Case Study: Georgia Tech achieves campus‑wide access to graphics‑intensive virtual labs with Citrix XenDesktop (HDX 3D Pro)

Top technical institution delivers virtual computer labs with Citrix XenDesktop with HDX 3D Pro technology

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), a leading public technical university with over 21,000 students, struggled to provide access to graphics‑intensive, often Windows‑only engineering and science applications. Student laptops lacked the required hardware or licensing, forcing heavy reliance on a limited number of physical labs, which created long wait times, compatibility and security issues, high power/cooling costs, and inefficient use of campus space.

Georgia Tech implemented Vlab, a centralized virtual desktop and application environment using Citrix XenDesktop with HDX 3D Pro and NVIDIA GRID (later consolidated on XenDesktop 7.5 with XenServer and Hyper‑V) to virtualize GPUs and deliver high‑end 3D apps remotely. The platform now provides 1,600+ virtual desktops and 50 shared servers across multiple colleges, enabling anywhere access to CAD/CAE software, reducing IT overhead and costs, improving service speed and resource utilization, and allowing instructors to focus on teaching.

Georgia Tech

Didier Contis

Director of Technology Services