Nvidia launches Grid 2.0 virtual desktop technology with support for 128 users per server

Chipmaker Nvidia today announced the launch of Grid 2.0, the latest version of its desktop virtualization technology that companies can use to deploy graphics-heavy applications remotely to employees who are offsite.

Companies can buy servers packing Nvidia Grid boards and then use virtualization software — such as VMware vSphere 6 and Horizon 6 and Citrix’s XenApp, XenDesktop, and XenServer — to share the power of GPUs (graphic processing units) with Grid 2.0.

The new release can handle as many as 128 users per server, twice as many as before, according to a statement. And Grid now supports the Linux operating system, not just Windows. Plus the technology can now run on blade servers, not just rack servers.

Today’s release doesn’t have anything to do with Nvidia’s Grid cloud gaming products, a company spokesman told VentureBeat.

Still, it’s important for the company, as graphics virtualization is one part of Nvidia’s enterprise strategy. Nvidia also does business in gaming, high performance computing, and automotive markets.

Last year at VMworld, Nvidia announced a partnership with VMware and Google to bring better graphics performance to Chromebooks.

Grid 2.0 will become available on Sept. 15, according to the statement.

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