There are loads of documented changes and improvements to the RemoteFX technology stack in Windows 8 Server, so of course I’m keen to try it out.
I’ve now got my hands on three Dell Optiplex 990 systems, each with 12GB RAM and a Radeon HD5450 GPU. Not cutting-edge perhaps, but fine for testing basic functionality.
I was a little confused after I enabled the Hyper-V role, restarted the machine and went into Hyper-V Manager to see what the situation was with RemoteFX. I was presented with a UI which suggested that RemoteFX was already enabled, but that no supported GPU could be found: “None of the physical graphics processing units (GPUs) on this computer support RemoteFX”.
No supported GPUs for RemoteFX?
This was a little strange as I’ve used the same GPU for RemoteFX on Windows 2008 R2 SP1, and while it’s not a particularly beefy card, it certainly works.
Turns out that there’s a little bug in the UI, which Rafael Rivera picked up here. Simply enabling Hyper-V doesn’t enable RemoteFX. This still needs to be done by installing the Remote Desktop Session role on the server. In my case, I installed the role as well as the Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Virtualization Host.
Once installed and rebooted, the RemoteFX UI in Hyper-V Manager was correctly populated with the physical GPU. RemoteFX here we come 
RemoteFX GPU ready to go
Really neat thing about RemoteFX in Windows Server “8″ beta is that it no longer permanently disables the Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection. Now, we only turn off the Virtual Machine Connection display if and when an RDP connection is made to the virtual machine.
This makes it a whole heap easier to get things setup, and to trouble shoot any problems.
Cheers,
Ben
Thanks Ben – so far it’s looking like pretty impressive technology. I’m setting up a demo environment right now
Hi James
I am having the precise same problem but with an AMD v5800. Unfortunately I upgraded from R2. RemoteFX was fine till the upgrade and now I get the same error message. I have added all the roles I could find for Hyper-v and Remote Desktop. Any ideas where else I can look to resolve this. The OS sees the card fine.
Failing that I guess scrub the server and try again.
Many Thanks
Gideon
Hi Gideon – so you did an upgrade install from Windows 2008 R2 to Windows 8 Server? Brave man
If you’ve enabled all the roles I’m not sure what more to suggest. I’m assuming that you’ve installed the Windows 8 CP drivers from AMD?
Hi James
I guess the upgrade was brave… Interestingly I did a clean load, No driver from the OS plau and play. I tried the Beta AMD driver which refused to install. I then downloaded the reference remotefx driver for Windows Server 2008 from the AMD site (The same one installed on the upgrade) and hey presto Firepro V5800 now showing in Hyper-v. Thats the joy of Beta software.
Many Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing about your experiences
Gideon
Hi there,
does anyone succeed to make remotefx work on Windows 8 server with an Nvidia card (Quadro FX1800 in my case) ?
I systematically get a “Error applying 3D remotefx video card changes” message when I try to apply the settings after adding it in the VM.
I tried with the 2 last drivers from nvidia and the RDS role is properly installed.
Thanks a lot,
Benoit
NVidia cards have not worked so far in my experience. the amd cards will work, including the 4000 series HD that are embedded on 7, 8, and 9 series chipsets.
For the OS to recognize them, I’ve had to install the drivers manually from the c:\AMD directory after running the initial install. If your card is a 5000 or above, you can start with the AMD win8 driver, but a windows update will likely suggest a newer driver. Regardless, choose the “let me pick…” and “I have driver” options, then updating to the driver in the c:\AMD\Support\Drivers\… W76……inf, and after a few screen flashes go back and look at Hyper-V settings. Your GPU should now be populated.
Hi there,
does anyone succeed to make remotefx work on Windows 8 server with an Nvidia card (Quadro 4000 in my case) ?
I systematically get a “Error applying 3D remotefx video card changes” message when I try to apply the settings after adding it in the VM.
I tried with the Win 2K8R2 and Win8 drivers from nvidia and the RDS role is properly installed.
Thanks a lot,
you’ve tried this driver?
http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro-tesla-win8-64bit-296.17-driver.html
I think NVidia has since released an update or two for all win8 drivers, too.
does the gpu show up in hyper-v manager? before testing in a vm, that would be your first validation that it’s going to work.
what OS are you testing with for your VM?
