Microsoft Remote Desktop Client: Comparison of IGEL OS with Other Vendors

Rolling Release Info: OS 11.08.330

The information provided here is valid with IGEL OS 11.08.330 and higher.

The information provided here reflects the state on May 13, 2022.

The information was mostly obtained from the following sources:

Microsoft:

Citrix:

VMware:

The following table shows the features currently available in Microsoft Remote Desktop Client, including IGEL OS which is built with the Microsoft RD Core for Linux.

Feature

Windows 10

Microsoft Store
Client

Android

iOS

macOS

Web

IGEL OS

Comments

RDP

AVD / W365

Native

AVD / W365

Citrix

VMware

Common

Remote Desktop sessions

yes

The desktop of a remote computer is presented in a full-screen or windowed mode

Integrated RemoteApp sessions

yes

Individual remote apps are integrated into the local desktop as if they are running locally

Immersive RemoteApp sessions

yes

yes (no taskbar)

yes

Individual remote apps are presented in a window or maximized to a full screen

Multiple monitors

16 monitor limit

8 monitor limit

Allows the user to run a remote desktop or remote apps on all local monitors

Dynamic resolution

yes

The resolution and orientation of local monitors are dynamically reflected in the remote session. If the client is running in windowed mode, the remote desktop is resized dynamically to the size of the client window.

Smart sizing

yes

The remote desktop in windowed mode is dynamically scaled to the window's size

Localization

yes

English only

yes

English only

yes

The client user interface is available in multiple languages

Multi-factor authentication

yes

yes*

yes

Supports multi-factor authentication for remote connections

Prioritized datastreams

yes

Admins can configure the priority for certain data streams

* Targeting Citrix Storefront directly, smartcards and federated authentication (SAML/AzureAD) are supported. Using Citrix ADC, multiple MFA-Providers and methods are supported.

Input Redirection

Keyboard

yes

Mouse

yes

yes*

yes

Touchscreen

yes

yes (except IE)

yes

Pen

yes

yes (as touch)

yes**

* View the list of supported input devices for the Remote Desktop iOS client:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/clients/remote-desktop-ios#supported-input-devices

** Depending on the pen

Port Redirection

COM Port

yes

USB

yes

yes*

yes

*Fabulatech USB Redirection

Other Redirections (devices, etc.)

Cameras

yes

yes*

yes

*Fabulatech Webcam Redirection

Enhanced Camera Redirection

yes

Allows configuration of camera parameters to be used within the remote session

Clipboard

yes

Text

Text, images

yes

Text

yes

Local drive/storage

yes

Location

yes

Microphones

yes

Multi-audio

yes

Allows the redirection of multiple local audio devices into VDI

Printers

yes

yes (CUPS)

PDF Print

yes (CUPS only)

yes (CUPS)

yes

Scanners

yes

yes*

yes

*Fabulatech Scanner Optimization

Smartcards

yes

yes (Windows
logon not supported)

yes

Speakers

yes

yes (except
IE)

yes

Browser Content

yes*

yes

Allows execution of e.g. browser-based multimedia content on the client device to reduce load and traffic within the datacenter

*Multimedia redirection for AVD (preview)

GPU acceleration

yes ²

yes ¹

yes

Allows running graphics-heavy applications running in virtualized environments utilizing the server's GPU and lossless compression for e.g. CAD applications

¹ Citrix HDX 3D Pro requires Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Platinum License

² GPU-optimized AVD host (pool) with GPU-accelerated app rendering, GPU-accelerated frame encoding, or fullscreen video encoding

Additional Features (UI / UX / Security)

Screen pinning

yes

Save complete display layout on Storefront servers (also supports Geo load balancing)

Keyboard layout synchronization

yes

The keyboard layout within the VDI is set according to the client's keyboard

Keylogging protection

yes

A keylogger on the client only sees encrypted keystrokes

Screenshot prevention

yes

Screenshots created on the endpoint will only show blank content when capturing a VDI screen.

UC Optimization

Feature

Windows 10

Microsoft Store
Client

Android

iOS

macOS

IGEL OS

Comments

RDP

AVD / W365

Native

Web client

Native

AVD / W365

Citrix

VMware

MS Teams

yes

Media optimizations for Microsoft Teams to provide high-quality calls and screen-sharing. Learn more at

Use Microsoft Teams on Azure Virtual Desktop.

Cisco Jabber

yes

Optimization enables the physical client to directly communicate and offload webcam and audio from the server to the client completely transparent to the user

Cisco Webex Meetings / Teams

yes

The Cisco Webex media engine redirects audio and video streams so that they are exchanged directly, without going through the hosted virtual desktop in the datacenter

Skype for Business

yes

Signaling information is sent via a virtual channel to the client's RealTime media engine. That allows RealTime media to be executed directly on the user's device.

Zoom

yes

The Zoom plugin on the client will offload video encoding and decoding and communication directly to the Zoom cloud

Avaya IX Workplace

yes ¹

yes ^{1 2}

yes ¹

VDI optimization for customers using Avaya UC Client within their environment. Control information gets exchanged via the remote desktop protocol (ICA or Blast). Calls take place via SIP directly, surpassing the VDI.

¹ Avaya IX Workplace for IGEL OS is not generally available because of the Avaya distribution policy/license agreement. The customer needs to get in contact with Avaya support to receive custom partition files and support

² Not approved. Needs to be verified/tested.

Estos ProCall

yes ^{1 2}

¹ Audio datastream (UDP Opus or G.711a) between the ProCall Client (WebRTC Stack) and the UC Media Server is routed through the Citrix Server(s) and transferred via Citrix HDX-Audio to the endpoint.

² Not officially tested/verified by IGEL

WebRTC (in general)

yes ²

yes ¹

yes ²

Optimize WebRTC to offload webcam and audio to the client

¹ Using Citrix BCR feature

² Part of Teams optimization (based on WebRTC). Needs to be verified.