ARM CPUs and system-on-chip: A breath of fresh air for the thin client market

Transcription

1 ARM CPUs and system-on-chip: A breath of fresh air for the thin client market Successful technologies found in smartphones and tablets are now finding their way into the thin client sector, too. What are the opportunities and risks associated with ARM processors with a system-on-chip (SoC) design? What are the practical benefits of hardware-based multimedia acceleration using digital signal processors (DSPs)?

2 The market for smartphones and tablets is booming. According to information provided by the BITKOM ICT association, a record 23 million smartphones and just under 3 million tablet computers were sold in Germany alone in The most successful models offer not only straightforward access to a wide range of cloud services but also compact yet high-performance, energy-efficient hardware. Using this technology for stationary end devices, such as thin clients, seems like a natural progression. After all, the criteria for success are very similar. New impetus for the thin client sector ARM is the most commonly used CPU architecture in the embedded sector. From Apple s iphone and ipad to rival devices from Samsung, HTC and virtually all other smartphone manufacturers an ARM chip can be found in the majority of housings. Unlike Intel s classic x86 design, which is also referred to as CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer), the chip design licensed by ARM Limited contains so-called RISC processors (Reduced Instruction Set Computer). Their huge success is based on their reduced instruction set and the simultaneous execution of instructions. This allows a much higher processing speed with lower power consumption and heat generation. The ARM design is becoming more and more popular. Even Microsoft is offering its Windows 8 and Windows Phone operating systems in an ARM version. Its aim is to make battery-powered mobile devices as small and powerful, yet cost-effective and energy-efficient as possible. However, all of these criteria also bring additional customer benefits in the field of stationary end devices such as thin clients. The IGEL UD2-LX MultiMedia features a Texas Instruments 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor with a system-on-chip design (SoC) running the proven IGEL Linux operating system IGEL: ARM-based multiprotocol thin client As one of the first thin client providers, the German market leader IGEL decided to develop an ARM-based multiprotocol and multimedia thin client in This was extremely challenging in terms of design and programming. Unveiled at CeBIT at the start of 2012 and available since the middle of the year, the IGEL UD2-LX MultiMedia features a Texas Instruments 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor with a system-on-chip design (SoC) running the proven IGEL Linux operating system. In terms of power consumption, the thin client housed in the smallest IGEL housing uses only 7 watts when operating and less than 1 watt in sleep mode. Although its power consumption is 20 percent lower than that of the standard IGEL UD2 range, the new ARM model measures up to the performance of the current top model (UD5-x30) when optimized protocols are used. ARM architecture The ARM architecture is a 32-bit chip design developed in 1983 by the British computer company Acorn. Since 1990, it has been further developed by ARM Limited, a joint venture between Acorn and other companies. The abbreviation stands for Advanced RISC Machines. Unlike Intel or AMD, ARM Limited does not manufacture its own electronic chips. Instead, it grants licenses to semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung, Texas Instruments, Nvidia or Qualcomm. The sheer number of these licensees and the various advantages of the architecture, such as lower power consumption, have made ARM chips the most commonly used architecture in the embedded sector. The XNU kernel (Mac OS X / ios), the Linux kernel (Google Android, Access Linux Platform etc.) and Windows NT 6.2 (Windows Phone 8 / RT) among others run on ARM processors. Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is one of the world s biggest manufacturers of semiconductors. TI was established in Dallas in 1930 and is still based there today. At the time, it was set up as a geophysical research company whose objective was to use seismic signal processing technology in order to facilitate searching for oil. The introduction of the first commercial transistor radio in 1954 led to the international breakthrough of the first globally active semiconductor company. The technologies developed by TI are found in many areas of day-to-day life from digital communication and entertainment to solutions in medicine, the automotive field and many other sectors. TI employs some 35,000 people around the world and has filed more than 39,000 patents. Its total turnover in 2011 was US$13.7 billion, with embedded processing accounting for US$2.1 billion of this. 2/5

