PCoIP Ultra¶
The PCoIP Client provides support for PCoIP Ultra, the latest protocol enhancements from Teradici. PCoIP Ultra is optimized for truly lossless support with bit-exact color accuracy and preservation of content detail at the highest frame rates.
PCoIP Ultra protocol enhancements propels our industry-recognized performance into the future of remote computing, with faster, more interactive experience for users of remote workstations working with high-resolution content.
PCoIP Ultra enhancements are controlled on the PCoIP Agent. There is no configuration required on the PCoIP Client.
PCoIP Ultra is appropriate for specific use cases
For most users, the default PCoIP protocol will provide the best possible experience. Carefully review the recommended use cases in the next section to determine whether you should enable it.
For additional detail on PCoIP Ultra technical requirements for various use cases and troubleshooting steps, refer to KB 2109: PCoIP Ultra Troubleshooting.
When to Enable PCoIP Ultra¶
PCoIP Ultra is apporpriate for users with the following requirements:
Auto Offload: Achieves the best balance between color accuracy and network efficiency. This setting is appropriate for work-from-home or WAN content creators who require optimized delivery of high resolution content, including video playback, while still achieving build-to-lossless color accuracy.
CPU Offload: Provides efficient scaling across multicore CPUs, leveraging AVX2 instruction sets. Appropriate for users that require CPU-optimized delivery of 4K UHD, high-framerate video playback and build-to-lossless color accuracy. It is also useful when GPU encoding resources must be reserved for video encoding applications, typically in LAN environments.
GPU optimization Offload: PCoIP encoding is always offloaded to a GPU. Appropriate for users who demand the highest possible CPU efficiency.
For all other scenarios, Teradici recommends that you leave PCoIP Ultra disabled.
Requirements¶
To take advantage of PCoIP Ultra, you need:
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A PCoIP Agent (any type), 21.03 or later
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A PCoIP Software Client (any type), 21.03 or later
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The CPUs on both the agent and the client machines must support the AVX2 instruction set.
Enabling PCoIP Ultra¶
PCoIP Ultra is disabled by default, and must be enabled on the PCoIP agent. The method used to do this varies by agent type; consult the following documentation for instructions:
- PCoIP Graphics Agent for Windows
- PCoIP Graphics Agent for macOS
- PCoIP Graphics Agent for Linux
- PCoIP Standard Agent for Windows
- PCoIP Standard Agent for Linux
Auto-Offload with PCoIP Ultra¶
When using a PCoIP graphics agent, PCoIP Ultra can automatically select and switch between CPU-offload and GPU-offload modes based on the amount of pixel change in the displays. When displays are rendering highly dynamic content, PCoIP Ultra will enable GPU Offload to provide improved frame rates and bandwidth optimization. When displays are less dynamic, PCoIP Ultra defaults to CPU offload to provide the best image fidelity.
PCoIP Ultra Offload only takes effect if the remote PCoIP graphics agent and the PCoIP software client are capable of both CPU and GPU offload.
The PCoIP Ultra offload mode is set on the PCoIP agent; PCoIP Ultra Auto Offload requires a PCoIP Graphics Agent. Refer to the appropriate documentation for instructions:
PCoIP Codec Indicator¶
When enabling PCoIP Ultra there will be an onscreen indicator at the bottom left corner of the screen. PCoIP Ultra CPU optimization is indicated with a dark blue dot. PCoIP Ultra GPU optimization is indicated by a magenta dot.
To disable this codec, update the pcoip.code_indicator parameter:
~/.pcoip.rc pcoip.codec_indicator = 0
Ensure that you maintain the space before and after the = sign.
H.264 Hardware Decode¶
The PCoIP Software Client for Linux supports H.264 hardware decode for selected hardware configurations by using the PCoIP Client to enable the decode. For information on this, see H.264 Hardware Decode.