Remote Graphics Software

HP Remote Graphics Software or HP RGS is a client-server remote desktop software solution developed by HP Inc. and initially launched in 2003. HP RGS enables remote access to high-performance workstations (or virtual workstations) from many different devices including other Workstations, PCs, Windows tablets and thin-clients. The software is targeted at remote access to graphic intensive applications and complex 3D models. Collaboration, or screen sharing, between multiple users, remote USB and sound, as well as Windows and Linux are also supported. HP markets RGS for "Real-Time Collaboration", "Workstation-Class Mobility" and "Remote Workers"

Contents

• Industry Use Cases
• Oil and Gas
• Financial Traders
• Animation TV Film and Special Effects
• Architecture Engineering and Construction
• Product Design
• Education
• Versions
• References

With HP RGS all the processing, including hardware-accelerated graphics with the latest OpenGL or DirectX rendering is done on the workstation and only compressed bitmap images (the screen) are sent to the client device. HP RGS is distinguished by its proprietary compression algorithms which allows for real-time transmission of complex 3D images and video, which traditional remote desktop protocols struggle with. This opens up the use of remote desktops and thin clients to graphics-intensive industries such as CAD, oil and gas exploration, animation, architecture engineering and construction which previously required local workstations.

Recent performance improvements (RGS 7.1) open up even more demanding use cases including remoting 4K displays, delivering 60 frames per second, or remote desktop sessions of 3D CAD applications with peak bandwidth usage under 3 Mbit/s. In 2014 HP released RGS 7.0 which brought remote workstation use cases to tablet devices. The remote desktop tool has shown resilience against latency and packet loss when compared to Citrix HDX 3D or Teradici's PCoiP.

There are two components to the software, the sender (for the workstation or server) and the receiver (for the client device). The software supports OpenGL and Microsoft DirectX. The software is sold stand alone for servers, virtual machines and non HP Workstations. HP started including RGS with all of its desktop Z brand workstations starting with version 5.4.7 in 2011. RGS can be downloaded from HP and run on HP Z Workstations and ZBook mobile workstations for free. Other hardware requires a license for the HP RGS sender. The receiver is a free download for Windows, Linux and macOS clients.

An early version of the HP RGS video compression codec, is derived from a patented system developed by HP Labs and used in the NASA Mars Rover program.