Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a technology that delivers desktop environments to end-users via virtual machines hosted on centralized servers.

Protocol

Description

Use Case

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)

Microsoft protocol for remote graphical desktop access over TCP port 3389. Enables users to control Windows desktops remotely with GUI support.

Remote desktop access for Windows environments.

ICA (Independent Computing Architecture)

Citrix’s remote display protocol that compresses and transmits GUI input/output over TCP port 1494 (and UDP 2598 for HDX). Optimized for high-latency WAN environments with features like session reliability.

Virtual application and desktop delivery in Citrix environments.

PCoIP (PC-over-IP)

VMware’s remote display protocol delivering desktop visuals using H.264, H.265, HEVC over networks. Designed for rich multimedia and 3D workloads with adaptive encoding.

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) scenarios for high-performance desktops.

Blast Extreme

VMware protocol optimized for high-performance remote display over TCP/UDP. Supports H.264 encoding, bandwidth adaptation, and mobile-friendly transport.

High-performance remote access in VMware Horizon environments, especially for mobile or low-bandwidth scenarios.

Main Features

  • Remote graphical desktop access over TCP port 3389

  • Supports full Windows desktop GUI control

  • Includes features like audio redirection, clipboard sharing, multi-monitor support

  • Optimized for Windows environments

RFC References

Use Cases

  • Remote desktop access for Windows systems

  • IT support and remote administration with GUI

  • Remote working environments and virtual desktops

Alternative Protocols

  • VNC – Cross-platform remote desktop sharing

  • TeamViewer, AnyDesk – Proprietary remote access solutions

  • SSH with X11 forwarding – GUI access on Unix/Linux

Let us learn more about RDP:

Jump to “RDP”

Main Features

  • Citrix-developed protocol for remote desktop and application delivery

  • Optimized for WAN with compression, caching, and session reliability

  • Supports multimedia, printing, and peripheral redirection

  • Formerly known as Thinwire; now part of Citrix HDX stack

RFC References

  • Proprietary Citrix protocol (no formal RFC)

Use Cases

  • Delivering virtual apps and desktops to remote clients in enterprise networks

  • Low-bandwidth or high-latency environments where connection reliability is essential

Alternative Protocols

  • RDP – Microsoft’s native remote desktop protocol

  • PCoIP – For high-fidelity visual workloads

  • VNC – Basic desktop sharing across platforms

Let us learn more about ICA:

Jump to “ICA”

Main Features

  • VMware’s remoting protocol optimized for graphic-intensive and multimedia workloads

  • Uses adaptive compressions via H.264, H.265, and HEVC

  • Dynamically adjusts bandwidth and quality based on network conditions

  • Offers USB, audio, and display virtualization

RFC References

  • Proprietary VMware protocol (no formal RFC)

Use Cases

  • VDI setups requiring high-performance desktop experience

  • CAD, video editing, and applications with rich graphics and 3D

Alternative Protocols

  • RDP – General-purpose Windows remote desktop

  • ICA – Citrix-optimized remote desktops

  • SPICE – Open-source and multimedia-capable desktop protocol

Let us learn more about PCoIP:

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Main Features

  • VMware proprietary remote display protocol used in VMware Horizon.

  • Supports both TCP and UDP transport, offering better performance over WAN.

  • Uses H.264 (and optionally HEVC) for efficient video encoding and rendering.

  • Bandwidth-adaptive with support for hardware acceleration (GPU offload).

  • Designed for high-performance, mobile-friendly remote desktop experiences.

RFC References

Use Cases

  • Delivering virtual desktops and applications via VMware Horizon.

  • Optimized experience for mobile, thin client, and low-bandwidth users.

  • Secure remote work and VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) deployments.

  • Environments requiring multimedia support and high graphical performance.

Alternative Protocols

  • PCoIP – Also used by VMware, focused on pixel delivery rather than video.

  • RDP – Standard Windows protocol for remote desktop access.

  • Citrix HDX – Competing protocol from Citrix with similar goals.

Let us learn more about Blast Extreme:

Jump to “Blast Extreme”