NVIDIA Unveils Own GRID-Based Server, the Visual Computing Appliance (VCA)
At the first keynote address at GTC 2013, NVIDIA CEO unveiled the company's very own GRID-based server named Visual Computing Appliance (VCA). This server features a pair of Intel Xeon CPUs with eight Kepler-based graphics cards. It marks the upscaling of GRID technology to meet enterprise needs.
At the first keynote address at GTC 2013, NVIDIA CEO unveiled the company's very own GRID-based server named Visual Computing Appliance (VCA). This server features a pair of Intel Xeon CPUs with eight Kepler-based graphics cards. It marks the upscaling of GRID technology to meet enterprise needs.
(Image Source: NVIDIA)
Besides featuring such powerful and configurable hardware, the VCA incorporates the company's own VGX technology that will deliver a 'dedicated' virtual CPU-GPU stack to the user's device through NVIDIA's thin-client software that has to be installed on the device.
During VCA's demonstration, a MacBook Pro had three instances of NVIDIA Workspace running. Each workspace had a CPU-GPU intensive application in use; the one on the extreme left had SolidWorks operating, the one on the far right hosted Adobe Premiere with a 4K video playing and the middle workspace had a CAD-based software in operation.
According to CEO Jen-Hsun, the VCA that was hosting the GRID technology was actually located that was located about 547 kilometers away. This proved that NVIDIA GRID technology can be successfully deployed over a WLAN. He also revealed the cost of owning a NVIDIA GRID VCA with its VGX technology.
(Image Source: NVIDIA)
NVIDIA also took the opportunity to highlight its hardware and software partners. Dell, HP and IBM are offering NVIDIA GRID-based servers; while Citrix, Microsoft and VMware are offering NVIDIA GRID-enabled software.
(Image Source: NVIDIA)
The company seemed kind enough to include these partners in its NVIDIA GRID ecosystem; however, the announcement of its own VAC with its own Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) client software(GRID Workspace), it may not be a harmonious ecosystem as there may be instances where NVIDIA is viewed as a competitor to both its hardware and software partners. As early as January this year at CES, the NVIDIA GRID system was still positioned as a cloud-based gaming system and within a short span of two months, its credentials have been burnished to the level of enterprise cloud computing. Watch this space for more surprises from NVIDIA!
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