Project Apollo is a cross-product R&D effort in support of the Citrix Multimedia Virtualization Initiative. This Tech Preview release showcases Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting, a technology that leverages graphics processor hardware acceleration to efficiently deliver high end 3D professional graphics and imaging. Most customers’ graphics needs are already well met by SpeedScreen Progressive Display, a revolutionary technology introduced in XenApp Presentation Server 4.5 and also included in XenDesktop. However, working with very large 3D graphics models sometimes requires the added computational power of a graphics processing unit (GPU). Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting enables thin clients, PCs and desktop appliances to edit and manipulate large CAD/CAM, geospatial, and medical imaging models. This technology also delivers Microsoft Windows Vista Aero desktops with full “glass” effects and Flip 3D animation. Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting for XenDesktop provides an ideal new way of delivering graphics-intensive DirectX and OpenGL applications such as Autodesk Inventor®, Autodesk Revit® Architecture, Bentley MicroStation™ and 3D PACS to your most demanding users while keeping application software and data in the data center.

View a brief video demonstration of Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting.

This Tech Preview release marks the completion of phase one of project Apollo, focused on demonstrating the ability of Citrix’s Accelerated Bitmap Remoting technology to efficiently capture graphics from a very wide range of 3D professional graphics applications. Optimizations to reduce network bandwidth consumption, such as enabling SpeedScreen Progressive Display to work along with Accelerated Bitmap Remoting, are planned for the second phase of project Apollo.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Enables the delivery of a wide range of graphically intensive applications such as those used by media professionals, architects, engineers, designers, doctors and radiologists. Supports all graphics and RIA / Web 2.0 technologies that are compatible with Windows Vista Aero, including DirectX, OpenGL, WPF, GDI, Flash, Silverlight, etc.
• Accessible from standard PCs and thin clients. Advanced 3D graphics applications can be accessed from relatively inexpensive endpoint devices. The graphics processing hardware is kept in the data center.
• Leverages the Citrix ICA protocol and current ICA client software. The Apollo technology thus integrates easily into most customers’ existing infrastructure.
• Uses industry standard data center hardware. Apollo is ideally suited to blade workstations and rack-mounted workstations, which are economical and easily managed. Even regular desktop and tower PCs can be used, making this technology easy to evaluate.
• Leverages Microsoft’s latest Windows Vista Aero technology to optimize performance in delivering new generation Windows applications. Multiple graphical applications can be run simultaneously.
• Full Vista Aero user experience, including Windows Flip 3D, taskbar previews, sidebar and “glass” effects. Users benefit from the latest Microsoft technologies

Architecture and Infrastructure:
The Apollo Accelerated Bitmap Remoting Tech Preview has been packaged as an add-on to XenDesktop 2.0. The Tech Preview operates in a one-to-one configuration, meaning one concurrent user (CCU) per host, where the host is a workstation (typically a blade or rack-mounted workstation) running Windows Vista Aero. The more powerful the graphics processor on the workstation, the more graphically intensive the applications that can be delivered.

XenDesktop Delivery Controller (Broker):
This Tech Preview works in conjunction with the Citrix XenDesktop 2.0 Delivery Controller. Apollo Tech Preview evaluators who do not already have XenDesktop must obtain a copy of XenDesktop Express (10-user limit) or a Product Eval from their Citrix partner.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Get answers to many frequently asked questions.

Prerequisites:
Review the requirements for the host workstation, clients, and network connectivity.

To request the Apollo Tech Preview release, please submit an application form for review by Citrix. Applications will be reviewed according to match against Citrix’s objectives for this Tech Preview release, variety and graphics-intensity of applications, and resource availability. Applicants will be notified via email.