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Connecting to PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards

You can connect to remote workstations equipped with a Remote Workstation Card, and with Remote Workstation Card Software (for Windows or Linux) installed.

Refer to System Requirements for supported versions.

Initial Workstation Configuration

Before you can connect to your remote workstation for the first time, you must install software and make some configuration changes. These actions only need to be taken once for each remote workstation in your system:

  • Record the MAC address of the Remote Workstation Card

    Before you install the Remote Workstation Card, record the MAC address of the Remote Workstation Card; this will allow you to log into the card to configure its settings. Type https://pcoip-host-<MAC_ADDRESS>.mydomain where <MAC_ADDRESS> is the MAC address of your Remote Workstation Card and mydomain is the local domain of your network. This step is important as the host driver function is disabled by default, so the Remote Workstation Card Software will not pick up information about the Remote Workstation Card, such as the MAC address. The MAC address enables you to connect to the Remote Workstation Card to view the IP address and enable the host driver function.

    For more information on IP and MAC information relating to the Remote Workstation Card, see How do I find the IP address of my newly installed Anyware Zero Client or Remote Workstation card? in the knowledge base.

  • Install the Remote Workstation Card Agent: To connect to a Remote Workstation Card machine with a Anyware Software Client, the Remote Workstation Card Agent software must be installed.

  • Verify accessibility: Both the NIC of the workstation and the NIC of the Remote Workstation card need to be accessible by the Anyware Software Client. They can be on different local networks as long as both are accessible by the Anyware Software Client. If they are both behind a NAT and accessed by the Anyware Software Client then the Remote Workstation Card Agent must send the NAT'ed address to the Anyware Software Client when connecting.

  • Enable monitor emulation for the video ports on your remote workstation: If monitor emulation is not enabled, you may see blank gray screens when you connect from the Anyware Software Client.

    To enable monitor emulation, log in to the card’s Administrator Web Interface (AWI) and select Enable Monitor Emulation on Video Port n from the Configuration > Monitor Emulation menu. For more information, see the Remote Workstation Card Administrators' Guide.

  • Disable temporal dithering: Temporal dithering causes blurriness, heavy packet loss, and high CPU usage on the Anyware Software Client machine.

  • Linux workstations: configure Remote Workstation Card Software to Start Automatically: To configure the Remote Workstation Card Software to start automatically, log into the workstation using a Anyware Zero Client or directly from a local mouse and keyboard, and modify the workstation startup script to launch the Remote Workstation Card Software. For details, see Installing Remote Workstation Card Software Binary RPM in the PCoIP® Remote Workstation Card Software for Linux User Guide.

Once the remote workstation is properly configured, you can use the Software Client for macOS to connect to it.

Connecting to a Remote Workstation Card through the command line

You can connect directly to a Remote Workstation card from a Anyware Software Client by launching the client from the command line. For details, see hard host in client configuration.

Remote Workstation Card Limitations

Not all features with the Software Client are fully supported when connecting to a Remote Workstation Card. The following section outlines these limitations against certain features.

Audio: Remote Workstation Card uses a hardware based audio protocol which is not fully supported on the Software Client.

Topology: Single display configurations will work. There may be disruptions in the forms of black bars or scroll bars on the client if the Remote Workstation Card does not support the display configuration on the client.

USB: Connecting USB devices to the Remote Workstation Card is not supported.

Performance: The Remote Workstation Card does not support PCoIP Ultra enhancements.

Connecting Remotely using NAT or VPN

The same principles that apply for Anyware Zero Clients apply to Anyware Software Clients when connecting to multiple hosts through a WAN. Connections from a Anyware Software Client to a Remote Workstation Card across a WAN will require a VPN or NAT setup with enterprise level NATing devices. For information on how to connect a Anyware Software Client to a Remote Workstation Card installed in a Windows host computer, see Conections from Software Clients in the Remote Workstation Card Administrators' Guide.