What Is Citrix HDX? Know How To Get Accelerated Virtual Desktop Performance With HDX

HDX is the central component of Citrix virtual desktops and applications. It is an arrangement of innovations that offers a high-fidelity desktop experience. HDX is the technology that ensures a consistent user experience from anywhere, anytime, or on any device. 

Citrix HDX has three technical regulations: intelligent redirection, adaptive compression, and data de-duplication. These are created to enhance the user experience, eliminate IT resource consumption, and improve density per server host. Built on Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocol, businesses across the globe are leveraging its benefits to support their remote work model. 

Advantages HDX Serve in Offering Enhanced User Experience 

• Optimizes Voice, Video, and Multimedia Performance 

Virtual desktops offer real-time performance similar to what users get on local desktop implementations. HDX technology delivers bandwidth-efficient multimedia and video experience with exceptional display optimization. 

HDX performs display optimization through Enlightened Data Transport (EDT) protocol for hi-tech performance. This feature also enables the user to switch between the protocols without additional configurations. Citrix HDX uses H.264 and H.265 codecs for excellent image quality with minimal bandwidth consumption. 

HDX leverages graphic-intensive hardware to reduce resource consumption when offering full-screen motions. 

• Accelerates Printing and Scanning 

With HDX, IT administrators get the upper hand when they need to support local and network printers. Citrix virtual desktops support both kinds of printers. The local printer is the one that redirects to the endpoint client, and network printers are based on various criteria such as Active Directory group membership and location. Users can get a stable printing experience with this functionality.  

HDX provides printing feasible by providing the required bandwidth. This technology utilizes a single driver to supervise multiple printers, thus simplifying peripheral management for scanners and printers. 

HDX moves the Universal server to the Windows server, eliminating the need for device-specific drivers. The printing protocols are firewall compatible, offering greater bandwidth while printing to non-windows endpoints.  

Managed Citrix desktops have device-host additional intelligence features to eliminate the need for USB redirection. This enables peripheral scanning, ensuring that only compressed images are transferred through the network. 

Additionally, HDX is compatible with all types of peripherals, including joysticks, port adapters, video projectors, and other storage and communication devices. Establishing a link with cloud servers creates a peripheral connection for users operating from different cities. Citrix HDX also supports e-signatures and digital pens in virtual applications, which is essential for Design, IT, media, and legal industries. 

• Ensures High-quality Service and Reliability 

Since virtual desktops are designed to meet the needs of a remote workforce, be it 10 or 1000 users, the performance must be optimized. To deliver an excellent user experience, network administrators require HDX to meet service level agreements (SLAs) that combine service and reliability by Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocols. 

Meanwhile, network administrators apply QoS routing to segment the traffic into interactive, dedicated real-time, background, bulk, and RTP/ UDP voice channels. This enables them to identify network bandwidth so that they can allocate space for client-server applications too. 

Users get virtual desktops and applications with adaptive caching technology that creates data duplication across multiple sessions to optimize desktop delivery. ICA protocol controls the TCP –based traffic flow by responding to latency and compressing traffic to have a highly tuned engine. Furthermore, ICA performs a protocol acceleration function to prepare the virtual desktop environment for forthcoming network conditions.                     

If businesses opt for managed Citrix desktops from a service provider, they can leverage a pre-defined HDX policy tailor-made for businesses. This feature makes it feasible to establish a secure connection while meeting IT needs, including server scalability, WAN, and control.  

Also Read:- What Is Windows Virtual Desktop? Everything You Need to Know

Uses Cases Of HDX Optimization 

• Unified Communication 

Today, 4.3 million people in the USA work from home at least half the time. In such a scenario, having a reliable solution for collaboration and communication is prominent. Web conferences demand high-definition audio and video, which is guaranteed with HDX. 

Citrix HDX minimizes latency with real-time UDP audio and incorporates packet tagging for virtual channels. Real-time optimization policies control latency so one can connect on multiple devices for a great user experience, maintaining higher user density on the host server. For a satisfactory webinar visual experience, HDX also compresses video graphics, thus reducing bandwidth requirements on remote networks. 

For instance, when desktops are hosted on a central server, users can leverage integrated communication platforms such as Skype, MS Teams, and Outlook. Additionally, this intercepts webcam compression and ensures that the user can have an extraordinary experience even when they are at remote locations. 

• Multimedia Rendering 

Multimedia rendering tasks such as video rendering on Photoshop demand a higher level of server resource consumption which can offload to a local device if not redirected appropriately. With the HDX feature, the client network traffic can be redirected to offer a local browsing experience on virtual desktops. 

The multimedia redirection process plays a key role in reducing the overburdening of host servers, making more space to support additional users per server. Also, the redirection process offloads playback rendering to compatible devices. 

• 4K Resolution  

In multiple industries such as media, films, and IT, having high-resolution displays is one of those parameters that can’t be ignored. For instance, a graphic editor can’t be productive without high-resolution displays, especially when they work on more than one monitor. 

Also Read:- What is VDI as a Service?

Leverage the Power of HDX with ACE Virtual Desktops 

Having superior user experience for today’s fast-paced workforce has become crucial to creating an engaging work environment. HDX is the technology focusing on virtual desktop and application delivery to have an experience matching the standards of local PC. On that note, HDX offers to maintain next-grade application delivery while ensuring IT control and corporate data security. 

Citrix managed virtual desktop delivery with ACE virtual desktops offer anywhere, anytime access integrated with different technologies, so employees can use it on any device. Virtual desktops with HDX are multi-cloud ready. 

Connect with our experts to know how you can empower your hybrid workforce with a secure and HDX-accelerated virtual desktop experience.