Configuring 3D Rendering for Full-Clone Virtual Machine Pools

When you create or edit a desktop pool of virtual machines, you can configure 3D graphics rendering for your desktops.

End users can take advantage of 3D applications for design, modeling, and multimedia, which typically require GPU hardware to perform well. For users that do not require physical GPU, a software option provides graphics enhancements that can support less demanding applications such as Windows AERO, Microsoft Office, and Google Earth. Following are brief descriptions of the 3D graphics options:

NVIDIA GRID vGPU (shared GPU hardware acceleration)

This feature allows a physical GPU on an ESXi host to be shared among virtual machines and offers flexible hardware-accelerated 3D profiles ranging from lightweight 3D task workers to high-end workstation graphics power users.

AMD MxGPU

This feature allows multiple virtual machines to share an AMD GPU by making the GPU appear as multiple PCI passthrough devices and offers flexible hardware-accelerated 3D profiles, ranging from lightweight 3D task workers to high-end workstation graphics power users.

Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA)

This feature dedicates a single physical GPU on an ESXi host to a single virtual machine. Use this feature if you require high-end, hardware-accelerated workstation graphics.

Note: See the VMware Hardware Compatibility List at http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php. Also, for Intel vDGA, the Intel integrated GPU is used rather than discrete GPUs, as is the case with other vendors.

Virtual Shared Graphics Acceleration (vSGA)

This feature allows multiple virtual machines to share the physical GPUs on ESXi hosts and is suitable for mid-range 3D design, modeling, and multimedia applications.

Soft 3D

Software-accelerated graphics allow you to run DirectX 9 and OpenGL 2.1 applications without requiring a physical GPU. Use this feature for less demanding 3D applications such as Windows Aero themes, Microsoft Office 2010, and Google Earth.

AMD MxGPU and vDGA solutions do not support VMotion. NVIDIA GRID vGPU, vSGA and Soft 3D support VMotion.

In some cases, if an application such as a video game or 3D benchmark forces the desktop to display in full screen resolution, the desktop session can be disconnected. Possible workarounds include setting the application to run in Windowed mode or matching the Horizon 8 session desktop resolution to the default resolution expected by the application.