PCoIP Remote Workstation Card Overview¶
This guide is intended for systems administrators who are configuring, managing, and deploying Teradici PCoIP® Remote Workstation Cards in a PCoIP environment. Administrators are expected to have experience configuring PCoIP clients, and have a working knowledge of networking principals and using the PCoIP protocol.
Understanding terms in Teradici guides
For information on the industry specific terms and abbreviationsin this guide, see the Teradici Glossary.
A PCoIP Remote Workstation Card is a small add-in card that can be integrated into tower workstations, rack mount workstations, computer blades, and server blades. PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards are manufactured and integrated by various display card manufacturers, supporting widescreen formats, and are powered by TERA2220 or TERA2240 processors. The card's TERA-series processor uses advanced display compression algorithms to encode a user's full workstation environment and then communicated over an IP network to the user's PCoIP client endpoint. Because PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards do not have general purpose CPUs, local data storage, or application operating systems, they are very secure and easy to manage. This is separate from the host PC which does have general purpose CPUs and local data storage. PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards contain upgradable firmware that enables you to customize your PCoIP Remote Workstation Card with various features.
Teradici processor
The processor name refers to the chipset used in the PCoIP device. For example, TERA2240 is the processor used in the second-generation TERA2240 PCIe Remote Workstation Card (for tower PC or rack mount workstations) and TERA2240 PCI Mezzanine Remote Workstation Card (for blade workstations). For details on how to display the processor name for your device, see Displaying Processor Information.
Supported Resolutions for PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards
| Remote Workstation Card Processor Name |
Maximum No. of Supported Displays and Resolutions |
|---|---|
| TERA2220 | 2 x 1920x1200 1 x 2560x16001 1 x 3840x21602 |
| TERA2240 | 4 x 1920x1200 2 x 2560x16001 2 x 3840x21602 |
You can mix and match any Remote Workstation Card with any PCoIP Zero Client. However, when you connect a PCoIP Zero Client endpoint to a Remote Workstation Card, the maximum supported resolutions for any displays attached to the endpoint will equal the highest common denominator between the two devices. For example, if you connect a TERA2140 PCoIP Zero Client to a TERA2240 Remote Workstation Card, you can attach up to four 1920x1200 displays or two 3840x2160 displays. However, if you connect a TERA2321 PCoIP Zero Client to the same Remote Workstation Card, the options become up to two 1920x1200 displays or one 3840x2160 display.
Teradici Software Clients and PCoIP enabled thin clients also offer alternative client endpoints to connect to Remote Workstation Cards.
Best Security Practices
Teradici highly recommends using custom peer-to-peer certificates to create a more secure environment when connecting to your Remote Workstation Card. Teradici highly recommends using this new feature to create a more secure environment. Contact your IT department to ensure your deployment is in accordance with your Company's security policy.
Platforms¶
Remote Workstation Cards are supported on host PCs using Windows or Linux platforms when the host PC supports PCIe x1 required to install the PCoIP Remote Workstation Card. Additionally, Teradici provides an optional software package that can be installed on the host PC. The software package called Remote Workstation Card Software for Windows (and Linux) is specific to each platform and communicates with the Remote Workstation Card adding additional features and performance enhancements. For more information on the Remote Workstation Card Software see PCoIP® Remote Workstation Card Software for Linux Administrators' Guide and "PCoIP® Remote Workstation Card Software for Windows Administrators' Guide.
Remote Workstation Card Software and Firmware features
Some features of the Remote Workstation Card Software may require a minimum firmware version on the PCoIP Remote Workstation Card and the PCoIP Zero Client. Always review the release notes for feature requirements.
Wacom Tablets on Host PCs
Wacom tablets are supported when connecting to Remote Workstation Cards using a PCoIP client with an attached Wacom tablet. Use the latest release of your Zero Client firmware, or Teradici Software Client for the most up to date support of Wacom tablets. Some PCoIP enabled thinclients also support Wacom tablets. Check with your PCoIP enabled thinclient manufacturer if they support wacom tablets with PCoIP. It is recommended to use the latest release of Remote Workstation Card Software for Windows (or Linux) to maintain local cursor support on the client side, and to have best performance in sessions with the Remote Workstation Card when the latest Wacom drivers are used.
Host Driver Function¶
When enabled, the Host Driver Function allows the PCoIP Remote Workstation Card Software installed on the host computer to communicate with the PCoIP Remote Workstation Card. This setting is disabled by default. You can enable this setting by logging in to the Remote Workstation Card from the AWI page—Configuration > Host Driver Function.
When disabled, you will not be able to access to additional features provided by the Remote Workstation Card Software. If the Host Driver function is disabled:
Identifying PCoIP Remote Workstation Card
On your Windows host PC, use device manager to see if a PCoIP Remote Workstation Card is installed. This works if the Host Driver Function is enabled.
On your Linux host PC, open the command prompt and typelspci | grep -i tera to see if a PCoIP Remote Workstation Card is installed.