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The employee works in a virtual desktop, and the meeting's video and audio are processed by their thin client. The VDI server does not choke, the picture does not fall apart, data does not leave the data centre.
A video call inside a virtual desktop is a heavy load for the server: it cannot encode and decode video for a hundred sessions at once. Zoom Workplace VDI solves this in two parts. The Zoom app is installed in the virtual desktop like an ordinary program. The plugin is installed on the device the employee signs in from: a thin client, a laptop, a PC. The virtual desktop draws only a placeholder of the window, and the plugin adds a second layer with video and audio processed locally.
Citrix, VMware Horizon, Windows Remote Desktop, Windows Virtual Desktop and Amazon are supported. Plugins exist for Windows in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, for macOS and for Linux as DEB, RPM and an archive. Without the plugin the app still works, in fallback mode: media goes through the virtual desktop and the server load grows. Zoom strongly recommends installing both parts.
The limitations are listed honestly by Zoom: cloud recording only, virtual background not on every thin client, the connection always through the cloud without P2P, some new features reach VDI later. The installer for the virtual desktop is an MSI with the same switches as the ordinary app, so mass deployment works here too.
The reason a company moved to VDI should not cost it sound and picture in meetings.
The app and data stay in the virtual desktop. The plugin processes only the meeting media and gives the device no access to data.
Video and audio encoding moves to the user's device. A hundred simultaneous meetings do not bring down the VDI farm.
The network connectivity tool works in VDI too and shows whether media goes directly from the plugin or through the server.
Architecture, platforms, installation, limitations
The virtual desktop draws a placeholder of the Zoom window, the plugin on the device overlays a layer with video and audio. The user sees ordinary Zoom.
Citrix, VMware Horizon, Windows Remote Desktop, Windows Virtual Desktop and Amazon. The plugin is installed after the virtual desktop agent.
Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, macOS, Linux as DEB, RPM and an archive. Thin clients, laptops, home PCs.
No plugin, and the app still works: media goes through the virtual desktop. Worse for the server, but the meeting happens.
The installer for the virtual desktop is an MSI with the same switches as the ordinary app. Rolled out through Intune or SCCM.
The app in the virtual desktop is updated first, then the plugins on the devices. Plugin management is done from the Zoom web portal.
Zoom's network connectivity tool works in VDI and shows the state of the connection to the plugin.
Cloud recording only, no local recording. Virtual background not on every thin client. Group HD at 720p and 1080p is unavailable to most clients. Screen sharing up to 30 frames per second with a separate key.
P2P connections: VDI always goes through the cloud. Video messages. PowerPoint as a virtual background. Some new Zoom features reach VDI later.
No separate licence: the Zoom Workplace VDI app in the virtual desktop image, the plugin on the devices and the virtual desktop agent installed. Plugin management through the admin portal.
Wherever the workplace lives in the data centre
Employees in Citrix or Horizon, data inside the perimeter. Meetings with customers run with proper audio because the thin client does the encoding.
Hundreds of desks on Linux terminals with the plugin. Video meetings do not bring down the farm.
A home PC with the plugin signs in to the corporate virtual desktop. Data does not leave the data centre, audio comes from the device.
Virtual desktops by regulation, Zoom inside them with known limits: cloud recording, no P2P. The regulation and the technology agree.
Some devices with the plugin, some without. Fallback mode keeps meetings running on old terminals until replacement.
Checking the compatibility of the VDI platform and thin clients, installing the app into the image and the plugins on devices, a network check from VDI, documentation of the limits for IT. Then support in Russian.
The risk from stolen corporate laptops had to be reduced.
We'll give you a remote demo Monday to Friday, 10:00–16:00 Moscow time, answer all your questions and provide trial access so you can explore the system yourself.
Please note: we work with legal entities only.