDesktop Instead of virtualized, complex, and forms an existing market or sector by and Citrix HDX 3D Pro, enable IT to expensive multi-socket systems, IT introducing simplicity, convenience, simplify delivery of rich graphics appli- departments now have an effective, accessibility, and affordability where cations as a service without virtualizing flexible, simple, and low total cost of complication and high cost are the the system. These ultra-dense solutions, ownership (TCO) alternative for deliv- status quo.”2 Intel Iris Pro Graphics is based on the Intel Xeon processor ering rich graphics applications as a a disruptive innovation that delivers E3-1200 product family with Intel Iris service. With low per-user power, high built-in, professional-level GPU perfor- Pro Graphics, offer each designer their efficiency, enterprise-class security and mance that eliminates the requirement own remote workstation with four manageability, and the professional- for expensive, discrete add-on devices dedicated cores and workstation-level, level graphics capabilities detailed (Figure 1). discrete GPU performance using inte- and final design engineers need, these grated graphics. They deliver a very servers can meet both IT’s SLA and smooth desktop experience on a range corporate needs as well as their of graphics-intensive 2D and 3D applica- clients’ demands. tions, such as Inventor,* Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS,* and Adobe Photoshop.*

Discrete Intel® Iris™ GPUs Pro Graphics

Detailed/Final Design Engineers’ Requirements

Intel® HD Graphics Performance/Functionality

Time Figure 1. Intel Iris Pro Graphics changes the field for professional graphics. Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 4

Intel Processor Graphics Processor Graphics Performance Performance Advancements (Graphics performance at 1 GHz3) Intel processor graphics technology 640 GFlops has advanced significantly from its introduction in 2010. Figure 2 illustrates the evolution of Intel graphics perfor- 256 GFlops 144 GFlops mance over the generations. Today’s Intel Iris Pro Graphics delivers 640 GFlops of performance, making 2012 2013 2014 Intel® HD Intel® HD Intel® Iris™ it an ideal foundation for servers Graphics 3000 Graphics 4000 Pro Graphics to deliver remote, hosted rich Figure 2. Intel® processor graphics advancements, generation to generation. graphic applications.

Processor Graphics Elements Intel processor graphics technology is a portion of the silicon dedicated to imaging, working alongside the compute and I/O blocks of the entire chip (Figure 3). Over generations of development, PCIe DMI Display I/O Ports high-bandwidth memory has been incorporated within the die, essentially eDRAM System Agent DDR3 IMC creating up to 128 MB of high-bandwidth DDR3 Display beyond the last-level cache that is available to both the CPU and GPU. Core LLC The added cache eliminates many data Core LLC copies and off-die fetches to system Core LLC memory. This critical enhancement Core LLC can significantly improve processor Integrated Graphics and graphics performance.

Intel Iris Pro Graphics Architecture Figure 3. Intel® processor and processor graphics elements. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics silicon shares the same process technology as the CPU. With the Intel Xeon processor E3-1200 v4 product family (and next- generation codename Skylake), Intel manufacturing will use 14nm process technology. This means all the benefits System Agent, of power savings, efficiency, and perfor- Display Engine & Memory Controller mance are realized for both the CPU and GPU together. Core Compared to the die size of previous- generation Intel HD Graphics, today’s Processor Core Graphics Intel Iris Pro Graphics occupies approxi- Core mately half of the entire die (Figure 4) Shared L3 Cache Shared

and increasingly integrates more Memory I/O Controller Core execution units (EUs) with each genera- tion—48 EUs in Intel Xeon processor E3 eDRAM v4 (Table 1, see next page). Additionally, Controller Intel Iris Pro Graphics embeds 128 MB of on-package eDRAM to accelerate CPU and graphics performance. Figure 4. Intel® HD Graphics and Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics physical real estate. Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 5

