The 3D Renderer setting for full-clone virtual machine pools provides options that let you configure graphics rendering in different ways.
The following table describes the differences between the various types of 3D rendering options available in Horizon 8, but does not provide complete information for configuring virtual machines and ESXi hosts for Virtual Shared Graphics Acceleration (vSGA), Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA), AMD MxGPU, and NVIDIA GRID vGPU. These tasks must be done with vSphere Client before you attempt to create desktop pools in Horizon Console. For instructions about these tasks for vSGA and vDGA, see the VMware white paper about graphics acceleration. For instructions about NVIDIA GRID vGPU, see the NVIDIA GRID vGPU Deployment Guide for VMware Horizon 6.1. For instructions about AMD MxGPU Using vDGA, see the Preparing for AMD MxGPU for Full-Clone Virtual Machines.
Option | Description |
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Manage using vSphere Client | The 3D Renderer option that is set in vSphere Web Client for a virtual machine determines the type of 3D graphics rendering that takes place. Horizon 8 does not control 3D rendering. In the vSphere Client, you can configure the Automatic, Software, or Hardware options. These options have the same effect as they do when you set them in Horizon Console. Use this setting when configuring vDGA and AMD MxGPU. This setting is also an option for vSGA. When you select the Manage using vSphere Client option, the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests, Max number of monitors, and Max resolution of any one monitor settings are inactive in Horizon Console. You can configure the amount of memory in vSphere Client. |
Automatic | 3D rendering is enabled. The ESXi host controls the type of 3D rendering that takes place. For example, the ESXi host reserves GPU hardware resources on a first-come, first-served basis as virtual machines are powered on. If all GPU hardware resources are already reserved when a virtual machine is powered on, ESXi uses the software renderer for that machine. This setting is an option when configuring vSGA. The ESXi host allocates VRAM to a virtual machine based on the value that is set in the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests dialog box. |
Software | 3D rendering is enabled. The ESXi host uses software 3D graphics rendering. If a GPU graphics card is installed on the ESXi host, this pool will not use it. Use this setting to configure Soft 3D. The ESXi host allocates VRAM to a virtual machine based on the value that is set in the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests dialog box. |
Hardware | 3D rendering is enabled. The ESXi host reserves GPU hardware resources on a first-come, first-served basis as virtual machines are powered on. This setting is an option when configuring vSGA. The ESXi host allocates VRAM to a virtual machine based on the value that is set in the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests dialog box.
Important: If you configure the
Hardware option, consider these potential constraints:
When you configure hardware-based 3D rendering, you can examine the GPU resources that are allocated to each virtual machine on an ESXi host. For details, see Examining GPU Resources on an ESXi Host. |
NVIDIA GRID vGPU | 3D rendering is enabled for NVIDIA GRID vGPU . The ESXi host reserves GPU hardware resources on a first-come, first-served basis as virtual machines are powered on. If a user tries to connect to a machine when all GPU hardware resources are being used by other virtual machines on the host, Connection Server will attempt to move the virtual machine to another ESXi host in the cluster before powering on. Use this setting when configuring NVIDIA GRID vGPU. When you select the NVIDIA GRID vGPU option, the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests, Max number of monitors, and Max resolution of any one monitor settings are inactive in Horizon Console. When you configure the parent virtual machine or virtual machine template with vSphere Web Client, you are prompted to reserve all memory.
Important: If you configure the
NVIDIA GRID vGPU option, consider these potential constraints:
|
Disabled | 3D rendering is inactive. |