PCoIP TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS: VMware View Virtual desktop performance

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This article provides a brief list of general troubleshooting steps for performance issues on virtual desktops.

Scenarios covered include:

  • Video slicing or tearing.
  • Screen (or parts of the screen) becomes fuzzy screen and then clears up.
  • Slow screen updates.
  • Moving windows around quickly lags.
  • Window lag moving from one display to the another display.
  • Slow desktop launch, screen flickers a couple of times.

For information about application performance issues caused by processor power management settings, please see http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1018206.

 

Scenario 1:

Video slicing or tearing.

  • Check for network congestion and packet loss.
  • Check PCoIP zero client logs to see if hitting the 20Mbps bandwidth limit.
  • Windows media player has know slicing issues - try using alternative player for the same video (Media Player Classic, Quicktime etc).
  • Some videos are poorly encoded and can slice during playback, or consume more bandwidth than other videos, but at a fraction of the video performance.  Try an alternate encoding for the video, try a different player.
  • Under-performing client.  Check the client CPU if consistently highly loaded, consider a more powerful client such as a PCoIP zero client.
  • Check the number of vCPU's for the desktop.  VMware View recommends dual vCPU desktops for >480p video playback. 

 

Scenario 2:

Screen (or parts of the screen) becomes fuzzy and then clears up.

  • Check for network congestion, lack of bandwidth and/or packet loss.  

 

Scenario 3:

Slow screen updates.

  • Check for network congestion, lack of bandwidth and/or packet loss.  
  • Consider reducing the PCoIP session variable GPO for Initial Image Quality from 90 (default) to 70 (for example).  This will increase the video frame rate in a known congested network environment.  

For information on setting up GPO variables please see:

 

Scenario 4:

Moving windows around quickly seems to lag

Note that using the PCoIP Hardware Accelerator (APEX 2800) can resolve performance issues due to server loading. 

 

Scenario 5:

Window lag moving from one display to the other display:  

  • Check the VMware View SVGA display driver version with the compatibility list and ensure to power down (not reboot) the VM for the new driver (or vRAM) settings to take effect.

          http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1029706

 

Scenario 6:

Slow desktop launch, screen flickers a couple of times:

  • The Client and VM are attempting to negotiate a new resolution or display topology.
  • Zero client with firmware 3.5.0 or earlier can display a black screen on connection up to 5-10 seconds before desktop shown (depending on desktop startup time, number of applications open etc.
  • There are a number of known blinking issues using VMware View 5 with View Clients and PCoIP zero clients.  

 

See also:

Why is my virtual desktop experiencing poor display or video performance after installing or updating VMware software?

VMware ESXi, Horizon View, and PCoIP software compatibility matrix lists

VMware View SVGA matrix

Troubleshooting artifacts in a PCoIP Session

What should video playback expectations be in a PCoIP session?

Why is Adobe Flash choppy with VMware Horizon View and PCoIP Zero Clients?

Why has my PCoIP Zero Client display temporarily shown a black screen?