6.0.2

Configuring 3D Rendering
You select options to determine the way View manages 3D rendering. For details, see “3D Rendering
Options,” on page 121.
When you enable the 3D Renderer setting, you can configure the amount of VRAM that is assigned to the
virtual machines in the pool by moving the slider in the Configure VRAM for 3D guests dialog box. The
minimum VRAM size is 64MB. For virtual hardware version 9 virtual machines, the default VRAM size is
96MB, and you can configure a maximum size of 512MB. For virtual hardware version 8 virtual machines,
the default VRAM size is 64MB, and you can configure a maximum size of 128MB.
The VRAM settings that you configure in View Administrator take precedence over the VRAM settings that
can be configured for the virtual machines in vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client, unless you select the
Manage using vSphere Client option.
When you enable the 3D Renderer setting, you can configure the Max number of monitors setting for one
or two monitors. You cannot select more than two monitors. Also, the Max resolution of any one monitor
setting is set to 1920x1200 pixels.
3D Rendering Options
The 3D Renderer setting for desktop pools provides options that let you configure graphics rendering in
different ways.
Table 11‑12. 3D Renderer Options for Pools Running on vSphere 5.1 or Later
Option Description
Manage using
vSphere Client
The 3D Renderer option that is set in vSphere Web Client (or vSphere Client in vSphere 5.1) for a
virtual machine determines the type of 3D graphics rendering that takes place. View does not
control 3D rendering.
In the vSphere Web Client or vSphere Client, you can configure the Automatic, Software, or
Hardware options. These options have the same effect as they do when you set them in View
Administrator.
When you select the Manage using vSphere Client option, the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests,
Max number of monitors, and Max resolution of any one monitor settings are inactive in View
Administrator. You can configure these settings for a virtual machine in the vSphere Web Client
or vSphere Client.
Automatic 3D rendering is enabled. The ESXi host controls the type of 3D rendering that takes place.
For example, the ESXi host reserves GPU hardware resources on a first-come, first-served basis as
virtual machines are powered on. If all GPU hardware resources are already reserved when a
virtual machine is powered on, ESXi uses the software renderer for that machine.
When you configure hardware-based 3D rendering, you can examine the GPU resources that are
allocated to each virtual machine on an ESXi host. For details, see “Examining GPU Resources on
an ESXi Host,” on page 123.
Software 3D rendering is enabled. The ESXi host uses software 3D graphics rendering. If a GPU graphics
card is installed on the ESXi host, this pool will not use it.
In the Configure VRAM for 3D Guests dialog box, you can use the slider to increase the amount of
VRAM that is reserved.
Chapter 11 Provisioning Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 121