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Do i need a graphics card for Terminal Services

Hi Guys,

I've got to spec up a new server (so would run server 2008 R2) and will be running the new remotefx addition from Microsoft and so have been told by another user that i would need a good graphics card in it but i thought that Terminal Services wouldn't need one as the graphics are rendered on the end machine. Does anyone know if this is different with the new remoteFX addition ?

Thanks
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greg ward
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8 meg onboard is fine.
 
Greg
Graphics card is software emulated for terminal services. I had server with broken graphics card witch showed only 8bits and low resolution when you use console to login to server. Terminal services worked perfectly - any resolution and color bits...
the graphics are rendered on your server / compressed and then sent down the pipe to your clients. I don't think you will need anything special as long as you have  a good processor and lots of memory
Sorry, new RemoteFX might require lots of graphics card resources:
http://www.virtualization.info/2010/03/vendors-react-to-microsoft-remotefx.html
"Most of today’s enterprise class servers are not designed to accept high-end graphics cards. Additionally, the cost of the GPUs can be quite high (upwards of $4,000 each) while only supporting a small number of users per card. "
http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2010/03/18/microsoft-announces-quot-remotefx-quot-the-calista-based-hyper-v-requiring-pc-over-ip-competitor.aspx
 

There will be several initial ways RemoteFX will function once it's released, including: Full software-based encoders on the host. a GPU/CPU-based encoder (with extensions to Hyper-V to let GPUs be shared between multiple VMs). A custom chip-based encoder, either on a plug-in card or built-in to the host.

Greg
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Vaidas911
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Thanks for that so i'm guessing that i would need one but any ideas of any that will fit in a server (i.e 2u or 1u)
As the articles said - vendors of servers does not support such graphics cards yet. It would be easier to use tower case with rails for rack mount (Dell, HP definetely has such), but they would have more U's... Picture like http://www.bishop.lt/codegen-19-server-case-4u-500-ca-rack-mount-chassis-w-o-psu/.

Fundamentally RemoteFX is just a codec (like H.264) that's been written for real-time encodes. (H.264, on the other hand, is meant for content that can be pre-rendered not in real time, like TV shows and movies.)

There will be several initial ways RemoteFX will function once it's released, including: Full software-based encoders on the host. a GPU/CPU-based encoder (with extensions to Hyper-V to let GPUs be shared between multiple VMs). A custom chip-based encoder, either on a plug-in card or built-in to the host.

Why not wait for the plug-in card, the card will be for compression like the old mpeg cards and will have more power than a g'fix card for this stuff.
Or at least wait and see the price!
 
Greg
Thanks
I've been banging my head against the wall on this very question for an age now and it all depends on the type of Remote Desktop you require, a desktop session or desktop virtualisation.

From what I've found, a GPU is optional for Remote Desktop Sessions, the specified gfx cards are required for Remote Desktop VMs only.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff817602(WS.10).aspx

http://64.4.11.252/es-es/library/ff817578(WS.10).aspx

Quote "Note: A GPU is not required when using RemoteFX for Remote Desktop Session Host."

I am led to believe that you have the option to use an available GPU or CPU for RemoteFX processing.

There is also mention of a RemoteFX Encoder that is optional also for "additional scalability" though I can find nowhere to purchase one of these as yet.

As for hardware, if you do require a graphics card then HP only support Proliant DL370 G6 and WS460c G6.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02478570/c02478570.pdf

I have to say, it wouldn't surprise me if the above info turns out to be wrong, I've had my fingers burnt several times whilst trying to get my head around it all.