3 Fast: System-on-chip with ARM CPU and DSP With the UD2-LX MultiMedia, IGEL is following the systemon-chip trend started by Citrix but is also integrating a digital signal processor (DSP) from Texas Instruments into the SoC design. The DSP module is responsible for speeding up the Citrix HDX and Microsoft RemoteFX protocols with hardware support. Thanks to the additional computing power, this thin client in the entry-level price category offers impressive multimedia performance. For example, HD videos can be played in full screen mode and complex graphical content such as aero effects or PowerPoint presentations can be displayed without the necessary decoding and rendering placing an additional burden on the server. The maximum screen resolution is 1920 x 1200, and, as is usually the case with IGEL, the dualview option comes as standard. Digital signal processors A digital signal processor (DSP) is used to process digital signals on a continuous basis. Unlike a central processing unit (CPU), the DSP is optimized to carry out frequently needed mathematical operations quickly. It is designed to reliably process a specific quantity of data per time unit (real-time capability). Typical areas of application include telecommunications (routers, networks), audio (music and voice compression) and video (high resolutions, digital cameras, medicine). DSPs are now also being used in thin clients as part of system-on-chip architectures. In this case, they provide hardware acceleration when necessary for protocols such as Citrix HDX or Microsoft RemoteFX, helping to optimize the user experience when accessing virtual desktops. Multimedia power based on demand IGEL is one of the first manufacturers to use DSPs to speed up protocols in thin clients but without restricting itself to a specific provider such as Citrix, VMware or Microsoft. In addition to speeding up multimedia playback, the system-on-chip design also helps to conserve server resources. In the case of Citrix HDX, the higher-level Citrix XenDesktop VDI solution can decide, based on demand, how much of the computing load is distributed to a particular thin client. However, the thin client itself must use only the amount of computing power required in each individual case. For example, the DSP in the IGEL UD2-LX MultiMedia shares the computing load only in specific cases ( special tasks ), namely when the integrated HDX or RemoteFX decoders are needed or the integrated Media Player requires the decoders which are likewise integrated into the DSP for the MPEG4, H264 or WMV video formats. In all other cases ( general purpose ), the RDP client, Citrix Receiver and Media Player make do with the computing power provided by the ARM chip. HDX Ready SoC: A proprietary approach? With the system-on-chip design used in the IGEL UD2-LX MultiMedia, IGEL is following a trend which Citrix reinforced at its Synergy event in Barcelona in the fall of The HDX Ready SoC Initiative presented their focus on a new class of end devices, which can display virtual desktops and apps in HD quality but should also be considerably cheaper than before. With its new reference design, Citrix is hoping to achieve a quicker ROI (return on investment) and ultimately ensure that desktop virtualization becomes established even faster. According to Gartner, there should be around 74 million users worldwide in Unlike most other providers, however, IGEL is remaining true to its multiprotocol approach. In spite of the company taking part in the Citrix initiative, its new ARM/SoC model supports not only Microsoft and Citrix but also virtualization solutions from VMware. UD2-LX Multimedia DSP optimizations IGEL SoC design: ARM and DSP operate according to demand General Purpose special Tasks RDP Client RemoteFX Decoder MPEG4 Decoder Media Player H264 Decoder WMV Decoder Citrix Receiver ARM CPU HDX Decoder DSP SOC 3/5

4 System-on-chip (SoC) The term system-on-chip (SoC) refers to an integrated circuit (IC) whose embedded logic contains all or the majority of the necessary functions in monolithic form. The system is essentially a combination of various elements (logic circuits, clocking, automatic start-up, microtechnical sensors etc.), which together provide a specific function. SoC designs are normally used in applications requiring high performance and versatility in small packages. They are particularly popular in embedded systems such as MP3 players, CD and DVD devices as well as in smartphones, tablets and other embedded computers such as thin clients. In the autumn of 2011, Citrix launched the HDX SoC initiative. The aim of the chip design, which is optimized for the Citrix HDX protocol, is to produce particularly small, energy-efficient and cost-effective end devices. These devices provide the best possible user experience when accessing Citrix environments. Forward compatibility and management With its multiprotocol version of the Citrix SoC design, IGEL is avoiding the proprietary approach focusing on a specific solution, which is typically adopted for the majority of zero clients when setting up a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The IGEL UD2-LX MultiMedia currently supports a range of protocols such as Microsoft RDP including RemoteFX, Citrix HDX and VMware View including PCoIP. The IGEL Linux firmware includes not only the local Media Player but also a local Mozilla Firefox web browser, a Java runtime environment and a PDF reader. IGEL therefore allows VDI-independent access to cloud services. Another part of IGEL s universal approach is zero touch remote management. The complete remote administration and management of all IGEL models whether ARM or x-86-based are handled in a standardized manner by the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS), IGEL s platform-independent management solution which comes supplied with IGEL devices. Conclusion: Compelling overall concepts needed The thin client market continues to grow and eat into the market share of PCs in the business sector. At the same time, smartphones and tablets are taking the place of other mobile end devices such as notebooks, PDAs and mobile phones. As far as the market for stationary thin clients is concerned, ARM processors and SoC designs are creating new possibilities when it comes to dimensions, performance, energy efficiency and user experience. It is now down to the manufacturers to provide compelling overall concepts which meet the investment protection criteria that are of paramount importance, particularly in the business sector. IGEL has set the bar high here, too, with an extended five-year hardware guarantee. The availability of firmware updates is also guaranteed for three years after a product is discontinued. IGEL s universal desktop concept Whether it is server-based computing, virtual desktops or cloud computing IGEL s Universal Desktops work well together with the greatest variety of centralized IT infrastructures. In particular, their powerful hardware and excellent graphics performance, along with continuously developed firmware, provide future-readiness that safeguards this major investment. Thanks to different device designs, operating systems, alternative firmware features (tools, clients and protocols) and a wide range of hardware options, the selection of a suitable model can be tailored to meet the exact needs of the installation and ensure cost efficiency. Other but no less important considerations are that IGEL Universal Desktops use minimal energy, have long service lives and come standard with the IGEL Universal Management Suite, a proprietary remote management solution. 4/5

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