Thanks for replay.
Yes I tried this driver, Yes the Gpu show up in HyperV.
The OS are testing for my VM Seven SP1
More info, all are OK in Win2K8R2SP1 whith same Gpu!
More info, I tested on a new created VM without OS, without stating, only I installed a Video Card 3D RemoteFX and when I applied same error “Error applying 3D remotefx video card changes”!
I had the same problem as Marc. Tried on two different hosts and with two different Video Cards. One nVidia GeForce that I know worked with Server 2008 R2 SP1 and one AMD Radeon 6450.
However I was actually able to add the RemoteFX adapter from SCVMM 2012 SP1 CTP and after a few reboots I had it working. The guest OS is Windows 7 SP1.
Hi Joakim,
You must install SCVMM 2012 to have RemoteFX on a VM…???
Or I don’t understood?
Hi Marc,
No, SCVMM is not required to run RemoteFX. It just happened to solve my problem with the error “Error applying 3D remotefx video card changes”.
In order to manage your machine with SCVMM 2012 you need to download SCVMM 2012 SP1 CTP. I would recommend you to install this on a Server 2008 R2 and manage your Hyper-V from there.
Hello,
I have a similar problem.
I want to run a Guest OS Windows 8. I installed 2008 R2, but the guest OS couldnt install the driver software. So I upgraded the host into Server 2012. But now Hyper-V does not see the GPU.
I have a nvidia Quadro FX1700.
HI,
Joakim, impossible to install SCVMM on Windows 2012 Server RC…
The best is : on Server 2012 RC the Nvidia Quadro 4000 is non RemoteFX compliance !?! Greats!
The news :
After install the new 302.81 drivers NVIDIA, it’s always the same problem. Nothing in GPU HyperV config? WHY!!!!!!!!! Shi….
OMG Microsoft…..
So i have problem with adding RemoteFX to virtual machine too, this happen if i try to add it though HyperV console on server, BUT I install RSAT on my work PC, install Hyper-V Manager and though it i am able to add RemoteFX Device!!!!
So problem not in HyperVisor it in MMC.
Hope It will be helpfull. sorry for my English.
If you had the role enabled already, then a reboot might have been the only thing missing for the GPU info to populate in HV Manager. Otherwise, it sounds like through RSAT you may have enabled Virtual Host Role (RDSH) as maybe part of a scenario based deployment, and thereby enabled the GPU to recognize.
That, or the new AMD driver that supports full 1.2 WDDM automatically got applied through WSUS.
Re: Nvidia, Marc, if you are still working with the Quadro 4000, then you know its not the hardware. if you are damn certain the RDSH role is applied correctly, and your GPU settings in HV console are still showing no capable GPU, there are 3 possible scenarios that would result in this behavior:
1) Your CPU is not SLAT capable.
2) Local Machine GPO settings are either conflicting or restricting the enabling of dedicated GPU.
3) If domain joined, then there are a slew of possible GPO’s that can foul up GPU assignment for use in HV RemoteFX role. Specifically, look at
Enforce Removal of RD Wallpaper…: disabled
Set Max color depth: 32bit
Configure Compression for remotefx data: balanced
RemoteFX adaptive graphics: Optimize for experience
2008 R2 settings are also set to optimize rich media, and medium
and the obvious ones that apply to the Host’s ability to use the GPU in the first place, instead of CPU.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the reply.
No GPO settings nowhere, the cpu is slat because everything works perfectly in 2008RSP1.
I will be patient and wait a true Nvidia drivers for my Windows 2012 Server Quadro.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro-tesla-win8-64bit-302.81-preview-driver.html
How’s that for good timing? Released on the 15th, last week. Try it and let me know how that works for you.
Also I would definitely enable those GPO’s I mentioned, I’ve had one or two instances where their use coupled with an edit of the RDP file itself were the only way I could get a consistent user experience on some hardware.
Read my post:
June 19, 2012 at 03:21 · Reply
The news :
After install the new 302.81 drivers NVIDIA, it’s always the same problem. Nothing in GPU HyperV config? WHY!!!!!!!!! Shi….
