Virtualization

The world's first hardware-based virtualized GPU solution

Enable consistent, predictable, and secure performance from your virtualized workstation with the world’s first hardware-based virtualized GPU solution, the AMD Multiuser GPU.* This new virtualization solution from AMD will enable users to have workstation-class experiences with full ISV certifications and local desktop-like performance.

Predictable performance

An AMD graphics card equipped with our Multiuser GPU technology offers consistent, predictable performance. IT managers can easily configure these solutions to allow for up to 16 users on a single GPU. When the card is appropriately configured to meet the needs of the organization, users expect the same access to the GPU no matter their workload. There is no worry about any one user tying up the entire GPU while other users experience slow and unresponsive systems. Each user now has an equal share of the GPU to allow them to design, create, and execute their workflows.

Full-featured virtual GPU

Software virtualization has traditionally been a limiting factor for those who want to fully utilize GPU hardware acceleration for compute tasks under Open CL. With AMD’s implementation of the new Multiuser GPU, users are no longer as limited to what they can or can’t do in a virtualized environment. Users will have access to native AMD display drivers for OpenGL, DirectX®, and OpenCL acceleration, enabling them to work with few if any restrictions. Whatever users were able to do on a local machine they can now do using our new virtualization technology.

Data secure

Users will have peace of mind knowing that their valuable work and data cannot be viewed by other prying eyes. Unlike software virtualization, AMD’s hardware-based virtualization solution makes it extremely difficult for a hacker to break in at the hardware level, whereas with software virtualization, any breaches or holes in the underlying driver can be exploited to access a guest virtual machine in an unauthorized fashion. For organizations that highly value security, the new AMD Multiuser GPU is the clear option for their virtualized workstation needs.

Easy to set up, easy to use

One solution for knowledge workers and power users

Knowledge workers

The most common type of employee. They require a PC to do their job, usually a basic desktop or laptop system with office productivity applications and Internet connectivity.

Knowledge workers are the most typical type of employee found in every business. While the work they do is valuable, they don’t need a powerful PC to get the job done. With the latest advancements in computing hardware, software and communication technologies, it’s now possible to give every employee a robust computing experience, on par with a physical system, from the cloud.

One GPU, multiple virtual mac​hines

In a shared GPU model every employee still feels like they have their own PC, but in fact all of the applications and processing hardware are centrally located in the data center. The employees are actually working on a virtual machine that they access via a compatible thin or zero client.

Power users

Requires everything a knowledge worker needs and more. They need more powerful PCs to run more specialized applications used for design, 3-D modeling, simulation and more. Power users are typically professionals in the design, engineering and simulation industries.

GPU-accelerated applications on virtual machines

Thanks to the tremendous processing power of the GPU, power users working with specialized applications can be transitioned from a physical tower or mobile workstation to a virtual machine that resides in the data center. These power users are working with more graphics-intensive applications than the typical knowledge worker, applications that perform best on a discrete GPU.

The ideal type of power user who can easily transition to virtual machine is an engineer, designer or modeler currently working on a tower or mobile workstation. Depending on the applications and workload, these professionals can be transitioned via a shared GPU model (one GPU for many users) or to a dedicated GPU model (one GPU per user).​​

However, there are various levels of power users, with some needing more processing horsepower than others. With AMD FirePro™ S-series graphics cards, and virtualization technologies from Citrix®, Microsoft® and VMware®, IT can find the right mix of hardware and software to meet a variety of end-user needs.

For companies looking to take advantage of the shared GPU model to support multiple midrange power users, AMD FirePro S-series server cards support Microsoft ® RemoteFX and VMware ESX 5.5.

For companies looking to take advantage of the dedicated GPU model to support midrange to ultrahigh power users, AMD FirePro S-series server cards support VMware ESXi 5.1 and Citrix XenDesktop® and XenApp.

For virtualized workstation deployments, AMD FirePro S-series server cards can support users in dedicated and shared GPU configurations, in combination with hypervisor technologies from Citrix®, Microsoft® and VMware®.

Dedicated GPU model

 

Dedicated GPU or direct GPU pass-through means one GPU per user or virtual machine. This model is best for professionals who traditionally have worked on a physical desktop workstation with a higher-performing discrete GPU.

Power users are typically professionals in the design, engineering and manufacturing industries. These users tend to work across multiple applications, and large models and datasets will need a dedicated GPU assigned to them that resides in a server in the data center. The power user will have direct access to the virtual machine on the GPU, and will not be required to share GPU processing power with any other user. These types of users tend to spend more of their day rendering 3-D models and designs.

To support power users with a virtualized workstation, in a one-GPU-per-user model, AMD FirePro S-series server cards are compatible with hypervisors from both Citrix and VMware.

AMD FirePro S-series server cards support VMware ESXi for dedicated GPU deployments for power users.

If your organization prefers to create virtualized workstations for power users with Citrix®, AMD FirePro S-series server cards support Citrix XenServer™ and XenApp®.

​​More information on AMD FirePro S-series

Shared GPU model

 

The shared GPU model enables one professional graphics card to support multiple users or virtual machines at once. This model is best for average knowledge workers using basic desktops or laptops and office apps, or professionals working with CAD/CAM/CAE apps that require an entry-level to midrange discrete GPU.​

To support knowledge workers or power users in a shared GPU model, AMD FirePro™ S-series server cards are compatible with virtualized desktop and workstation technologies from Microsoft® and VMware. ​

Scalable performance

For companies looking to take advantage of the shared GPU model to support multiple knowledge workers with Microsoft® RemoteFX and Hyper-V, AMD FirePro S-series server cards are compatible and are capable of supporting up to 70 users from one server card.

If your organization prefers virtualized systems for knowledge workers with VMware® vSGA technology, AMD FirePro S-series server cards support VMware ESXi and can scale to support between 16–23 users per server card.

With the shared GPU model, professionals working in architecture, design, engineering and manufacturing can also be supported.
The power user working with small to large models and datasets typically needs a dedicated GPU. However, due to the nature of their work they may not need the power of a dedicated GPU all day long. Unlike a power user, these professionals only spend a small part of their day rendering models and designs. As such, extra graphics processing power is available that could be shared with another user working at a comparable level.

​Virtualization brings many benefits for both IT and for end users. The ability to access a desktop remotely from any device, including laptops, tablets, thin clients or smartphones, means users can always access key information and projects. This can help improve productivity and customer responsiveness, whether on the move, at the office or at home.

AMD FirePro S-series server cards make it easy for IT to choose one flexible, scalable solution to meet various employee needs. To best meet the needs of your business and user base, AMD FirePro S-series server cards are compatible with a range of virtualization technologies from VMware, Microsoft and Citrix. AMD FirePro S-series support for these technologies varies by card, by vendor and by application.

• ​AMD FirePro™ S10000 graphics cards
• AMD FirePro™ S9000 graphics cards
• AMD FirePro™ S7000 graphics cards