Table 1. Comparison of Intel® Graphics Capabilities Citrix XenApp and Citrix Intel® Xeon® Processor Intel® Xeon® Processor XenDesktop Enable Rich E3-1200 v3 E3-1200 v4 Application Experiences Graphics Performance Improvement N/A Up to 80%4,5 on Any Device Over Previous Generation Citrix XenApp and Citrix XenDesktop Max. System Memory 32 GB 32 GB deliver virtual Windows* apps and desk- Max. Memory Speed DDR3-1600 DDR3-1866 tops as secure applications from hosted Max. Video RAM 1.7 GB 16 GB servers. XenApp and XenDesktop give eDRAM Capacity N/A 128 MB IT the flexibility they need to deliver rich Graphics Execution Units 20 48 graphics applications to remote users and to mobilize the business, while reducing costs. Besides the built-in performance for • R e v i t * XenApp and XenDesktop can deliver day-to-day design tasks, Intel processor • After Effects* graphics architecture integrates features full desktops or just the apps, including • Maya* that enable greater functionality and rich applications, to any device—desk- interoperability for many rich applica- • Photoshop* top, laptop, tablet, or smartphone— with the same capabilities users expect tions. These features include: • Premier Elements* from their workstation experience. For • Support for DirectX* 3D 2015 version, • Solid Edge* example, designers can access their OGL* 4.2, OpenGL* ES 3.0, and • SolidWorks* applications and data on their desktop OpenCL* 2. 0 • Showcase* in their offices, and then, while on the • Tightly coupled CPU/GPU program- road, access the same application and • C r e o * ming, using shared virtual memory data with the same user experience plus OpenCL • NX* from their tablet or smartphone. The graphics and processing capabilities of • 16x MSAA • TCVis* • Mudbox* the Intel Xeon processor E3-1200 prod- • Large textures and buffers/ uct family with Intel Iris Pro Graphics More certifications are expected with mega-textures running XenApp or XenDesktop deliver the next-generation Intel Xeon proces- • Conservative rasterization both desktop and native touch-enabled sor E3 family. Check www.intel.com/ • Intel® Quick Sync Video: hardware- mobile experiences for rich applica- content/www/us/en/workstations/ acceleration for fast, High Efficiency tions that are optimized for the type of certified-applications.html for the Video Codec encode/decode (HEVC is device, as well as the network. full list of certified applications and the successor to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC); their versions. Additionally, these high-density servers JPEG encode; and VP8 encode are capable of supporting a large With each successive generation, Intel Simplifying Remote Rich number of remote office users through Iris Pro Graphics advances the capabili- Graphics Applications and non-virtualized platforms with Citrix ties of high-density servers to support Remote Office Applications XenApp and XenDesktop. This allows rich graphics usages for more remote with Citrix IT the flexibility to gain the most users, while enabling great flexibility, productivity out of the same foundation power savings, and manageability. While a multi-socket hosting system of processor and embedded graphics uses virtualization to partition its technologies for both server-hosted Intel Xeon Processor Graphics resources, high-density Intel Xeon workstation users and office users. Workstation Certifications processor E3 family-based servers can deploy remote workstation and hosted Many applications used by detailed rich graphics applications without and final design engineers are certified virtualization using Citrix XenDesktop on Intel Xeon processor-based work- with Citrix HDX 3D Pro and Citrix stations, including the following. XenApp on physical instances, simpli- • 3ds Max* fying IT’s burdens (see the sidebar on • A u t o C A D * page 7, High-Density Virtual Desktops using Citrix XenApp® and Intel® Xeon® • Inventor* Processor E3-1200 Product Family • Microstation* with Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics). Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 6