I have the remote fx gpu enabled and added to a Windows Server 2012 VM, when I open device manager inside of the VM it only shows a Microsoft basic adapter and two unknown devices. Any help would be appreciated.
are you intending to use remoteFX graphics in the VM? Try Windows 8 RP or CP instead of Server, that might be your first problem.
Thanks for the reply. It was my understanding that Remote FX was now fully enabled for session based remote desktops which would need to run on server. We have tried Windows 8 RP and that also did not work. Testing Windows 7 Enterprise this morning to verify the configuration.
Ahh, RDSH RemoteFX….
Ok, so first question, are you actually going to need the GPU-assist? If you’re simply wanting to extend full Graphics, usb redirect, etc. but are not pushing apps and VDI VMs for very intense graphics work (like CAD, 3D Dev Modeling, etc.) you no longer even need the host GPU, as SVR2012 handles all of that via regular CPU cycles. You only look to a GPU if you are truly pushing the host with high density and/or specialized workloads. That’s a significant change that doesn’t seem to be getting the recognition from most IT folks yet. Try out a standard VM with no GPU assist, run Windows Media and a High Def Video across the WAN. You might be surprised at the results; they’re pretty impressive, even at 1920 x 1080.
Yes we are trying to use AutoCAD. We can get the RFX gpu to show up in our Windows 7 Enterprise VM’s but not in Windows 8 RP or Server 2012 RC. We really need it to work in server since we are a RDSH shop and are not doing VDI. We have seen some good results out of the box with video. Thanks,John
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6056/nvidia-win8-whql-display-driver-now-available
Try this driver. I think this is what you need.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6056/nvidia-win8-whql-display-driver-now-available
sorry, linked to the news story previously.
sorry, linked to the news story previously…
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win8-64bit-302.82-whql-driver.html
Hi All,
I have been trying to test RemoteFX in windows 2012 RC but i am unable to get it working. I have set up the Hyper-V host using the new “Remote Desktop Services Installation” option with in roles and then selected my Firepro v5800 with in the hyper-v settings. Using remote desktop to my Windows 7 ultimate SP1 VM without RemoteFX enabled works fine. When i add in the RemoteFX device to the VM and try remote again it get the following error “The remote desktop session was disconnected because there was network problems during the licensing protocol” I have tried using MSTSC on a window 7 SP1 PC and on a windows 8 RC PC but both get the same error both with their firewalls disabled.
In the Remote desktop Services overview i have setup all the things needed with the RD connection broker.
Is there anything you can think of to fix this?
remotefx driver was only included in the enterprise version of win 8 release preview. not sure why they did this, but that’s likely the issue you’re experiencing.
So am i right in thinking, the new version of RemoteFX will only work with a windows 8 enterprise VM with the RemoteFX device add and not a windows 7 SP1 VM with the RemoteFX device added?
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserver8gen/thread/a91aa30f-1eaa-4392-a08e-5b26c190c655/
look here for more detail
Hi Stuart
Could you fix the Connection issue? Got the same error message in RC. With RemoteFX Card I can’t connect via mstsc and without Remotefx I can connect via mstsc.
Thx
Sorry guys, but always the same problem with my Nvidia Quadro 4000 and the Win 2012 server RC!!! I’m so sad…
marc, email me privately and I’ll see if I can help you further. *heuristik1*@gmail.com* (remove anti-spambot asterisks)
Thanks Stephen but i’m in holidays and i bought the server. Bye
I have a lab with windows 2012 with host and vm with windows 7 – procedure VDI / RDS windows 2012 – Host physical server with ibm drive video standard windows.
When I open the win7 vm environment vdi video keeps crashing, I was on hyper-v host and is not enabled the GPU’s on this server and why the video keeps crashing?
The video features need this option to work properly activates the remote-fx?
thank you
I run a Firepro W600 but even with manually adding w8x64 drivers to WS2012 I have no access to my graphics card.
Even Intel Hd P3000 (E-1235) which is onboard is not supported yet
Hi Paet
have you installed the RDS and in it the Session Host, because this is what you Need to enable Remote FX.