VMware, Nvidia Give Horizon DaaS Graphics Boost

VMware (VMW) is set to deliver 3D graphics on its new Horizon DaaS Platform in a new partnership with NVIDIA, the company known for high-end graphical software in both the gaming and visual computing worlds. The deal will allow Horizon DaaS users to utilize the company’s new service for advanced graphical applications for the first time ever.

By utilizing NVIDIA GRID on the Horizon DaaS, that its newest program is the only multi-tenant desktop as a service (DaaS) platform to deliver service providers with graphics-rich desktops and application for customers requiring visual computing, according to the company.

“NVIDIA GRID technology has opened the door to virtualized visual computing for enterprises worldwide,” said Jeff Brown, vice president and general manager of Professional Visualization and Design at NVIDIA in a prepared statement. “Working with VMware, we’re offering customers flexible access to GPU computing power via onsite virtualized environments or in the cloud. It will help enterprises improve employee productivity, while efficiently managing their hardware resources.”

According to VMware, Horizon DaaS paired with NVIDIA’s graphics offerings will be an essential program for engineering firms, automakers, movie studios and retail designers looking to improve their productivity by delivering graphics-intensive 3D applications on any connected device via mobile access and remote collaboration. The souped-up software will also allow MSPs to deliver virtual workspaces featuring desktops and 3D graphics applications as a monthly cloud subscription service for the first time in the company’s history, according to VMware.

“VMware Horizon DaaS Platform with NVIDIA GRID is a great solution for companies with high-powered computing and visual graphics needs,” said Sumit Dhawan, vice president and general manager of End-User Computing at VMware. “It enables businesses to drive innovation via instant mobile access and collaboration across users worldwide by delivering exceptional 3D-quality graphics applications from the cloud. With VMware and NVIDIA working together, customers and service providers benefit from working with two industry leaders in their respective fields.”

VMware also announced that it is working with NVIDIA to enable customers to use NVIDIA Grid vGPU for GPU sharing with VMware’s virtual machines, so as many as eight users at a time can share GPU acceleration between virtual desktops. While availability and pricing for NVIDIA Grid and VMware Horizon DaaS are available now, users will have to wait for the release of the GRID vGPU for virtual machines until sometime later this year.

The addition of NVIDIA-based graphics to Horizon DaaS is yet another big step for VMware. If and when it comes down to MSPs having to choose between Horizon DaaS and a comparable offering, this latest addition could be one of the tipping points in VMware’s favor.