Support for Full Virtualization • Architects can access and review Intel and Citrix—Delivering is Still an Option plans on site in remote locations Optimized, Hosted Rich Graphics using their 4G network. IT can employ traditional virtualization Applications Solutions • Co-workers can have engineers out infrastructure for managing deploy- Intel and Citrix are enterprise leaders of the office make critically needed ments of client and server operating working together to deliver a seamless, analysis and changes on the fly systems running in VMs with dedicated scalable, and secure workspace experi- using their tablets and local Iris Pro Graphics (on Citrix XenServer®). ence to anyone across any device. Intel available networks. Or, IT can fully virtualize the high- and Citrix have been collaborating for density resources these servers offer The Citrix environment maintains a years on a wide range of technology with processor graphics through VSGA deskside-like experience by localizing initiatives, spanning Windows, Android*, (API Forwarding) or VGPU technology users’ rich data files to the hosted and Chrome* endpoints, mobility, rich with the addition of Intel® GVT-g to Citrix application rather than transferring application virtualization, and more. XenServer. Whether with dedicated or large data sets to the device to be run Users and enterprises both benefit from virtualized graphics, Citrix solutions with locally. Citrix HDX and HDX 3D Pro the secure and cost-effective delivery Intel Xeon processor E3 family-based technologies and Citrix Receiver client of desktops, applications, and data servers offer IT incredible flexibility, software offer a set of capabilities that from the data center to the latest great power efficiency, and powerful deliver a “high-definition” experience Intel® Architecture-based endpoints. capabilities to meet the SLAs detailed to users on any device and over and final design engineering tasks any network. Conclusion require. HDX technologies are built on top IT now has an alternative to the tradi- Citrix HDX Technologies Remove of the Citrix ICA® remoting protocol, tional approach of virtualizing expen- the Network Performance Barrier which is renowned for best-of-breed sive multi-socket servers to deliver networking and representing more than server-hosted rich applications to Citrix HDX technologies make it possi- 20 years of innovation. The ICA protocol detailed and final design engineers. ble for hosted, rich graphics applica- is based on TCP/IP and RTP/UDP. It is Using high-density servers based on tion users to enjoy a virtual computing uniquely designed to traverse difficult the Intel Xeon processor E3-1200 experience that is the same or better network topologies, such as mobile product family with Intel Iris Pro than their local PC. Users expect such networks with high variability and Graphics and running Citrix XenApp experiences, whether they are at their low-bandwidth WANs with high or XenDesktop with Citrix HDX tech- desktop or using a mobile device, and latency characteristics. nologies and Citrix Receiver client whether they are connecting over software, IT can deliver the level challenging, low-bandwidth, high- Three technical principles provide of performance these designers latency WANs, highly variable 3G/4G the foundation for HDX technologies: need—on any device, anywhere, mobile networks, or reliable corporate intelligent redirection, adaptive anytime—while keeping TCO low. networks. With applications adaptable compression, and data de-duplication. to a wide variety of user environments, These work in concert to optimize Intel Iris Pro Graphics integrates companies can continue to leverage the user experience, decrease band- multiple resources, including more productivity under varying conditions, width consumption, and increase EUs with each generation, massive such as the following: the scalability of the hosting server. on-package eDRAM to accelerate CPU HDX technologies enable IT to deliver and GPU performance, hardware • Contractors and employees can rich applications irrespective of the acceleration for video processing, remotely access applications over networks that the applications and and support for today’s rich their home Wi-Fi, so they can carry data traverse. APIs. on their work through disasters, snow storms, and other challenging situations. Server-Hosted Workstations Made Easy 7

Intel powers the overwhelming majority of data centers across the High-Density Virtual Desktops using Citrix XenApp® globe. The new Intel Xeon processor and Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1200 Product Family E3-1200 product family with Intel Iris with Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics Pro Graphics was optimized for perfor- Citrix XenApp® and Citrix XenDesktop® on Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 mance with Citrix software to support product family with Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics allow IT to easily support hosted hosted rich graphics applications. Intel rich graphics applications and enable large numbers of users access to hosted Xeon processor-based servers with office applications at low cost per user. Recently, Tony Sanchez from Citrix Intel Iris Pro Graphics and Citrix tech- looked at how well this combination of hardware and software on an HP nologies deliver rich, hosted services Moonshot* chassis with HP ProLiant* m710 cartridges based on the Intel Xeon with workstation-level performance processor E3-1200 product family with Intel Iris Pro Graphics could support to remote users on any endpoint, different workloads. including Ultrabook™ devices, Chrome- books*, tablets, and new Intel® Next Unit Mr. Sanchez’s tests covered both typical office applications (he calls medium of Computing (NUC) thin state clients. workloads) and rich applications that placed more demand on the CPU and GPU. Here is a summary of his results. Note that server-hosted workload With Citrix software solutions, Intel demands can vary widely across companies, so readers should contact Intel and Citrix enable a clear alternative or their Intel representative to consider benchmarks and proofs of concept in to simplifying delivery of hosted rich their own environments. graphics applications at low cost. The joint efforts of both companies enable For details of Mr. Sanchez’s work, visit his blog at http://blogs.citrix.com/ a user experience that customers 2014/10/23/the-eagle-has-landed-citrix-xenapp-is-now-available-on-hp- expect with their applications—from moonshot-with-intel-graphics/ front office to workstation-level—on any device over any network. Test Medium Workloads Rich Applications VSI Max. Users for 50 42 For more information and to begin One Cartridge your hosted rich graphics application VSI Max. Users for Fully 2,319 1,859 concept project to understand the Populated Chassis flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings (45 Cartridges) you can achieve, contact your Citrix Scalability: Linear Linear or Intel representative for a 1 to 45 Cartridges Response times: 960 ms Response times: 965 ms ±8 percent ±4 percent demonstration. CPU Utilization 100 percent with 50 users 100 percent with 42 users on a single cartridge on a single cartridge GPU Utilization N/A Maximum of 40 to 45 percent with maximum of 42 users Power Consumption, Full Load: ~50 watts for Full Load: ~65 watts for Single Cartridge 50 users 40 users Per User: ~1 watt Per User: ~1.6 watts Power Consumption, Full Load: 2,500 watts for Full Load: ~3,313 watts for Fully Populated Chassis 2,491 users 1,800 users Per User: ~1 watt Per User: ~1.8 watts Find Out More Learn more about how Citrix XenDesktop, XenApp, and the Intel Xeon processor E3 v3 product family with built-in Intel Iris Pro Graphics can transform the way your business collaborates, while reducing cost and risk. • Citrix XenDesktop: www.citrix.com/products/xendesktop/overview.html • Citrix HDX 3D Pro: www.citrix.com/products/xendesktop/features/high-def- experience/hdx-3d-pro.html • Intel Xeon processor E3 product family: www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ processors/xeon/xeon-processor-e3-family.html • Intel Iris Pro Graphics: www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and- technology/hd-graphics/hd-graphics-developer.html

