PCoIP - PC over Internet Protocol

What is PCoIP?

PCoIP (PC over IP) is a remote display protocol developed by Teradici (now part of HP) that delivers a secure, high-performance desktop experience by transmitting only pixels between a host and a client.

Why is PCoIP useful?

PCoIP allows centralized computing with high security, as data never leaves the data center. It is especially useful for remote desktop infrastructure (VDI), graphics-intensive applications, and secure work environments.

How it works?

PCoIP compresses, encrypts, and transmits only display information (pixels) from the host system to the endpoint device. The endpoint sends back keyboard, mouse, and USB inputs to the host. No actual application data or files are transferred to the client.

Where is PCoIP used?

PCoIP is widely used in VMware Horizon, Amazon WorkSpaces, and secure enterprise environments for delivering virtual desktops and workstations, especially where GPU-accelerated applications are used (e.g., CAD, 3D modeling).

Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?

PCoIP primarily operates at the Application Layer (Layer 7), though it also relies on lower layers (e.g., Transport and Network) for delivery of data packets.

Is PCoIP Windows specific?

No, PCoIP is not Windows specific. It supports both Windows and Linux virtual desktops, though Windows is more commonly deployed in enterprise environments using PCoIP.

Is PCoIP Linux specific?

No, PCoIP is not Linux specific, but Linux virtual desktops can be delivered using PCoIP, especially in environments like VMware Horizon or custom Teradici deployments.

Which Transport Protocol is used by PCoIP?

PCoIP uses both TCP and UDP to optimize performance. UDP is typically used for real-time display traffic to minimize latency, while TCP is used for session control and fallback.

Which Port is used by PCoIP?

By default, PCoIP uses: - UDP port 4172 for display traffic - TCP port 4172 for session control Additionally, TCP port 443 may be used when tunneling over SSL.

Is PCoIP using Client server model?

Yes, PCoIP uses a client-server model. The server (hosted desktop or virtual machine) renders the desktop and sends display information to the client, which acts as a thin endpoint.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links