GPUs in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Solutions

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In this week’s Industry Perspective, Katie (Garrison) Rivera of One Stop Solutions describes how organizations can save time and money using virtual desktop infrastructure.

Katie (Garrison) Rivera, Marketing Commuincations, One Stop Solutions

Katie (Garrison) Rivera, Marketing Commuincations, One Stop Solutions

VDI or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure helps companies save money, time and resources. Instead of large bulky machines on every desk in the office, companies can connect multiple workstations to a single computer using thin clients. Instead of replacing individual desktops every year, companies only have to replace thin clients every 5 years. And when it comes time to do updates, the IT staff updates the one computer instead of spending time updating every individual workstation.

VDI is a great solution for most companies. But if every employee in the company has to process large amounts of data, that one computer may not be powerful enough. If there are a large number of employees and each employee’s workstation requires multiple GPUs to process data quickly, switching to a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure may not be cost effective since there are still only a small number of open slots for GPUs in most computers.

middleComputer-aided design (CAD) is an example of a type of application that can require a lot of GPU power for multiple employees. Programs like AutoCAD utilize computers to generate, revise, evaluate and improve designs. Software such as AutoCAD is used to help designers be more productive. The drawings produced by these types of software are very complex. In addition to the design itself, the files must also include other details such as the materials that should be used, the processes for creating the object(s), the dimension of the object(s), and the tolerances based on the regulations of the application for which the item is being designed. AutoCAD drawings can be two-dimensional but they also can be three-dimensional, adding even more data.

AutoCAD is used in a wide variety of industries, including industrial and architectural design, aerospace, automotive, prosthetics, shipbuilding and many others. The more complex a drawing is, the more compute power is needed so as to not slow the program down. Some AutoCAD systems can do graphically and computationally intensive tasks, so GPUs are very helpful in adding the necessary compute power. As an example, an architectural firm BLDD uses NVIDIA K2 Grid GPUs in a VDI solution with great results.

bottomFor some companies, the number of GPUs needed would require multiple computers increasing not only the upfront cost but also the long term costs of maintaining and running multiple computers in a VDI environment. But by using the One Stop System’s High Density Compute Accelerator, 16 GPUs attach to one computer adding thousands of additional compute cores. Compute Accelerators are equipped with their own power, cooling, and system monitoring so the system does not depend on the resources of the main computer.

This guest article was submitted by Katie (Garrison) Rivera, Marketing Communications at One Stop Systems.