1 Built-in visual features are not enabled on all PCs and optimized software may be required. Check with your system manufacturer. Learn more at http://www.intel.com/go/biv. 2 http://www.christenseninstitute.org/key-concepts/disruptive-innovation-2/?gclid=CjwKEAiAoo2mBRD20fvvlojj5jsSJABMSc7jbUusluY69bd34Bevva5jwQ_Mg-FnfmGmDNLXVuOpAxoCq9Dw_wcB 3 Processor graphics performance is calculated as Number of Graphics Execution Units (EU) x FLOPs-per-EU-per-GHz x 1GHz. 2012: 12 EU x 12 x 1GHz. 2013: 16 EU x 16 x 1GHz. 2014: 40 EU x 16 x 1GHz. 4 Baseline Configuration: Intel® Xeon® workstation platform (Intel® S1200RP Board) with one Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1286 v3 (quad-core, 3.7 GHz, 6 M cache) BIOS S1200RP.86B.03.01.0002.041520151123, Intel® HT Technology best configuration, 32 GB memory (4x8 GB DDR3-1600 ECC UDIMM), Intel® Iris™ Pro graphics P6300 with driver 10.18.10.3980, Intel SSDSC2BB300G4, Windows 8.1*. Source: Intel internal testing as of June 2015. New Config: Intel® Xeon® workstation platform (Intel S1200RP Board) with one Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1285 v4 (quad-core, 3.5 GHz, 6 M cache) BIOS S1200RP.8 6B.03.01.0002.041520151123, Intel HT Technology best configuration, 32 GB memory (4x8 GB DDR3-1866 ECC UDIMM), Intel Iris Pro graphics P6300 with driver 10.18.10.3980, Intel SSDSC2BB300G4, 8.1. Source: Intel internal testing as of June 2015. 5 Measured designed for High Performance gaming PCs on 3DMark* (Fire Strike), and Performance Test on all other 3DMark benchmarks. Measurements E3-1285v4 vs E3-1286v3. 3DMark11 scores using E3-1285 v4: 2881; E3-1286 v3: 1524. Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. Intel technologies’ features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software or service activation. Performance varies depending on system configuration. No computer system can be absolutely secure. Check with your system manufacturer or retailer or learn more at intel.com. Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling 1-800-548-4725, or go to: http://www.intel.com/design/literature.htm Intel does not control or audit the design or implementation of third party benchmark data or Web sites referenced in this document. Intel encourages all of its customers to visit the referenced Web sites or others where similar performance benchmark data are reported and confirm whether the referenced benchmark data are accurate and reflect performance of systems available for purchase. Copyright © 2015 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Xeon, Intel Iris, Ultrabook, the Xeon logo, and the Intel Iris logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Copyright © 2015 , Inc. All Rights Reserved. Citrix, the Citrix logo, WorkspacePod, XenDesktop, HDX, XenApp, Receiver, XenServer, and ICA are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. 0815/WS/OCG/PDF 332793-001US