Direct3D over Remote Desktop

Question

How can I get Direct3D to work over a Remote Desktop connection? I am using Windows XP Professional.

Answer 1

Maybe you already knew this but doesn't look like this is a supported scenario.

See Remote Desktop Sharing Disables Direct3D Functionality and http://www.virtualdub.org/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=146

You may want to look at WPF if you have a choice.

Answer 2

3D acceleration does not work on Remote Desktop or in Virtual PC/Server. Software-rendered OpenGL works on both Remote Desktop and Virtual PC/Server.

Answer 3

According to this article Direct3D is possible (but dog slow) when the box you're remoting into is running Vista.

http://www.virtualdub.org/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=208

I haven't verified this and cannot personally vouch for whether or not it REALLY works.

Answer 4

In addition to Tim's answer, in the WPF Futures talk at PDC a member of the D3D team mentioned that D3D 10 under Windows 7 would work with remoting and will be remoted by primitives (which leads me to believe that the client doing the remoting would handle the rendering). They don't give much information, but it's touched on in the Q&A section of the WPF Futures talk (PC07) which you can check out on microsoftpdc.com.

Doesn't solve the D3D9 in XP question, but remote desktop with D3D10 under Windows 7 sounds a little better. :)

Answer 5

I have tested this and it does work if the server is running Vista.